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Lost our stuff in a storage fire

20 replies

Christelle2207 · 26/02/2022 10:33

A big storage unit near us burnt down overnight. Awaiting confirmation but we had an email to assume everything destroyed, if not by the fire by smoke and/or water.

It was my idea to put stuff in storage just two weeks ago as we are hopefully moving house soon. So I feel guilty. Husband feels guilty because he didn’t upgrade the insurance to cover everything. Neither of us are blaming the other for now.

So not our day to day stuff but virtually all photos, Books, certificates, wedding dress,
DVDs were there along with my husband’s extensive selection of tools. Garden furniture. Some of the kids stuff but luckily not that much- can’t face telling them yet.
I think the room size was 75 square feet and it was packed to the rafters, took more stuff there just two days ago.

Insurance should cover to a degree but obviously not at all with regard to sentimental stuff.

I feel I need to process it properly but just can’t because every time I realise something else was there I feel sick.

My husband is a bit more pragmatic that me. He’s gutted too but his view is a lot of people in Ukraine etc have lost or stand to lose much more than this. It’s just stuff at the end of the day.
Which is of course true. We’ve had health scares recently and fortunately are fine. We are lucky in many many ways. But I am so upset right now.

Anyone else had a similar situation and got over it?

Funnily (?) enough although we still want to buy the house we’re buying an important factor was that it had to have space
for all the stuff we had. We don’t need that any more.

OP posts:
NoLongerTroels · 26/02/2022 10:38

How awful. Does the Storage facility cover some contents with their insurance?

FlibbertyGiblets · 26/02/2022 10:38

Oh how awful, so sorry. The photos and the wedding dress made me choke up a bit.

Christelle2207 · 26/02/2022 10:40

@NoLongerTroels

How awful. Does the Storage facility cover some contents with their insurance?
We will def get some money.

But I’m far more upset about the stuff that can’t ever be replaced

OP posts:
OneEpisode · 26/02/2022 10:42

So sorry for you. Well done you for keeping it in perspective.
Once you have moved into your new home, ask friends and family go restock you with wedding photos look forward to that process. When my grandad died my grandma moved into a flat and she really wanted to pass on grandad’s workshop full of tools. You may find someone else who could restock DH with tools.

EatSleepReplete · 26/02/2022 10:43

I've PM'd you OP.

@NoLongerTroels most storage places usually only cover loss of your own goods if you opt take take out cover at an additional fee. Obviously different places might have slightly different terms but this what our place does.

EatSleepReplete · 26/02/2022 10:45

OP - I don't suppose your own contents insurance will cover any of it? Can you prove how long it's been out of the house? If it's been out of the house for less than a certain amount of time, might it still be covered under your household contents policy? Could you prove this from the date of the lease document of the locker?

Christelle2207 · 26/02/2022 10:47

@EatSleepReplete

OP - I don't suppose your own contents insurance will cover any of it? Can you prove how long it's been out of the house? If it's been out of the house for less than a certain amount of time, might it still be covered under your household contents policy? Could you prove this from the date of the lease document of the locker?
@EatSleepReplete Yes we have considered this and will be giving them a call as we def have cover for contents outside the home. I suspect because we didn’t specifically list these items that won’t help but we will def call to check.
OP posts:
GrimDamnFanjo · 26/02/2022 10:57

Gutted for you. You must be in shock.
However, ultimately this could be freeing for you.
I appreciate you won't be feeling like this at the moment.

Christelle2207 · 26/02/2022 11:00

I have thought that tbh. Our clutter has been a source of many arguments over the years so it may turn out to be true in the long term. Thank you.

OP posts:
Cuck00soup · 26/02/2022 11:04

I'm So sorry, what a hard thing to process. Is it this one OP? If so are they saying that everyone gets two weeks free insurance or is that what you would have needed to opt into?

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/families-count-devastating-cost-warehouse-19907876

I'm afraid they don't sound like a great company Thanks

Moltenpink · 26/02/2022 11:06

I’m so sorry, I’m local to you and I saw the fire this morning, it’s awful.

I lost similar in a flooded cellar a few years ago and certificates are easier to replace than you think. Always so sad to lose photos though. Flowers

Christelle2207 · 26/02/2022 11:07

@Cuck00soup
No that‘s a different one happened almost exactly a year ago.

OP posts:
OhToBeinDeutschland · 26/02/2022 11:09

So sorry. I’m also local-awful news!
Just sending you best wishes.

uptonogoode · 26/02/2022 11:12

@Frazzled2207 we've lost stuff too :(

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 26/02/2022 11:12

Losing the sentimental stuff is hard. Are the photos things that might exist digitally still?

Christelle2207 · 26/02/2022 11:13

[quote uptonogoode]@Frazzled2207 we've lost stuff too :([/quote]
I will pm you. So sorry.

OP posts:
70kid · 26/02/2022 11:17

How awful and yeah lots of people are suffering but that’s pretty much always the case someone suffering somewhere so don’t feel guilty for being upset
Birth certificates marriage certificates can all be replaced
If it’s old photos like kids school pictures taken by a photographer If you know who the photographer is he may still have original images somewhere

flylow · 26/02/2022 11:17

The first thing I thought when I saw what was on fire was this, so sorry you're one of the people affected. It's just awful.

I hope through family and friends they'll be able to get you copies of any photos they may have. I know a lot is irreplaceable though.

I hope you're able to get decent monetary compensation at least.

Christelle2207 · 26/02/2022 11:31

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Losing the sentimental stuff is hard. Are the photos things that might exist digitally still?
Wedding and ones of the kids yeah. Ones of growing up in the 70s and 80s def not.
OP posts:
Frazzled2207 · 26/02/2022 15:11

Our local news now saying that police think the fire was started deliberately

What evil there is. Up to now we assumed that it was an accident.

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