So, you have just received a storage lien notice or certified letter from Moove In Self Storage. This is one of those times that can cause that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. You think, “Oh no, what did I do?” “What is a lien fee on a storage unit?” But, don’t worry! There’s still time and you can get the issue resolved and return your account to good standing in a few easy steps.
What Is a Lien Fee on a Storage Unit?
A lien fee is a notice that your unit will be sold to cover costs because you are late on payments. Read more about this below. Also, read more about the auction process and your rights here.
What to Do if You Recieve a Lien on You Self Storage Unit:
Read The Notice
First of all, no one wants to sell your belongings. You should read the storage lien notice in its entirety and ensure you understand everything that is outlined. If there’s something you don’t understand, call your property manager. Get clarification on any questions you have. Making contact with the rental office immediately is one of the most important things you can do. There’s a small chance that a letter may have been sent by mistake. Although unlikely, the only way to confirm that is to give us a call.
Call Your Property Manager
Give your property manager a call. They will be happy to go over your account with you in detail. They will also review the storage unit lien notice and what it means. If you have received a lien notice or certified letter from Moove In Self Storage, it’s because your account has become 30 days past due. Keep in mind that you may receive this letter in several ways; via email, verified mail, courier service, or USPS certified mail to the last known address on file. Sometimes we just get caught up in life, and things slip through the cracks. Paying your monthly storage rent is no exception – it can be forgotten just as easily as anything else.
Bringing Your Account Current
The sooner your account balance is paid in full, the lower your total due will be. Late fees will be added as time passes, so you want to make sure and take care of this as soon as you are able. You also want to avoid your belongings being sent to auction and your account being sent to collections. Once your storage unit goes to auction, there are additional auction fees that are assessed and added to your balance.
It’s very important for you to know that a partial payment will not be accepted to prevent the lien process and an auction from taking place when your account is past due. Only payment in full can remedy the situation.
Making a payment when you receive a storage unit lien notice to bring your account current is easy.
There are several methods you can take to accomplish this task:
- You can visit the office in person and pay your property manager directly. This ensures the payment is received on that exact day.
- You can call your property manager during regular business hours and make a payment over the phone using a credit or debit card.
- Payments over the phone can be made after hours as well with our storage counselors. Although our call center is open seven days a week, they don’t operate 24/7. They are closed on major holidays. To ensure you can get a live counselor to take your payment, it is best to call before 11pm on weekdays and before 8pm on weekends.
- You can drop your payment in the drop box after hours using one of our handy payment envelopes as well. If you choose to do this, it’s best to call the office the next day to ensure the manager received it. Please note: if you drop payment in the drop box after regular office hours, the payment will not be processed until the next business day.
What The Notice Means
What is a lien fee on a storage unit? The storage lien notice or certified letter informs the tenant of their account’s past due status, provides the total amount due to bring the account current, and lists the scheduled auction date. It is important to know that fees and rent will continue to accrue as the days and weeks pass. The worst thing you can do is ignore the letter because that can lead to additional fees added to your account.
After a storage lien notice or certified letter is sent to you, you have 30 days to respond. However, this is not a grace period. At this point, your account is already past due, your storage unit has been over-locked and your access code to the property has been disabled. Basically, you need to pay your account in full, including any late fees that have been added, to bring your account current and restore your access to the property and your storage unit.
Once the storage lien notice has been sent to you, your storage unit is scheduled for a future auction date. That auction date and time are listed on the notice or certified letter for your reference. If payment for the full account balance has not reached the rental office by the date and time listed on the notice, your items will be auctioned. Once the auction takes place, you lose your belongings and any remaining balance is sent to collections.
Recap: Self Storage Liens
To recap, it’s never good to receive a storage lien notice or a certified letter on your storage unit. But, it’s not the end of the world either! You still have some time (although limited) to bring your account current and stop your storage unit from receiving late fees and going to auction.
If you have any questions about a storage lien notice, you can contact us online or call your property manager and he or she will be glad to explain the entire process.