Safestore

I had thought this was pretty good until I moved my items to Big Yellow around the corner when I discovered that Safestore is lacking in almost every respect:
1 There is almost no security — people come and go without signing in or any form of key or password protection.
2 The units are not alarmed
3 The reception (and hence the whole unit) is frequently open but unmanned.
These are all deficiencies which I wasn’t aware of, but what made me move after 5 years is a cautionary tale about how to deal with this company:
4 The prices go up every six months.
5 Occasionally I would query and I’d be given a little discount.
6 This last time I queried and said that I needed a smaller unit and wanted the best price they could give me as I’d rather not move companies. I was told I was on the lowest price and even moving to a unit 60% the size would involve a price increase.
7 I then found a unit at Big Yellow exactly 60% the size for 55% the price. I then went back to Safestore and told them (11 days before the renewal bill was due) that I would be moving and not renewing. I was told that I should come back 4 days later to speak to the Manager as he could offer me a better price.
8 I returned 6 days later and spoke to the Manager. He said that he would be able to match Big Yellow’s price but only on a written quote (which I didn’t have) and that the only way, on renewal, to secure a better price was to produce written quotes from competitors. At that time he said I had to give 14 days notice, and that the renewal date in the bill was not relevant. He would therefore charge me even after I’d gone.
9 When I returned the day before the renewal date to hand back my empty unit, the Manager was again present and, not only did he charge me for unit hire for 9 days after the renewal date but he also charged 2 weeks’ insurance at £3000 on the empty unit — citing the small print.
If, like me, you won’t patronize companies with very sharp (to say the least) business practices, then avoid this place like the plague.
The only satisfying things about my experience with them is that my goods were safe while they were stored there and, on the day of my big move, I noticed two other people doing the same thing!