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Public Storage Hit with Lawsuit Over Business Practices
By Jessica Tyner
Most people are familiar with the orange and purple Public Storage facilities that have popped up around the country. You’ve probably even used one before, trusting that when you put stuff in storage, it’s safe. However, the security of storage items might not be nearly as iron-clad as people think. In Charlotte, North Carolina, a lawsuit has been filed against the company claiming that it puts customers and their property in danger.
Eyewitness News went undercover in Charlotte to see just how secure Public Storage was when they thought no one was looking. In Charlotte alone, there are 35 Public Storage sites, and Paul Trott was in charge of managing them for the past six years. However, he claims in a lawsuit against Public Storage that company-wide budget cuts have caused maintenance to completely stop. There apparently isn’t even enough money to replace burned-out lights, making customers lug around flashlights to access their unit after dark.
A Burglar’s Dream Come True
It’s not just exterior lights that are burned out — Trott says many interior unit lights don’t work, either. This makes Public Storage prime pickings for thieves and vandals, and they’ve been coming in droves. Trott claims in the lawsuit that “numerous break-ins” have happened recently. Burglars aren’t the only danger, since Trott points out that the massive industrial doors are broken as well. Since they weigh over 100 pounds, they could easily kill a person if they fall.
Trott already has a laundry list of customers who have been injured, but fortunately there haven’t been any fatalities yet. Trott has tried to stand up for his customers, but his complaints have fallen on deaf ears. He says he’s told his supervisor about the problems weekly, but no changes have been made. It’s Trott who initially filed the lawsuit against Public Storage after realizing the company he’s worked for the past six years doesn’t care about their customers. But he does.
Trott’s Public Storage Lawsuit
Trott was fired in January 2013, and he thinks it’s because he wasn’t pretending everything was fine. On May 28, 2013, he filed a lawsuit against Public Storage and hopes that the customers he used to try and protect will benefit, and that the company will step up to the plate. Eyewitness News tried to reach a manager or supervisor to comment on the investigation, but no calls were returned. One generic message from Public Storage was sent, stating that the safety of their customers is “of course” of great importance.
Trott wants to send a message to the company and let them know they are accountable for safety and security. Many customers aren’t aware of the violations, or they’re used to the shoddy environment. People store precious and valuable things in storage units, and these items aren’t necessarily covered by all insurance policies.
Storage Unit Lawsuits Target Property Seizures
Trott isn’t the only consumer suing a storage unit company from allegedly improper practices. Lawsuits all over the country are being filed by storage unit customers who had their property seized without proper notice. In states like New York, this is against the law. Knowing your rights can help you avoid losing your property to an unlawful auction.
Do You Have a Storage Unit Complaint?
Did you rent a mini storage unit in New York and had your property seized? You may have a storage unit legal claim and not even know it. Just like renting an apartment, you have rights as a storage unit tenant.
Learn more at the New York Mini Storage Property Seizure Class Action Lawsuit Investigation today. You can submit your information free of charge. If you have a case, a reputable attorney will contact you for a free storage unit claim review.
Updated June 19th, 2013
All class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Lawsuit News section of Top Class Actions
60 thoughts onPublic Storage Hit with Lawsuit Over Business Practices
LISTEN PEOPLE, ITS THE MANAGERS OF THESE PUBLIC STORAGE FACILITIES BURGLARIZING THE UNITS, AND WHATS WORSE IS THE POLICE SEEM TO BE IN ON IT. A UNIT IS BROKEN INTO EVERY SINGLE DAY AT EVERY LOCATION ACROSS THE NATION. I RISKED MY PERSONAL SAFETY AND SNUCK OVER TO A PS IN MILPITAS CA AND PARKED ACROSS THE STREET AT THE MALL. IT WAS APPROX 10:30 PM. I HID IN SOME BUSHES AND WATCHED THEIR GET DOWN. THE FAT STUPID BTCH KEPT RUNNING BACK TO HER APT ON-SITE, CARRYING BOXES. FROM INSIDE A HALLWAY WHERE HER AND HER HUSBAND WERE BREAKING IN. I COULD NOT SEE IN THE HALLWAYS BECAUSE I WAS HIDNG. SHORTLY AFTER, HER HUSBAND RETURNS TO THE OFFICE TO ALLOW A WHITE PIECE OF SHT VAN TO ENTER THRU THE GATES. HE JUMPED INTO THE VAN AND IT RETURNED TO WHERE THEY HAD BROKEN INTO AND PROCEEDED TO LOAD THE VAN AND THE FAT BTCH KEPT GOING TO HER APT DRIVING THE LITTLE GOLF CART WITH A BOX SHE REMOVED FROM THE UNIT, WHILE THE 3 MEN LOADED THE VAN. THEY WERE AT IT TIL ABOUT 1AM. I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL IT WAS SAFE FOR ME TO EXIT AND RUN ACROSS THE STREET, GET IN MY CAR. AND LEAVE. I WAS AFRAID OF BEING SEEN SO I REMAINED STATIONARY FOR A LONG TIME. MY GUT TOLD ME THEY WERE THE ONES THAT BROKE INTO MY UNIT AND I WANTED TO PROVE IT TO MYSELF. THE POLICE WERE NOT INTERESTED IN THE SLIGHTEST.
Wow this sounds almost identical to my story which took place in August 2022 … wondering what State you are in ….
I believe 100 percent my friend!! I just recently had over 5,000 dollars worth of property stolen from my storage unit in at Life Storage in Charlotte NC. The store manager at the facility was the only individual who had access to my unit!! But here’s the deal. The police are not involved with this scam!! Your local authorities hands are tied. Because these business establishments will not allow them access to video footage!!! So these store managers know this. It’s takes a certain legal process for them to see the facilities security video footage!! So the timing of seeing the footage is critical before it is deleted or overwritten with new footage. It all depends on what type of security video footage system is installed and being used. Some only store footage for maybe 30 days!! And so the ones who steal your property from the inside jobs know this!! If your local authorities can not view the video in a quick time frame. They can not get a suspect of a clue to what happened!! We as customers know it was a inside job!! But unfortunately with how the law works. It’s not what you know!! It’s what you can prove!!! I am currently dealing with this matter now!! I work in the IT Field. If these business establishments really wanted to stop this. They would install a security video system. To where the footage goes to a Cloud base backup!! And they could easily go back and review and deleted or overwritten video footage!! And get these criminal store managers out of there business’s and into jail cells where they belong!!!
I was working in san jose and got laid off due to which i had to shift to family. over the time 10 yrs with my salary i tried to purchase some expensive stuff which was everything for me.All my married dresses and gowns and 15 handbags of mk coach guess JC kate spade my everything was in there. I didn’t wanted to keep it in the storage but i had no other option due to covid.I planned to pick those bags in my very nxt trip from east coast. I got smaller unit in PS 5×5 on dec 2nd 2020 at 684 lenfest rd san jose. its been just two months I’ve opened the unit and we received move out receipt this Monday 9th feb 2021 saying,our storage is empty so we are closing the account?it made me put to shock and i asked to double chq and they said its a breakin and happened two week ago with someone who was in north carolina?.when asked if they have cameras they said they only have it outside the prking lot?The only mistake i did was didn’t take insurance because i lost my job,i had to save money moreover i thought i will get it in my nxt trip which i was planning in early march. matter of three months:( thise stuffhave caused me fortunes gowns worth 598$ and my sentimental attached to my marriage memories all my clothes that were gifted by ppl who are no more. I cannot believe still that this happened within a span of 2 months. dont these guys have heart? I am pretty sure its the facility that’s involved otherwise how can anyone just come inside without the access code? They have placed the cameras very cleverly to the place so that they don’t get caught. I am also sure they have any units inside for them to put all stolen stuff there so that police can not find anything and they can easily get away with it. I feel so so helpless with no job and being on dependent visa,my lifetime earnings valuables and all have just gone away. I want shout out so loud and cry like hell.why do ppl in PS do such a thing. Please help me what should I do m so broken at this point of time.
They have empty units and they have their friends come and remove larger furniture. but you are absolutely correct about units they store the stolen property in.
I’m at the same facility and going too file a claim also because someone got into mine as well
I had my things stolen sometimes in August of 2020. I was told by a property manager that the locks would be changed and I asked specific questions about who is going to change the locks,
Well I made a surprise visit December 20, 2020 to my unit and discovered my unit my unit was burglarized and a lot of things were stolen and damaged.
I called the police filed a report and filed an insurance claim and they have denied my claim now.
seems vornell parker is a poser responding to every complaint… someone look into this dude, hes probably monitoring these posts.. any techs out there get to it and find out this guys true name and info.
I just had my things stolen from PS. Office staff says cameras don’t work and I am not able to see them only employees. She knew exactly what my items were said she touched them even but doesn’t have them. How does this make any sense at all. PS workers are such liars. They scam people. Take their things and simply do not care at all. This is really sad! We pay every month faithfully for them to turn around and do us like this!
I agree class action lawsuit
Yes!
I just recently went through this I believe it was an employee at the public storage because of how it was done they went shopping in my storage took what they want bit what was valuable now that says a lot! And not to mention they are very rude and non chalant with me about my belongings being stolen I can’t believe this is the type of people they hire smh I will get justice someone is going to pay me
This is happening to me right now. I need help. They took everything.
There should be a LAW about fee paddling, increasing the storage fee every 3 months or so. And the fact that you never really pay the $1 for the first month, my first month turn out to be $258 of which was supposed to *only* be $1
I need answers and legal Help!
Public storage was robbed by office manager or employees no cameras and made me buy insurance.Then claim I could not file cause it was not locked properly. I had whole apt full from tanning bed which very heavy to over 600 collectables.I signed sheet no one to enter. I read on their site I am not the only one that has been robbed there. Office manager and old lady works there claim they saw nothing they not use cameras they just fakes in the office to look like they do.I moved states over this and still want file on these folks.
Uessss they r crooked
I am pretty sure my robbery was an inside job. I had a vast amount of collectibles. My lawyer is Mike Kump, Santa Monica. We are going after them big time
IF YOU WANT TO SUE PUBLIC STORAGE YOU MUST SUE THE FOLLOWING ”
PS LTP PROPERTY INVESTORS, A MARYLAND REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST.
PAY ATTENTION
Public storage IS JUST A NAME THAT EVERY ONE USES,
NOT CORPORATION OR COMPANY.
IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO FIND THEM.
BUT I DID AND FILLED A LAW SUIT DUE TO
Hi M. Voss:
Grear work! Thanks. I would like to know more about your suit. I may have to sue them also for deceptive and unfair business practices. it would be nice to compare notes and support each other.
Can you please contact me when you get this message. Thanks.
Best wishes,
Michael Arconada
michaeltca@gmail.com
I am in a very huge lawsuit with Public storage. My lawyers are Mike Kump, Santa Monica.
I need help on filing a claim
Public storage charging lien fees without filing liens. If 1 day late the computer will charge a lien fees. But the lien was never filed. Just how many of those like me have paid the fee for something the did not do. I would think before they can charge a lien fees they would need to pay to have a lien and the do not.
This is happening to me. My storage fee is due around the 5th and because of COVID-19 and switching jobs my pay cycle changed and I tried to change my billing cycle but they wouldn’t let me so now I’m paying a lien fee monthly in addition to late fees. Combined it is almost $70 in extra fees in addition to my $153 storage fee. I was wondering if something could be done about it. I reached out to corporate and they said it’s at the manager’s discretion. I want to sue them. My bill is due on the 5th and I pay on the 10th now but they still tack those fees on.
They broke into my unit and left their crowbar. It’s the property managers ripping off it’s customers. Milpitas CA.
I’m at the same facility and going too file a claim also because someone got into mine as well I hope you get compensated as well as everyone else