Pro-rata billing means charging for part of a billing period in proportion to the time used. If your stay ends partway through a period you've paid for, you're charged, or refunded, only for the days that fall inside it.
At Wigwam
We take storage fees in advance, so the pro-rata part comes at the end, as a refund of unused days. Our move-out FAQ says we "refund you … any unused days on your contract after the notice period". Our FAQ on cancelling before you move in says the same: "we would refund you for any unused days on your contract after this."
Two clauses in our terms work on the same principle:
- If you give less notice than your Cover Sheet requires, we may charge "apportioned Storage Fees" for the shortfall, or take them from your deposit (clause 41).
- If you cancel within the cooling-off period, "a refund will be provided based on the length of storage You have taken prior to cancelling" (clause 40).
Clause 41 also says "Any calculation of the outstanding Fees will be by Us." If the exact refund matters to your plans, ask us to work it out for your dates before you give notice: call 0800 2545585. Our pages describe the billing period differently, so check your Cover Sheet (see billing cycle).
What it means in practice
The refund counts from the end of your notice period, not from the day you empty the unit. Clearing out early doesn't stop the charge; giving notice early does. So if you know your leaving date, give written notice straight away and then move out at your own pace within it.
Related terms: Billing cycle · Notice period · Payment in advance · Cooling-off period
Related questions: When will I be charged, and why do I pay in advance? · How do I give notice to leave my storage unit?