Making Sure You Pay Your Storage Unit Bill On Time

As someone who has rented storage units for years, I know firsthand how important it is to pay your storage bill on time each month A late or missed payment can lead to late fees, account suspension, or even losing access to your belongings – something no one wants!

In this guide, I’ll share my best tips and strategies for making sure you pay your storage bill on time every time. Whether you’re a longtime storage renter or just getting started, read on for advice on how to stay on top of this important responsibility.

Set Up Autopay

The easiest way to avoid late storage payments is to put your bill on autopay. Most storage facilities give you the option to have your monthly bill automatically charged to a credit card or withdrawn from your bank account.

Setting up autopay takes the hassle out of manually paying each month. The payment will be made on time, even if you forget – giving you serious peace of mind. Some key benefits of autopay include

• Never miss a payment and face late fees
• Avoid account suspension or lockout
• One less bill to keep track of each month
• Payments processed automatically on due date

Just log into your account on your storage facility’s website to get started. You’ll provide your payment info and authorize recurring charges. It only takes a few minutes to set up.

Some facilities also allow you to select the specific date each month the payment will be processed, giving you control. I recommend choosing a date right after you get paid, so funds are in your account.

Sign Up for Reminders

Even with autopay, reminders can provide an extra level of assurance that your bill gets paid on time. Most storage companies let you opt into receiving email and/or text notifications when your payment is coming due.

Typically, you’ll get an initial notice 7-10 days before your due date, and another 1-2 days before the deadline. These reminders act as a fail safe so you never accidentally miss a payment.

Reminders are also useful if you pay your bill manually each month rather than using autopay. The notices make sure the due date is on your radar.

Log into your account and explore the notifications settings. I definitely recommend turning on payment reminders for peace of mind. Some facilities even let you choose the frequency and timing.

Review Monthly Statements

One smart way to stay on top of your storage bill is reviewing the monthly statements facilities send. You’ll get a detailed breakdown of the charges, like rent, insurance fees, and taxes.

Monitoring these statements allows you to:

• Confirm your autopay or manual payment went through
• Catch any billing errors or discrepancies
• See rate changes or new fees
• Update your payment method if a card expires

So don’t just file those statements away unread! It only takes a minute skim through and make sure everything looks accurate. Being an engaged, informed customer can help avoid bigger issues down the road.

Know Your Facility’s Policies

Every storage company has their own policies regarding late payments, so it’s important to understand the specifics for your provider. Most send notices if your payment doesn’t come in, followed by account suspension or even auctioning belongings if the bill continues to go unpaid.

Get familiar with key questions like:

• When is your payment officially late? Many facilities offer a grace period.
• What fees will you incur for late payments? This is often a percentage of your monthly rent.
• At what point could you lose access to your unit? Typically after 30 days late or more.

Of course, you want to avoid ever running into issues! But knowing the policies provides useful context and ensures you can act quickly if needed. Reach out to customer service or check your rental agreement.

Update Your Payment Method

A super common reason storage payments are late? An expired or deactivated credit card on file. If your card number changes or the card itself expires, payments can’t process on your autopay plan.

That’s why it’s really important to update your payment method details with your storage facility any time they change. Most let you easily edit your info online through your account dashboard.

I recommend logging in and confirming your card or bank account four times a year. That way you catch any updates needed and avoid potential payment hiccups.

You’ll also want to notify your storage facility if you cancel a card, your wallet with your card is lost or stolen, or you close a bank account associated with payments. The faster they know, the less chance of disruption.

Have a Backup Plan

Even if you have autopay set up, it’s wise to have a backup plan in case of declines or errors. Maybe your card expires and you forget to update it. Or your payment gets kicked back if funds are low that month.

In these situations, you can quickly log in and pay your bill manually with another payment method. Having a card on file as a backup can give you flexibility.

You can also set payment reminders to go to a partner or family member as an extra safety net. That way multiple people are aware if a payment doesn’t process right.

With a strong backup plan, you can resolve any autopay issues before your due date passes and late fees are charged.

Sign Up for Insurance

One final tip – make sure you have insurance coverage for the items stored in your unit! This provides an added layer of financial protection if payments do become severely late.

Many storage facilities offer affordable insurance plans that cover your belongings from loss, damage, theft and more. If you ultimately lose access for nonpayment, insurance can help reimburse you.

Plans often allow customized coverage limits too, so you can choose a policy amount that fits your needs. For peace of mind, add insurance when you start your storage rental.

Stay Organized and Focused

At the end of the day, avoiding late storage payments comes down to staying focused and taking simple steps like autopay, reminders, reviewing statements, and updating your payment info.

Set yourself up for success when you first rent the unit. Then monitor closely those first few months to make sure payments process smoothly. Over time, it will become second nature!

With a strategic system in place, you can ensure your storage bill gets paid completely and on time. That way you can stop stressing about payments, fees, or lockouts – and simply enjoy the convenience of your storage unit.

Here’s a quick summary of my top tips for never missing a storage payment:

• Set up autopay from your account or credit card
• Sign up to receive payment reminders by text and email
• Review monthly statements for accuracy
• Know your facility’s late payment policies
• Proactively update your payment method information
• Have a backup payment plan just in case
• Consider adding insurance for an extra layer of protection
• Stay focused and organized to avoid lapses