She's back

[Aut]

Got this woman that is a repeat renter. The first time, she had to get her church to pay her months past due bill so she could reclaim her property. Shouldn't have let her back after that, but the owner is pretty lenient - if they have the money for the first month, why not? She immediately fell behind.

Every month for a year, she would call begging us not to sell her stuff, she's trying to get the money, yada yada yada. And she would usually call when she thought we wouldn't answer (probably because there is obvious displeasure in my voice when I do actually talk to her). Then the calls dropped off and every once in a while out of the blue we'd hear from her. Same story as always.

The other day, I was working on paperwork, came across her info and I thought we hadn't heard from her in a long time, this must be it, we're done with her. A few hours later I check the voicemail and lo and behold, there she is. Do we still have her stuff? Please don't sell her stuff (we inventoried her unit over a year ago, so I know that there is nothing but crap in there). Then she said that she would be in during the next week with a truck, no excuses this time. Owner said long ago to let her take her personal things and call it good. He knows he'll never get a penny out of her. I relay the message to him, and we both have a bit of a laugh - we'll believe it when we see it.

Well, the week has passed and there has been no sign of her. I have a strong feeling I'll be hearing from her in the next week or two.

Another sighting not related to the business: 5 years ago, when my oldest use to get on the bus at the apartments next door, there was a guy that would always walk back and forth near the other moms and myself as we chatted at the bus stop. We always thought he was rather creepy. One of the moms would see him wandering around late at night. I would see him riding his bike in circles at the car wash on the other side of me. Then I started seeing him around town. He'd be in random stores I'd be in. Started creeping me out a bit more. Then he disappeared. I figured he moved. A couple of weeks ago, I've seen him riding his bike past my house and into the car wash again. I know he moved from that apartment years ago, so I wonder why he's back. I'm the only one left from all those moms that used to be here. Wierd. Wonder why he's back.

[RxBoy]

I wouldn't even mess with that kind of thing. The best way to run that type of business would be to require everyone to pre-pay one month in advance. That is, start by requiring them to pay two months rent before they get the keys to the storage area. One month later they pay again and so on. This way they are always one month ahead on rent. If they don't make the required payment at the beginning of the month, they are served with a notice to have their belongings removed by 11:59pm the last day of that month or they will be donated to charity. No exceptions. This way you never end up keeping someone's stuff without collecting your rent.

I don't know if this would be legal or not, but I think it would be a good way to operate if it is.

[Kristev]

That is a problem. Maybe he's like me, a harmless eccentric. Or maybe he's worth worrying about? I suggest you get advice from the police or a lawyer.

[ShootMePlease]

Public Storage sells your stuff 30 days after you fail to pay your rent. They hold an auction and goodbye to your bric-a-brac. You don't want garbage from folks ? Don't take garbage from folks.

[Hyndis]

Is there any reason why you need to keep the junk for so long?

The business is to rent storage space. She's storing stuff there, but not paying you for it. Therefore, she is no a customer.

Why not just inform her that if she does not pick up her items by X date they will be disposed of? If she doesn't pick them up or pay up in full by then just toss her stuff, or auction it, however you get rid of it.

Then clean out the space and rent it to someone who actually will pay their bills.

When she invariably calls back in a month with feeble promises to pay sometime in the distant future, just inform her that everything has already been auctioned off already. She was informed ahead of time. Its her own damn fault.


You said that you inventoried her stuff a year ago? So she's a year behind payments!?

[Andara Bledin]

They keep it because they're nice, don't want to hear it from the "customers," and they obviously aren't full up on rentals.

The place I rent space from is lenient, but not overly so. I kind of prefer that sort, myself, since I know exactly where I stand.

^-.-^

[ottid]

Wow, I actually think I remember you talking about the same customer before. She really should be long gone by now...

[freeatlast]

We have had a few like that - the location manager would agree to settle for $X and have the customer empty their storage unit at the warehouse by a specific date. But most of those customers then complain about the deadline date for emptying their containers - they always have some reason why they need more time. I just tell them that those are the conditions under which the location will settle for less than is owed and that if they don't meet those conditions they can either pay in full or we WILL sell their stuff. I refuse to play those games with them.

[Aut]

Owner did make a deal with her once. She couldn't deal with it.

I think her stuff should ahve been auctioned long ago. The owner doesn't really like to do them because it costs just about as much to put it on than when he makes from it. There is a lot of legalities to it. He bought this place less than 6 months before I came here, so we were both learning at about the same rate. It was 2 years before he had his first auction because he wanted to make sure he covered all the bases and not break the law or other such trouble.

Tenants do pay a month in advance. We have to have the money in our hands before we will give them access to the unit. We also do daily and weekly rates, and we have non-payment issues with those renters far less than monthly renters.

And 99% of the units we inventory are all crap. Not surprising they don't get much from auction.