WILMINGTON -- A local family was displaced from their home. They stayed in a local hotel and put all of their furniture, clothing and personal belongings in a storage unit.
When the family fell behind on its payments everything they owned went up for auction.
For Valerie Galloway, her husband and their children it's been one thing after another since they lost their home last spring.
Even with two incomes it's taken all the money they had to stay in a hotel and pay for food.
That's why they got behind on their bill with the storage company and had to work out a payment plan with Pods storage.
Mrs. Galloway said, "She agreed that we could make $200 payments every two weeks."
The plan worked for a while, and Mrs. Galloway even has copies of her money order receipts. But then, she got behind again. She thought Pods was still working with her when the unimaginable happened.
"They auctioned off everything we own," Mrs. Galloway said. "Those things that can't be replaced are what makes it so devastating."
Priceless photographs, family heirlooms, furniture, clothes, even a big screen TV. Literally all of the Galloways' worldly possessions were sold to the highest bidder for $250.
Pods Portable on Demand Storage owner Bill Burnette said, "We bent over backwards, the last thing we ever want to do is auction someone's things."
Burnette says out of the 3,000 or more pods they've rented out this year only two have gone to auction.
"If people are having problems and they call us, you know, we'll work with anybody. If they're up-front with us, you know, I can pay this much, we'll work out a payment plan," Burnette said.
He says they tried to work with Mrs. Galloway, but she broke her end of the payment plan, and he says she failed to make contact with them until her pod was already on the auction block.
Pods ownership is completely within its legal rights to auction off the Galloways' pod. But they are actively working to find the person who bought it to see if he will return some of the sentimental items inside.
Pods is also forgiving the Galloways' remaining $375 debt.
Be advised: storage companies hold auctions every day for people who fall behind on their bills. So make sure you can afford the price of storage before you risk losing everything.
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Family loses items in storage auctionSubmitted by WWAY on Fri, 10/27/2006 - 6:32pm.READ MORE:
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sympathy vote or hype???
You decide. I understand that a persons first reaction is to feel sooooooo sorry for this 'family', right?
I ask, why was this HOMELESS family staying in a HOTEL? (And it wasn't just a few days, as they "thought the storage place was working with them all along....remember?)
When families become 'displaced' due to job loss and subsequent income loss, would they not have 3 rather simple choices to make? and do they not know the difference between spending/wasting a lot of money at a hotel, and wasting further money eating out everyday.
Wouldn't it be best to stay in a ministry/shelter for a handup while they re-group and regain their mo-jo.
People know the Drill, no matter if they Have Never been displaced before, are in shock, are abuse victims, or whatever... people know that YOU CAN'T LIVE IN A HOTEL...
The 3 choices that are forthright when losing everything that I have never had to make and pray that I do not have to make for my family are these:
A. Move in with family or friends.
BUT, if that is not an option; move on to plan B below...
B. Enter the Local Good Shepherd or even the Salvation Army shelter, with seperated and secured places for families to have their children right under their watchful eye, without preditory adults within...(so that is NOT an argument). THREE SQUARE MEALS per DAY. Desert TOO!
C. SAVE MONEY...for regaining former lifestyle...such as paying for storage shed... instead of wasting on the money on HOTEL and FOOD at Restaurants.
I am very sympathetic to the sadness suffered by our vast numbers of current unemployed, under-employed, impoverished, low functioning, and/or physically disabled,etc., but....this is about as much HYPE as the dude sitting on Market Steet with a sign in his hand STATING that he will work for food. oh uh sure...
THEY are drinking and druggin', partying and living it up with all the comforts of home, TV, Cable, freedom to roam the city, score all day long, do the Hustle.
Hope you GOT THEIR NUMBER. The Media is so often duped by these slick and wicked ones because they are too young to know a scam when they see it right in front of them. I bet the reporter took the story back home to mom and pop or to her ""Church Family" to gather some beer money for the nice family. Oops, I mean money to buy furniture...
agreed
although lots of people will be offended by your comment i agree that if a person isn't responsible then something like this can happen. if a person/family is displaced and are responsible they can get back on their feet, with a little hard work of course. everyone experiences are different, i was displaced once and got back up. my hours were cut and i got screwed over lost it all and even had to give my dog away to a friend but not i have my own place 2 car and $2k in my saving account so it doesn't happen again. 1 1/2 years from when i lost it all til now. i'm just saying with some hard work and sacrifies anyone should be able to get back on their feet.
the story on this family in particular should of never happened. i believe they would of benefited more by selling some items and getting a smaller storage unit, something for affordable. but everyone has a different opinion and nobody has a better understanding of the situation than the person in the situation.
I think
I think you might be assuming that the hotel they stayed in is pricey and has a pool/sauna/workout room. They probably stayed in some very cheap hotel that you would never consider staying at.
I also doubt that they ate out everyday as your post suggests. They probably either received food stamps or church handouts and prepared their meals right there in their cheap little hotel room.
It's obvious they did have SOME income, since they were paying $200/month for their storage and also paying for their hotel. At least they were working and trying to make ends meet.
What made you lose your compassion for others? I could see it if they were trying to milk the system like a lot of others do, but these people seem like they were really trying. How about giving them a break?
You Jurk
I can tell by your comment that you have always had what ever you wanted. Your are SPOILED!!!!
I lost my business, then lost my home, and finally I had to store all my belongings in a storage container...Well guess what someone broke into the container and stole everything we had left....My family and I truly know what it means to loose everything...We stayed in a motel until we could find some place to live...We had all our meals on the table of the motel,(room had a fridge) no going out to eat. WE DO NOT DRINK OR DO DRUGS!!! We had NO family to move in with!!! We saved every penny till we could find a place to live. We finally found a camper trailer to live in with no AC! In the middle of the summer! I have a child! For the first time in my life I could not buy food and a place to live for my family. WE WERE HOMELESS!!! I only hope and pray that you do not have to walk in my shoes! I had no idea that the economeny was going to take a downturn and kill my life.
I am so tired of all you spoiled people talking trash about people that have lost everything. Like you and your kind are so much better than others. You make me sick. You people always think you are better than everybody else! If you really wanted to do something then help the people that have lost everything! Where were you when your next door neighbor needed help! What about your friend that lost his/her job and needed your help. All they needed was just a hand up. But oh no instead you are like a pack of buzzards waiting to buy everything they owned for pennys on the dollar. Only hopeing to sell it later for big profit. I hope you all choke on it!
Please remember to have a heart and help your neighbor. You mite find yourself here one day!!!!!!
You don't know what another person is going thru until you walk a mile in their shoes.
I agree with the prior
I agree with the prior poster that you can make it work if it all goes to bell. And on your point of people being buzzards is ignorant. Those buzzards just happen to be the ones that survive when everything falls apart. It I can buy your stuff for pennies on the dollar and make a huge profit then an intelligent person can sell their own stuff that they already own to get themselves along. Might I add that they will benefit from added capital through sales of belongings and a decrease in the overall expenses from less stuff. Most sucessful business owners can understand this concept right? So I'd much rather be an responsible and legitimate buzzard than the dead woe is me sheep I'm flying over.
Not spoiled, just RESPONSIBLE!
Sorry about your BUSINESS LOSS, how are you doing now? How can I help you? I have no jobs to give, but wish I did. You may want to contact Senator Goolsby, he promised to make JOBS his primary concern if we elected him as our State Senator.
How can you help yourself? Ah, get out of the motel, it is too expensive! Even a flea-bag motel is too costly for one who has lost it all! Shelters are there for those folks who need a place to stay to regain their stamina. You will RISE again. If you were successful once, you WILL BE AGAIN!!!
I am not a spoiled person, and I am not a JERK, spelled with an 'e'.
I have helped many, many, many people through hard times in their lives. I have helped them re-align with family, re-secure jobs, get food when they were starving, and have sat in AA meetings with those who were going through the 12 Steps...many times, although I am not an alcoholic. I have brought them into my home and given them clothes, food and shelter, but mainly when they were really honest with themselves and clearly taking responsibility for themselves.
I have served as a crutch to many vets who have served our country with honor and yet been disregarded by their peers because they have lost it all....so do not tell me that I Don't KNOW.
Now, let me ask you... HAVE YOU EVER done anything for anyone? For the ones who make a living on the street? I have. I know this mindset.
My question is why there is a very LARGE element of homeless people who LIVE at hotels along Market Street and put everything in storage, yet wonder why they can't save a penny!