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Report: #1336780

Complaint Review: Public Storage2555 E Kemper Rd Cincinnati OH - Cincinnati Ohio

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  • Reported By: anonymous — ... Missouri USA
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  • Public Storage2555 E Kemper Rd Cincinnati OH 2555 E Kemper Rd Cincinnati, Ohio USA

Public Storage 2555 E Kemper Rd Cincinnati OH Elder abuse, egregiously high charges that increased often, refusal to allow next of kin to inventory contents Cincinnati Ohio

*Consumer Comment: Nope, not a rip-off

*Consumer Comment: Wrong

*Consumer Comment: You have GOT to be kidding me!!

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My older Sister, age 76 when she died last month, had the misfortune to have been a customer of this business since 1993. She originally had 4 units, and decreased it to two, over time. She had started using their services when she lived in Cincinnati (she was a consultant who moved often before she retired), and found it convenient to leave items there.

Until she became 'broke', due in no small part to the way the charges for this service steadily increased, which in turn made it harder for her to keep her car in good enough repair to travel there, she periodically went there to remove items that she no longer needed or wanted to store. She paid at a local other Public Storage facility, in the town in which she last lived, which was no longer Ohio. She paid by Visa card at least part of the time, so this may constitute an even more serious level of misbehavior by this company.

Remember, this is a long time customer. That meant nothing to the Public Storage ripoff artists. The charges steadily increased. As in paragraph above, that affected her health, her peace of mind, and in my opinion hastened her death. They periodically sent dire reminders that a lien had been or would be placed, items auctipned, etc. Unfortunately, she did not confide in either of her siblings that this was going on. We would have taken steps to intervene, had we known.

Their website https://www.publicstorage.com/ohio/self-storage-cincinnati-oh/45241-self-storage/1464 shows that the standard charges for the size of units she had are $72 per month, and $121.00 per month. They were charging her $181.91 and $234.33 respectively. Rather than reward her being a long term customer, they took advantage of a senior person on a fixed income. Their continually raising the rates to an egregiously high level should be investigated by the Consumer Protection Bureau, by the FTC, ICC, and by the agencies that oversee cases of elder abuse. I am sure that the Public Storage company does this all over the country, since this is a national company.

To make things worse, when I (her Sister) was notified by her apartment complex management that she had died, I took time off from my work, and went across the State to deal with her arrangements and effects. The contact person Charles stated that (despite we, my Husband and I, only had one weekend available that we would be available to at least inventory what was in there, and despite my ability to prove I was next of kin - my Birth Certificate and my Sister's - and despite our jumping through the hoop of immediately going to a local storage outlet of the company to pay their outrageously high charges) we would not be allowed even to come there to view and inventory the contents. THAT SURELY WAS ILLEGAL, as despite our having paid, and being able to prove we had a right to do so, I/we were prevented from exercising the due diligence which an estate administrator normally would be requied to exercise. 

My Brother and I are so disgusted over this exploitation of a vulnreable elder (one of the definitions of elder abuse in Ohio) that we mutually decided this company does not deserve another dime from our family, nor will they receive any further payment(s). I told Charles to just consider the items 'abandoned' now and do whatever they (probably were going to do anyway based on the other ripoff reports I have read) want to do with it. Sadly, there were some family heirlooms, that we just had to decide were not worth the hassle to attempt to reclaim. I am slightly mollified and laughing to myself that they (Public Storage) will see that my Sister stored a lot of 'useless junk' of no actual value. Sadly too, my Sister died destitute thanks to the ongoing abuse of a vulnerable oldster perpetrated by this company.

The bottom line is, avoid doing business with Public Storage. There are a large number of other such reports about this company.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 11/05/2016 01:47 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/public-storage2555-e-kemper-rd-cincinnati-oh/cincinnati-ohio-45241/public-storage-2555-e-kemper-rd-cincinnati-oh-elder-abuse-egregiously-high-charges-that-1336780. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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#3 Consumer Comment

Nope, not a rip-off

AUTHOR: coast - (USA)

POSTED: Sunday, November 06, 2016

“Their continually raising the rates to an egregiously high level should be investigated by the Consumer Protection Bureau, by the FTC, ICC, and by the agencies that oversee cases of elder abuse.”

A rate increase is neither a rip-off nor elder abuse. We do not have price controls in a free enterprise economy.

“She paid by Visa card at least part of the time, so this may constitute an even more serious level of misbehavior by this company.”

That statement makes no sense. How does accepting a credit card payment constitute misbehavior?

According to the website that you provided, the $72 and $121 prices are online specials offered for selected units and are subject to change. The in-store rates are $87 and $144 prior to taxes and late payment penalties. Her long time customer status is not a factor. Customers have the freedom to change to another storage provider.

“There are a large number of other such reports about this company.”

You are probably correct that there are numerous reports about storage companies taking possession of abandoned property.

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#2 Consumer Comment

Wrong

AUTHOR: Robert - (USA)

POSTED: Sunday, November 06, 2016

Most of your complaints I am sure are driven by the loss of your Sister so I am going to give a response with that in mind.  First off I am sorry for the loss of your Sister, but this is NOT even close to Elder abuse.  

Based on the prices you gave, she had a 10x10 and a 10x20, also based on most standards that would be the equivalent of a storage for about an 8 room house.  Where if you understand this and some of the other comments you made, your sister would by most definitions be considered a "hoarder". 

There are other interesting statements you made.  Again you stated that she had to choose between car repairs and paying the storage bill.  You insinuated that she became "destitute" because of the rate increases.  Yet at the same time you say that she didn't confide any of this with you or your brother.  So how do you know?  Either you could tell she was having issues and ignored it(can we say "Elder Abuse"), or you are trying to play one huge sympathy card exaggerating the negative.  If money was an issue and you are going to claim she wasn't a hoarder, she could have moved into a single bigger unit combining everything and saved a significant amount of money.

You also made the insinuation that it was because of this higher cost that your sister died.  Again, you admitted that she didn't confide in you or your brother about the situation, and you have zero proof that this is even close to the case. 

As for gaining access, your Birth Certificate and Her's does not prove you are 'Next of Kin'.  She could have had a Husband, She could have had children, you could have had a sibbling between the two of you.  What you needed is Court or other LEGAL documents that show you are the Executor of the Estate because the executor is not always the "next of kin".   Now, some other companies what you provided may have been enough, but legally these other companies could have opened themselves up to issues if you in fact did not have the right.

Just to touch back on your Elder Abuse claims and the other complaints.  You will find that most complaints about Storage units are due to the fact that someone was late and they had their items legally auctioned off.  You also get complaints about the rising rates, but here is the thing...all rental units are month to month leases.  If the cost is too much, then you need to move your stuff.  Why would a storage unit be any different than an apartment?  Would you stay in an apartment that raises their rent to a higher price you can't afford?  Of course not..you would move to a new apartment.  As for the rates, just like apartments many storage units give discounts for people to move in to bring in "new customers".  So having her pay a higher rate than this is not only NOT Elder Abuse, but happens with just about every storage company and to people of all ages.

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#1 Consumer Comment

You have GOT to be kidding me!!

AUTHOR: Stacey - (USA)

POSTED: Saturday, November 05, 2016

There is no sign of "Elder Abuse" period.  I suggest you read this - http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/elderabuse/definitions.html

I work in long term care and there is no reason they needed to give you access to her property unless you were POA (care/financial) period.  Therefore they did what was allowed by company policy. And NO I do not work for them.  AND if you are so worried about the family "heirlooms" how come you stated that they could deal with her junk?

"Sadly, there were some family heirlooms, that we just had to decide were not worth the hassle to attempt to reclaim. I am slightly mollified and laughing to myself that they (Public Storage) will see that my Sister stored a lot of 'useless junk' of no actual value. Sadly too, my Sister died destitute thanks to the ongoing abuse of a vulnerable oldster perpetrated by this company."

Kind of a hypocritical statement. 

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