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Sometimes it costs more to keep than to toss.
Back in February, New York City’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) filed a $1.7 million lawsuit against Extra Space, a self-storage company with 60 locations across the City.
And this week, the company settled.
City officials said $1 million will be rolled out to customers through a restitution fund, while the remaining $700,000 will cover civil penalties.
The Post reached out to Extra Space for comment, but has not yet heard back.
DCWP reviewed more than 100 complaints and reportedly found that Extra Space — one of the largest self-storage companies around — consistently “failed to provide the quality of services it advertises” and used predatory practices, exploiting its customers and violating Consumer Protection Laws.
After a three-year investigation, the lawsuit found that the company was supposedly using classic bait-and-switch schemes, such as advertising affordable, clean and convenient self-storage spaces but delivering something very different — high prices and rats.
“Extra Space’s facilities seem more appropriate for a setting of a horror movie than to keep consumers’ valuables safe; consumers have reported widespread vermin infestations, water damage, and mold,” DCWP said in a press release.
The storage company was reportedly also found to be raising prices with little to no notice, changing customers’ locks and denying them access to their belongings, charging junk “late fees” for allegedly delayed payment and threatening to auction off belongings unless they pay — a clear violation of the law.
One complaint in the lawsuit was by Bronx resident Alex Rodriguez, who rented a unit from Extra Space. In October 2021, he realized he needed more room, so as he went to check on his space, Rodriguez found rats in his unit — both dead and alive.
His items were supposedly covered in rat feces, urine and had an unpleasant odor. The vermin supposedly ripped through all of his boxes and wrecked his children’s toys and clothes, and his own clothing. He estimated property damage upwards of $100,000.
Donna La Forey is another unfortunate renter who has had a unit in the Bronx since 2018. In July of 2023, her unit flooded, leaving her items with severe water damage. The business told La Forey none of her things were impacted — a clear lie.
She was forced to throw away all of her wrecked things, including two televisions, a mattress and bed frame, a sofa, clothing, collectibles like old albums and books, two laptops, her husband’s work equipment for his construction business, and some kitchenware. Her damages were estimated to be $10,000.
The complaints are only a couple of over 100 New Yorkers who filed complaints with the DCWP.
August 1 is when folks can file a claim for the $1 million restitution fund by emailing the agency. Customers must detail their experience and provide all supporting documents, which will then be reviewed and selected on a case-by-case basis, according to the Gothamist.
Claim forms will be ready on the agency’s website next month and can be sent to ExtraSpaceSettlement@dcwp.nyc.gov or mailed directly.
Extra Space is a publicly traded company valued at over $30 billion. The storage provider did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
Read the full article here
