Belongings missing from college accommodation storage

unknown363

Hi there,

I was in on-campus college accommodation for 2019/20 and because the lockdown came into effect towards the end our 2 week spring break (when I was in my home county, on placement), I was unable to collect and clear out my belongings from my room due to movement restrictions. The college offered a refund for the remaining weeks and also offered to put my belongings into storage until they could be collected, which I took them up on.

When I went to collect my items in September, only a few of them were there-I was missing expensive equipment and clothing-€800 plus in value. The accommodation itself is halls of rooms, with a common kitchen and living area. All my items were in my locked room, and only myself and the residence staff had access to the room.
After going to the office 3 times and emailing them, I was shrugged off. However eventually, I did receive an email saying there would be an investigation into it and they would respond to me within a week. They also said the college was not taking responsibility for missing items because storing them was done so in good faith. This was 5 weeks ago and have heard nothing since and I have send emails asking for updates but they are ignoring them. At this point, I'd say it's obvious I won't be getting them back.

After reading the insurance certificate, cover is only provided for stolen items only where there is forcible entry or exit into or from the residential unit.
I'm just wondering is there anything I can do or just accept that it's not their responsibility?
Thanks a mill

Victor

Insurance certificate - what are the circumstances of this insurance?

coylemj

Wouldn't the college students' union be a better place to start, rather than an internet forum?

But you said that they 'offered to put my belongings into storage until they could be collected, which I took them up on.' Was there any disclaimer or terms and conditions mentioned in that offer?

Lenar3556

I suppose given that there were items of value involved, it would have been more prudent to attend at the accommodation and collect them in person. There wasn’t any regulation which would have prevented you from doing so, but how and ever.

At what date did they suggest/agree to enter your room, gather up what they found and put it into storage for you? It would be helpful to your position that you went and collected them from storage at the first available opportunity - or was there a period of months before you attended to collect them?

I wouldn’t see much future in a legal action against them, but you could raise the decibel level a little, to see can some compromise be reached without an acceptance of liability.

As others have suggested, a students union would likely be worth approaching, together with a little persistence with the accommodation operators in writing. They will want this to go away.

Set out the facts clearly, outlining that the following items were without any doubt present and secured in the room when you left it - x,y & z were not there when you arrived to collect from storage facility.