Shurgard Self Storage - Reading Caversham Reviews 47

Great experience renting. David was very helpful upon checking in. The app is really helpful for getting in efficiently.

Had valuables worth hundreds of £ stolen from my unit. Never told anyone what was in there, always went alone when putting stuff in the unit and was careful not to show anyone. The standard locks Shurguard provides customers are clearly very easy to break into, as I was using one of those. Once someone works out how to unlock one, they can unlock every lock in the building and there is nothing else stopping them from accessing every unit. Overall, security is very poor. There is no CCTV inside the buildings which is crazy considering how much they charge customers for storage. I won't discount the possibility that it's an inside job. Whatever the case, it's a horrible experience. Paid for storage, but what's the point when it gets broken into within a few months.

Very frustrating experience and I have barely moved in. I need to move items in the evening as it is the only time I have to move them. It was not made clear I can't be inside the storage facility at any point past exactly 11 pm, even though the gates let me in minutes before. And I was only told I shouldn't be there past exactly 11 when I had done it twice already and apparently third time I will get fined. Clearly you just want to make money off me by tricking me with unclear rules. And I should have been warned after the first instance. It is not acceptable to warn someone after 2 out of 3 strikes. I won't be extending my contract nor using Shuguard again due to this.

Great place to store our items

Being a self-employed worker it was a relief to find good, accessible storage. Not the cheapest solution but as it fitted in with my needs I was satisfied with the contract, it was just within what I can afford. I have been a customer for two years. So imagine then what a kick in the nuts it was to get an email on Saturday 23rd December announcing that the monthly rental was increasing, not by 4%, not by 8%, not by 16%. No, no, it’s increasing by a whopping 30%. Up from £360 a month to £470. Thanks Shurgard! A Merry Christmas to you too!

Staff 5*
Locations 5*
Safety 5*
Mobility 5*
Everything is just perfect!

My experience was very positive.It was easy and very process straight forward

Even though we didn’t need a storage unit in the end, but employees at the office desk were super helpful and so friendly!

Karen was very helpful and friendly. She showed me a couple of units and couldn't have been nicer! I signed up immediately! It also happens to be 5 minutes from home!!!

Super easy to set up and much cheaper than other quotes we had

Very good helpful and pleasant person on reception

Nice and friendly staff. Easily handled setting up the unit. Highly recommend it. Particularly the access system works well.

Overall impression: great customer service at the start 3 years ago, declined within last few months:

- in addition to constant raising unit storage fee, Shurgard started adding £1 for paper invoicing. I clarified at the beginning that I preferred digital invoicing sent to my email. Local team confirmed that this information has been added to my account again in January 2023. Surprise- surprise, to receive paper March invoice with £5 for paper invoicing.
Comment: when invoices are issued, does anybody pay attention to customer's requests at all?

- With constant fee raise I started looking for a smaller storage unit. Making long story short, Shurgard staff said that the current price for the new customers was lower than what I was paying, so I requested to reduce my fee. At the end, I got cheaper price but I did not use it for long.
Comment: If I would not ask for fee review, I would not be offered. Speaking from my experience, only fee increase is offered.

- I terminated the contract from mid April anyway. We all know about Shurgard's policy about charging for the full month and refunding within next 10 days after clearing the unit.
I was not keen on such policy which works only for one party, therefore I cancelled Direct Debit 2 days before I would be charged and moved my stuff out very quickly.
At the end, Shurgard had to issue credit note for the days after contract termination and charge me only
for notice period.
Advice: ask for credit note if you are moving out before monthly charge.

- Shurgard bank's account number and sort code was not identified twice by my bank for online payment . Shurgard Reading store manager K. advised that this happened as their bank is in Europe.
Comment: if your bank is in Europe, there is an International Bank Account Number (IBAN) and this should be written on the invoice. The credentials on the invoice should be correct.

- Card payment machine at the reception js faulty: does not allow contactless payments. When the card
is inserted, states ' wrong pin' before the pin has been entered.
Comment: If you are cashless, your bank is in Europe, your invoices do not have correct credentials, at least provide working equipment for card payments.

- from December 2022 till the beginning of January 2023 front gate to the storage stayed opened despite of 2 my personal contacts in December and in early January. My unit was okay as it was far from the gate, I am not sure about others.
Comment: Open gate which is welcoming to trespassers compromises security on site.

- specific comment about store manager K.: she sees herself as well - knowledgable, but in fact she is
not. She appears to be rude and always right ( to her opinion).

These episodes negatively influenced my experience which started so well.

Absolutely shocking.

A flagrant disregard of people working on cars in outside lockups, during multiple evening visits (including the use of flammable liquids)

Unauthorised access and removal of items (including hazardous equipment)

The apathetic and completely incorrect response of staff when answering questions of which they had no comprehension on safety.

Avoid at ALL costs. A total joke

They will attract you with a low rent BUT once you've moved in they will start increasing the rent by 12% (year 1 and 2), 8% (year 3), and 6% (year 4), something they do not inform you about when you move in.

Helpful staff member sorted out a code as I could not access emails at the time. Explained everything clearly.

Simple and quick to find the right sized storage and sign up on the website. Efficient friendly service at the site for identity checks and picking up the lock and keys. All information provided quickly and automatically by email at each stage of the process. Automated access was easy to use and the site was clearly marked for finding my unit.

Clean ,good conditions, security.