If You Forget to Pay Your Storage

While bills are a normal part of life, it can be easy to forget to pay one every once in a while. Missing payments by only a few days shouldn’t be cause for concern. However, unpaid bills over weeks or months can have costly consequences on unit renters. Here, Clifton Rt. 46 Storage talks about how to handle late payments on storage units.

Storage Facility Rent Basics

Just like an apartment, storage facilities require a monthly payment to rent spaces. The billing process for storage units works similarly to that of housing rentals. Upon renting the unit, clients receive a contract that they must review and sign.

When customers sign the contract, they give the storage facility “right of lien” over their unit’s contents. In other words, facilities have the right to hold onto your items if payments go missing. Your contract also shares important information about paying monthly rent, late fees, and how to access your unit.

Clients usually pay rent to storage facilities once a month. Their billing date typically falls on the same day they rented the storage unit. However, even with consistent billing dates, mistakes can happen. Clients want to prepare for what to do if they ever miss a storage unit payment to stay ahead and avoid late fees. Doing so also avoids other consequences, like losing access to your storage unit.

Does Your Storage Facility Have a Grace Period?

If you are late on your storage unit payment, there’s no need to panic. Many facilities offer grace periods. This means customers have up to a few days to complete payments before they accrue late fees. If you’re unsure of how long your grace period is, you can call and check with your storage unit facility. You can also log into your online portal, like Quikstor, to see when late fees go into effect.

How Much Are Fees for Late Payments on Storage Units?

Late fees can vary depending on your state’s laws and storage facility’s policies. In New Jersey, storage facilities can charge up to $20 or 18% of your monthly storage unit rent. Facilities determine the exact late fee by calculating which option will be greater.

Customers are usually notified about how much their late fees are when signing their contracts. You can contact your storage facility and speak with a representative to find out how much your late fees will be. You can also view late fee policies on our online bill-paying platform. Late fees cannot be waived for any reason, and you must pay the balance in full as soon as possible.

What Happens If Storage Unit Bills Go Unpaid?

If clients wait to pay their storage unit bill, they can risk losing access to their storage unit. Storage facilities may over-lock your unit. They can also deny access and remove gate codes from your Quikstor account.

If a storage unit is not paid over a long period and goes unclaimed, the storage facility can sell the items in the unit. However, this takes time, and they must undergo many processes before this can happen. Storage facilities will never sell items without notifying you. They must reach out via phone call, text, or email multiple times to inform you of your late payment. For most storage facilities, bills must remain unpaid for at least 30 to 90 days before they can sell items. Customers can find more specific information in their rental unit contracts.

Although unpaid storage facility bills can turn serious, many businesses are willing to work with clients if they cannot pay the full amount. Storage units want their clients to be satisfied and to avoid costly legal battles. If you end up in a situation where you cannot pay your usual monthly bill and require help with storage unit payments, reach out to your facility to negotiate a solution. However, this negotiation must occur before late fees go into effect.

Find Cost-Efficient Storage at Clifton Rt. 46 Storage

Clifton Rt. 46 Storage is here for customers across Clifton, New Jersey. We offer steady, consistent rates, meaning monthly rent will stay the same over long periods. Our large facility houses many drive-up units, making storing quick and easy. Customers can use our Quikstor app to make payments on public storage units. To learn more about making late payments on storage units or storage unit payment assistance, contact us today.