Can I Store Items Under Someone Else's Name?
No, it’s not recommended to store items under someone else’s name as it can cause confusion when it comes to payments, access and content ownership.
If you’re worried about paying for storage long-term, rather than locking yourself into a long contract under someone else’s name, opt for a more flexible storage solution.
At The Box Co., we offer total flexibility. Store for as little or as long as you need and only pay for the amount of time you store your items. You’ll just a credit or debit card - no need to commit to a fixed, long-term contract.
Contact us today to get a personalised quote!
Why Is Storing Items Under Someone Else’s Name Not A Good Idea?
The primary account holder for a storage unit is responsible for the payments and the unit’s contents. If you decide to store your items under someone else’s name, you are handing over legal responsibility and accountability for your items to someone else.
This means that you will not have direct control over any of the storage items and that someone can make decisions on your behalf.
What Happens If Someone Else Is Responsible For Storing Your Items?
If you’re storing items under someone else’s name, it will be their name on the contract.
That means that the storage unit, and everything inside it, is their legal responsibility. This could be complicated for many reasons including:
Missed Payments
If you are using the storage unit under someone else’s name, and forget to pay them, they will be the ones to face negative consequences if bills are unpaid. For them, that could mean a damaged financial reputation and a negatively impacted credit score.
For you, it could mean that you lose access to your items and that they are auctioned off to cover the debt.
Access Issues
When you store your items under someone else’s name, they have full legal control over the storage unit and its contents. That also means that they have total control of who accesses the storage and could potentially stop you from getting your belongings.
Prohibited Items
If someone is storing your items under their name, they become responsible for whatever you choose to store. Any prohibited or illegal items that you store could get the storage unit owner in serious trouble - including having to pay fees or even being evicted.
Abandoned Storage Unit
If the person whose name the storage unit is under decides to abandon the unit for whatever reason, you lose access to your items and risk them being auctioned.
All of these scenarios demonstrate the potential risk of storing items under someone else’s name.
Can You Rent A Storage Unit For Someone Else?
It is possible to rent a storage unit for someone else - such as a family member or friend - but it means that you will be accountable for payments, access and any decisions regarding the contents of the storage.
Here are some instances where you may want to rent a storage unit on someone else’s behalf:
Arranging student storage for your children.
Storage for elderly parents.
Helping international friends with storage.
Whatever your reasons for wanting to rent storage for someone else, you should remember that you are signing a legally binding contract.
Anyone who signs the contract for the storage unit will become legally responsible and fully accountable for the storage - whether it is their belongings inside or someone else’s. That means that it is your responsibility to keep up with payments, uphold the terms of the contract and not store any prohibited or illegal items inside the unit.
Can You Use Someone Else’s Payment Details To Store Your Items?
Yes, you could use someone else’s payment details when storing your items, providing that they are happy to assume financial responsibility for the payments.
For example, if your parents have agreed to pay for storage for you, it may make sense to use their payment details but still have ownership in your name. Keeping the ownership in your name means that the storage and its contents will still legally belong to you.
There are a few things to consider if you are going to use someone else’s payment details to store your items including:
Ownership
Having someone else’s payment details will not give them ownership of the storage unit or its contents as long as your name is on the contract.
Financial Responsibility
If for any reason there are missed payments, the contract holder will be liable - not the person whose payment details are being used. This also means that it is the contract holder’s credit rating at risk.
Access
When someone gives their payment details, they are agreeing to keep up with the storage payments. If these stop, it is the contract holder who will lose access to their unit and their belongings.
If you do decide to use someone else’s payment details, make sure that person knows what they’re agreeing to. A more flexible, less risky option is to store items in your name and have yourself responsible for payments.
Opting for affordable storage solutions like storage by-the-box offers total flexibility and means you’ll only pay for what you store, as long as you store it. Rather than relying on another person to make payments over a fixed, long-term period, you can take responsibility for your own storage at a low cost.
Flexible & Affordable Storage With The Box Co.
If you’re worried about committing to a long-term storage contract, there are better options than storing your items under someone else’s name. With The Box Co., you’ll only pay for as long as you store with our affordable storage by-the-box solutions.
Whether you’re looking for short-term storage or temporary storage solutions such as between moves or student storage, we have an option for you. And, with prices starting at just £3.56 per month, we’re sure we can find an affordable solution.
Contact us today to get a quote!
