I want to put some not very valuable stuff into a Big Yellow Storage facility near me. They say I *have* to have insurance and it *has* to be theirs. I'm sure this is illegal.

I don't want to have any insurance.

Can anyone help?

Hi -- Not sure if it's illegal as such, but if it's in their terms and conditions of acceptance... then in my opinion they have the right to refuse to accept liability for your possessions, unless they are insured to their satisfaction.

To force you to use a particular insurer is anti competitive. Further, in the past when I have used self store I have not been obliged to take out insurance at all.

I have no expectation of them being liable for any loss I incur unless it's due to their negligence. Legally they cannot contract out of their obligations for negligent acts anyway.

I would like though to retain the right to choose if and with whom I take out any insurance.

They also fail to show their "compulsory" insurance prices on their website or to include them in their quotes - again I don't believe this is legal.

Ask the insurance ombudsman, they will clarify the situation.

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/contact/index.html