ComplaintsforMeadowlark Storage

• Initial Complaint

  05/24/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  During the check out process of the storage unit rental I was charged my entire deposit for being one day short of the 14 day notice period. The unit was cleaned and I even left my lock behind so that they didn't have to buy a new one. Not one word was stated to me about this until I sent photos of the properly cleaned and swept unit. This company is just plain greedy!!

  Business response

  05/25/2024

  Self-storage is a month to month agreement.  Legally, we were required to receive a 30-day notice just like an apartment building, etc.  This is standard across the country. Because people sometimes make quick decisions or late decisions, we are nice and only require a 14-day notice to move and then are firm on it.  An example is in the rental agreement, on the website, and posted on a 2'x3' sign at each gate.  *********** decided to retaliate by claiming we're "dicks" and "jerks".  Not a good person.

  Customer response

  05/28/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear 

   

   

  Any reply to this business will be met with a bogus response. Greedy to say the least. 
  
  Regards,
  
  ***************************

• Initial Complaint

  02/22/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 2/21/2023 We received any email stating that the our lease was terminated due to spilling oil over their entire parking lot. There are numerous of vehicles that drives through and park in that parking lot. I do not understand how we were single handling pointed out for spilling oil. We have asked for videos and pictures and none of the videos sent shows us emptying or dumping any oil. They told us we were responsible for the oil clean up of their entire parking lot. We then received another email, addressed to the company (but came to us accidentally) stating that they should have just changed our locked code and locked us out of the gate. This makes complete sense we were locked out of the storage multiple times and had to call the 24 hour number and get access.The email also stated there will be no bill. However, they tried to bill us. The email stated that there were 8 cups of oil poured into the pond. First they said we put oil over the entire parking lot and now they stated we poured 8 cups of oil in the pond. Again with no proof. There is an entire auto mechanic shop in the front of the building running in this storage and still we are being blamed.We were also blamed for a semi truck that was not ours. Whenever there is anything done outside of their policy. They blame us for it and then when furthered investigated, it is proven not to be us.They also leave the gate open for weeks at a time and we have to email and ask them to close due to safety reasons.DO NOT PARK YOUR VEHICLES HERE OR STORAGE YOUR THINGS HERE THEY WILL KICK YOU OUT FOR NO REASON!UPDATE: NOW THEY ARE SAYING IT WAS 2- 5 GALLON BUCKETS DUMPED IN THE PARKING LOT. AT FIRST IT WAS ONLY 8 CUPS AND NOW THE ***** ***** IS SAYING 2- 5 GALLON BUCKETS WERE DUMPED IN 2 SEPARATE PLACES. AGAIN THERE IS NO VIDEO OR PROOF IT WAS US AND WE WERE STILL KICKED OUT FOR NO REASON AT ALL.

  Business response

  02/22/2023

  I am out of the country, so if you need more communication I can forward the letter sent to the customer after March 12th.

  I am also no longer involved with Meadowlark Self Storage, so remove my email.

  Staff wrote a confusing email to the customer, so I stepped in.

  He rented two outside parking spots at two different times for two Semis.  They were given two temp gate codes and two permeant gate codes.  His driver's would never have a code and call but they aren't the tenant and we can't give them codes. The customer needs to share the codes.

  Multiple times the drivers didn't park in their assigned spots and caused a lot of hassle and inconvenience for staff and other drivers.

  Without permission nor available in the contract they ran 50ft electric cords through our parking lot and under other tenants vehicle causing another confusion and possible Hazzards, so they could charge their diesel trucks.

  We ended up with a disaster of oil all over our parking lot of oil. I can forward photos after the 15th.  When we looked at the video both of his semis were on site with the hoods up. When the oil was dumped.

  He stated yesterday he moved out last Friday and we refunded his deposits and rent yesterday.

  We can't have disrespectful people at our facilities so it has all worked out.

  **********;

   

• Initial Complaint

  11/21/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  In April of 2021 I rented a storage unit. I did not receive nor did I sign a contract at that time or to the present. In October of 2022 my rent was increased without my knowledge from $100 to $105. The same month I was late on the rent and started receiving fees. On the 6th I received a $15 late rent payment fee, on the 17th I received a $25 preliminary lien fee and on the 29th I received a $30 lock cut fee, $75 auction fee and $50 lean fee. The lock cut and the auction hadn't even taken place and I'm paying for a fee. After numerous attempts to contact the correct person at the storage facility, and speaking to a foreign gentleman twice and a lady three times all of which told me that the person who I needed to talk to would contact me which she never did I started emailing the facility. I informed the facility, who happened to be the son of the owner of the storage facility, that I was working on paying October's rent in which he replied to me in a text message saying thanks for the information. I offered to pay October's rent and even part of November's rent but I was met with emails stating I owed $405 bill which I was told to "pay up" for my stuff was being sold in auction. I informed the facility that I did not sign a contract with them nor did I ever see one. I reminded them numerous times that I was not bound by any contract and ask repeatedly if I could have access to my property. I was told that my unit was over locked and that if I step foot on her property I would be arrested for trespassing.. I contacted our local sheriff's department who told us that it is our property and we can go and get it if we want to. There is nothing that the sheriff's office will do if called by the facility regarding this matter. My major issue is the amount of unreasonable and unnecessary fees that they are trying to charge me and probably numerous other customers. I have no contact with them and I want my now considered stolen property.

  Business response

  11/22/2022

  ****** has been late 9 of the 16 months he has rented from us.  He has paid late fees 9 times and a Pre Lien Fee 9/12/22.  See attached.

  We sent the rental agreement via email.  4/25/2021 and a copy 11/01/2022. See attached.

  Notes History; Rent Increase was emailed 9/1/22 for 10/1/22, Fee Increase letter emailed 9/17/22. See attached.

  ****** was the only person up for Auction as of 10/29/22.  ****** started inundating me with multiple levels of legal threats on 11/01/22. Because everyone else paid up we held his unit over for Auction until we get enough people. 

  Rent is always do on the 1st of the month or before.  

  ****** made many threats to *** us for damages, theft, suffering in both Civil and Small Claims Court.  ****** claims his fianc is an attorney and they would be suing us. ****** sent many many emails trying to quote the law, insulting and harassing me.

  ****** called the Ozaukee County Sheriff per ****** and tried to get his "stolen" property.  I was never contacted by the Sheriffs dept.  Because he made so many threats and hasn't paid up I asked him to not trespass on our property until he can pay his bill 

  and get back in good standing.

  Thanks *****

• Initial Complaint

  01/04/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I contacted Meadowlark storage last week. Representative told was $132 and some change. Had to pay $40 to reserve. I had my car towed there $230. I called them Friday to pay balance was informed $140. Said a manager would call me back. Manager emailed me and texted me said Representative gave me wrong information. I said since Representative represents your company thats what i was informed. Calls are recorded so can ask for the call. Ended up paying the **** offered to refund me, asked it were going to also pay the tow. All i got was Stop. Attached are the text messages between manager and me

  Business response

  02/09/2022

    The tenant was told the rent and deposit were $90 each.  This total is $180 less the $40 reservation fee is $140 balance that was due.

     The tenant has a speech impediment and a low IQ he was speaking to someone in ******.  *************** in AZ had to transfer services to ****** because of Covid.

     I could look up the call to see if the *********** misspoke or he misunderstood, but it doesn't really matter because he knew the rent and deposit were both $180 and he

     paid the reservation fee, so the balance was $140 not $132.

     So even if there was a misunderstanding on some math the fact is the Rent is $90 and the Deposit is $90.  He was supposed to have eSigned and read his rental

     agreement and pay the balance prior to moving in.  He moved in without a rental agreement signed or paying.  If he had followed the process he would have caught

     the misunderstanding earlier to towing a car in.  Inoperable cars are not allowed either.  

     The fact is the rent is $90 and the Deposit is $90 he had paid $40....he is just trying to argue semantics and not do the math correctly, even if the *********** person

     in ****** misspoke.  Who does this?  He's just trying to cheat the system ($8), which is invalid and not the rent and deposit due.

     He was very argumentive and harassing in his text messages.  I was very surprised when I talked to him on the phone that he actually has speech issues and very 

    low IQ.  He was a very polite "kitten" on the phone, but for some reason...maybe because of the speech issues...he chooses to be mean and bullying on text.

      I run a self storage business...and have customers that run the entire Society, if you get complaints from people its because they are moving or divorcing or going to 

     jail and under tons of stress and have little money...so they try and beat us up.  Sad.

• Initial Complaint

  12/17/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Meadowlark storage provided a storage unit as a rental to me a unit with a door that does not function correctly. The first experience was challenging upon moving in and we barely could get it to stay up. Upon the second visit, the door would not stay up after significant efforts. Needing to get my camper out of the unit I found some long garbage laying around. from the new construction happening to help push the door up. I immediately contacted Meadowlark contact person about door not functioning via text and email. Their responses back in regards to the feedback about door not working have been threatening, vulgar, unprofessional and extremely disrespectful. Owner : contact has shared that they have significant personal issues going on, yet that has nothing to due with door issues. Owner has then threatened to just end lease, due to door feedback, telling me to go elsewhere because they dont like that I wanted the door to work. Third visit, workers installing doors and doing construction on new storage units were present that I could have them verify the door does not open more than half way, without needing some type of board to push up the rest of way. Comments from owner are not in line with the way leasing rental property laws work.

  Business response

  01/04/2022

  SEE ATTACHED

  Hello,
  It appears ******************* is a very high maintenance person (Engineer and part time landlord) who doesn't read his email, doesn't read his rental agreement and doesn't provide correct information.
  We were finishing the completion and rental of new 530 storage units built in 2021 and enting up in Nov/Dec 2021.
  He didn't call in prior to moving in the "damaged" unit, when he was unhappy with the door on a brand new unit, but decided to move into the unit anyhow?? ...even though he claims it is defective and caused him to hurt his back? He moved in anyhow and even went back and his wife went back? That was not a good decision for him or us. He is an adult and should have called and not moved in the unit. It is a camper. If he had called I would have given hi another brand new unit in the same building the same day.
  He supposedly hurt his back and wanted us to give him free rent. He is a potential lega issue for us and I asked him to move out of our facility. His complaints are incorrect and exaggerated.
  Relative to his complaints:
  The building is brand new and the door was installed the day prior. The door installers obviously thought it worked fine. He complains about challenges opening it, moving his camper in, going twice and using trash to hold the door up.  
  His rental was for 11/15, he claims he "immediately contacted" me, this is not true. He didn't contact us about the door until after he received an automated text message on 12/5 saying his rent was late. He waited until 12/6 to ask about the prorated rent due, complained abou getting a late fee (we always credit the 1st one back) and then complained about the door, stating he was hurt and he needed to be compensated for his time. He waited 21 days to contact us about the door and the contractors were all most gone. He has tied to you.
  He claims my responses were threatening, vulgar, unprofessional and disrespectful. Lie , please review our emails. I only use email with difficult people like this, because after 2 yrs of storage and 39 yrs as a landlord I can see who the trouble makers are.
  

  
  

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