ComplaintsforA-1 Self Storage

• Initial Complaint

  09/06/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I am writing to formally file a complaint against A-1 Self Storage for engaging in deceptive business practices that have significantly impacted my experience as a *********** July 2024, I signed up for ********************** at their new facility, which was advertised with what appeared to be competitive pricing. Just two months after signing my contract, A-1 Self Storage notified me of a 50% price increase, citing that their original pricing was merely "bottom of the barrel" to attract customers. This increase is not only extreme but was not disclosed to me at the time of signing. I was told the facility was new, and they were adjusting rates to "market value." Had I known the price would be raised by such an outrageous amount so quickly, I would have opted for a more convenient location with stable, transparent pricing.This practice of luring customers in with artificially low rates only to drastically increase prices shortly after constitutes deceptive advertising and predatory pricing practices. It creates an illusion of affordability, locking customers into a situation where they have to either accept a sudden financial burden or go through the hassle and expense of moving their stored items to another facility.I believe this business is violating consumer trust by failing to clearly disclose its intentions to significantly raise rates after such a short period. As a customer, I feel misled and taken advantage of, and I believe it is necessary for the BBB to investigate these unethical practices to protect other consumers from falling into the same trap.I hope that action will be taken to address this complaint and that steps will be put in place to ensure that A-1 Self Storage adheres to ethical and transparent business practices in the future.Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.

• Initial Complaint

  06/29/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  A1 Self Storage location at ***************************************************** is under the supervision of the local business headquarters. This location continues to participate in price gouging with their customers annually for years and without justification for the inflated cost. Failed to respond to formal complaints, emails over the past ten years or so regarding the billing practices. All email notifications, letters sent are signed by an unknown individual who refused to provide full name when asked. A1 Self-Storage is taking advantage of customers with inflated rental ********************** rates and unfair billing practices. They are able to do so uncheck by the local jurisdiction and the state. It is not fair to allow this business to continue to manipulative the market and add unjust cost to consumers. I have personally received annual rate increases since I rented small storage unit.

• Initial Complaint

  02/09/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  In Had my storage unit broken into due to the fact it was in properly placed on an auctionsite with full unit number and photo of unit filled with my business merchandise and unit number showing. As district manager described it that unit was full to the rim and as we saw not with your basic pots and pans over $180,000 was stolen. I was not informed immediately due to management claiming that that did not have my proper contact information. In which if suspend records would state otherwise. I had a police officer call me upon going I had management ******* tell me police didnt respond. Well an alarm never went off so according to ******* they entered around 10 pm and had many hours to search according to him and they removed my livelihood. My personal and sentimental items. Upon me requesting to retain camera footage from all angles I was told some cameras didnt work and the footage was grainy yet the camera was at the exit feet away from unit b3011. I submitted itemize claim descriptions to **** and Ins. I find it insulting that I was never formally informed of the out come just that $2500 and nothing. How can A-1 storage/Castor Group claim to have a secured gated location and unprofessionall carelessly upload an in proper post of my unit in which it should not of been posted with unit number. Than no alarm, no camera footage and of the ******************************************************************************************************* to accept $2500 in which over $180,000 was stolen.

• Initial Complaint

  08/27/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Hello,I would like to do a formal complaint with the A1-Self Storage company located ************************************************************************ ************. I have been a loyal customer with them since 2015 and I noticed that through the eight years the storage unit price I rent which is a 10x15 goes to higher prices every few months. I'm currently paying $429.00 for a unit that is supposed to be $275.00 a month. I asked the manager ******* multiple times to match it to what it says online and to charge me the normal rate and he refuses to work with me. He doesn't give me a clear answer. On the contrary, he gets nervous and brushes me off. I don't think its fair that I'm paying $154 more each month. I want them to refund me all the money they owe me; all the money they have unfairly been charging me. I try to resolve this problem with ******* but is a dead end. I'm seeking your services and advice and I'm hoping you help me solve this problem. You can contact me via email at ************************* or cellphone at ************. I look forward to hearing back from you. Thank you, ***********************

• Initial Complaint

  10/24/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  A1 storage has shut down my options to pay them. I tried to pay them the amount i owe using both their phone system and online payment portal and they have blocked me from making these payments. They are threatening to sell the belongings in my storage unit and demanding payment while not actually allowing me to make a payment and tacking on extra late fees and lien fees . the error message online reads "payment not allowed as unit is past due" . I am out of town (that is why i have the storage unit) and it is unacceptable for them to take away my long distance payment options while threatening me. I have always paid by phone or online with no problems. This all started when i sent them my monthly payment in the form of a 1099NEC and they refused to accept the payment and then started harassing me. I am happy to pay using another form of payment, but they have shut down my options and charged me more fees. I would like the lien and extra fees reversed so i can pay my bill,. They unexpectedly already raised my rent for no reason, adding on all these extra fees is not helping me keep up with payments, the rent increase caused a significant hardship, it my not seem like a lot to them but i budgeted for my original rental fee and the rental increase is unwarranted.

• Initial Complaint

  10/03/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I have been a tenant with A1 since April of this year and already I just received a notice last week notifying me the current rent was increasing by $35mo in order to provide a better and safer facility. Noting that no changes had been made, and talking to several other tenants who did not receive a rent increase, I expressed my right to disagree with the increase because I felt it was only directed towards me. Just two days later while on a phone call outside the facility, I noticed the manager looking through my vehicle, before I could ask what she was doing, she angrily told me that she saw a brands name on my backpack that just so happened to be the same name of some minor graffiti/stickers that could be seen in the area (very high homeless and prostitution rates in area ), she then accused me of being the person responsible which is absolutely untrue and there is no evidence that even suggests it would be me . That very next day , I locked my unit and exited the facility about ***** min past the access time , which I had done a few times prior and been told it was not an issue by management . *** also seen others exiting late while in the parking lot locking down my load and they too never had any issues . Well just yesterday I was informed by text message that because I was a few minutes late exiting the facility , corporate was terminating my tenancy and I have 28 days to be gone . No verbal warning , no paperwork sent to me issuing a warning , just a text saying there terminating my tenancy . This is wrong and it is intentional. No one else has had additional issues , no one else had rent increased just 5 in the after joining the facility. And to term my tenancy over a text message is the cherry on top . This business should not be able to get away from this . The burden to move a full 13x10 unit all because I complained about a rent increase and I was wrongfully accused of vandalizing power boxes w stickers in the blocks surrounding the facility . BS!!

• Initial Complaint

  08/14/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  A1 Storage has been increasing the cost of the storage units on customers annually who did not sign up for their add protectionplans, etc. Customers who are enroll their rental rates stay the same. There is no justifi cation for the rate increases. The facility is selfcontained and no improvements have been made so there are no valid reasons for them to add costs for their customers who chosenot to purchase additional protection. When I inquired in the past for a reason for the increases I never got a response. This is pricegouging and the fact that they are able to continue to do so is shameful. Consumers should not be taken advantage by corporationswho are not even contributing fairly because of the huge tax incentives they received. This A1 Storage location is taking advantage oftheir customers and this agency needs to intervene.

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩