Self-Storage Unit Cleaned Out Without Permission

[aaron]

Well then, consider consulting a lawyer about the possibility of suing them. You should be able to obtain their records through the discovery process if you initiate a lawsuit.

[rmet4nzkx]

There are no notes about my unit previous to Dec. 4th 2005. However, according to management, that doesn't mean that the unit was not in that condition for days prior.
Essentially, they don't want to help me at all. They don't want to give me any information or assistance that they don't have to.

They may not be telling you because they do not want to assume responsibility. So ask them again, how frequently they do their rounds then to see what codes were accessed during that period. or to verify yours wasn't used. You didn't say whether or not your code still worked when you went to check on your unit and since it was empty, it doesn't sound like they rented it out in 10 months? It seems strange that they would stop the payments and not stop the access code and if they didn't send you notice that your unit was abandoned it is fishy, and perhaps if you have proof that your code wasn't used, then the police will take a report for theft.

[patrickatl]

You didn't say whether or not your code still worked when you went to check on your unit and since it was empty, it doesn't sound like they rented it out in 10 months?

My code did not work, that is why I went to the office in the first place and was told I no longer had a unit there.
The unit was rented from Jan 06 - May 06, then rented again from May 06 - Now.

[patrickatl]

I did eventually convince a police officer to write up a report. I'm still waiting to get a copy.
Not quite sure what I'm going to do with it... Georgia does not have small claims court so, going to court would cost me a fortune.

[aaron]

Your code didn't work because it was deactivated when they closed your account?

[patrickatl]

that is correct.

[aaron]

It seems that it should be pretty easy for them to determine the last time your code was used before they closed the account. (There is, of course, the possibility that your code wasn't used.)

[rmet4nzkx]

It seems that it should be pretty easy for them to determine the last time your code was used before they closed the account. (There is, of course, the possibility that your code wasn't used.)

Of course the appropriate thing for them to do upon finding an abandoned unit is to look to see if the passcode was used since the last security pass and if not contact the tenant and the police re the theft and secure any security tapes. At least that will be OP's argument. Most locks can be cut off even the round ones.

[patrickatl]

Just heard back from them yesterday on the code. They said that my code hadn't been used at all in 2005 or 2006. Those are the only years they have records for.
They said that this information does not contradict their position: that I was robbed and as such it is my responsibility to take the matter up with the police and my insurance.

[rmet4nzkx]

Just heard back from them yesterday on the code. They said that my code hadn't been used at all in 2005 or 2006. Those are the only years they have records for.
They said that this information does not contradict their position: that I was robbed and as such it is my responsibility to take the matter up with the police and my insurance.

Good, take this admission to the police. They have a duty civil duty to inform you when they discover evidence of theft to inform you and the police, instead they were at least neliegent and possibly they concealed that which is aiding and abeting. This type of storage facility may make theft by employees very easy to conceal, they get a longterm, absent tenant set up on a automaitc payment and either a direct or indirect theft or error occurs then they blame you. You are possibly not the only one. What was stored in the unit?