Storage Facility Legal Dispute

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Self Storage

Yes

I've had a unit with Public Storage in Valley Park, MO since the end of February *. I had been super unhappy with the service from the property managers, so I began to move all of my things out and into a nearby Life Storage facility at the beginning of October *. Since I was moving everything by myself, it took me a long time and I didn't get everything before I had a payment bounce due to another bill coming through, and access removed from my unit. Since I wasn't being prorated for vacating by a certain date, informed the Public Storage property manager that my payment would come, but probably near the end of the month since there was no rush now. She mentioned that it shouldn't be a problem, and I got an email for my vacate date to be on */*/* from Public Storage. I got several voicemails throughout the month about how I still had a balance, but since I had discussed my situation prior, I didn't call back. I made the payment on October 30th and went to pick up my things on the 31st, as I stated, but my unit had been cleared out. I was informed that my remaining items had been thrown away after an inspection that deemed I had "abandoned" my property. I had my bed and a good handful of boxes and baskets full of my stuff just gone. My mattress was in the dumpster, which I retrieved immediately, but all of my other things were missing. It wasn't until I confronted the property manager that I got any emails saying that I had vacated the property and a final bill. I reached out to CS to see if I could get some help, and they told me my file listed me as having thrown my things away. I spoke to the district manager this morning and he's firm on everything having been thrown away. I asked for photos of my belongings that the inspector took so I could have an idea of what I'd lost, and he offered to email them to me in exchange for signing a Short-Form Release with the promise of refunding my October payment, including late fees. I know it's a long shot, but something about this whole situation feels so wrong other than humiliating. I just wanted to see if anything could be done.