Royally screwed by propane company - What can I do?

[chucko]

I would have went to jail

 

[two_bit_score]

I just can't get out alive with this propane company I rented a tank from.

Last year I moved into a new (used) house with propane heat. I call a local company (UPG) for new service and to rent a tank. They are having a great special for 1st time customers, twice the capacity of your tank for $.50 discount, so I'm thrilled at the cheaper than normal rate.



In hind-sight I'm guessing they arrived early hoping I wouldn't be home to meet them.

The police arrive by the time the tank is loaded up and tell me I must let them leave, even though they have my propane in the tank.

So, now UPG has stolen my propane, left me with an empty tank which is not connected or even within reach of the line (they were supposed to swap the tanks), stolen my leveling blocks and I'm out heat, 150gal of propane, leveling blocks and still have a fraudulent bill.

If not the BBB, the police or any kind of oversight at all (I called around as the propane line they 'installed' (moved) was left above ground, illegal according to fire code), who stops these companies from just running rampant as this one seems to be? I can hardly imagine I'm the only guy they are screwing at every turn.

..... .... ..... ....

The whole thing seems analogous to my claiming you owe me $500, with no proof at all, and just grabbing things out of your yard and driving off with a police escort. If I'm missing something, I'd love to find out what it is, as I'm lost as to how this was all possible.

Sure got off on the wrong foot with those guys. Probably involving the BBB before actually sitting down and talking to a person in authority at the company help keep it on the wrong foot. The BBB, contrary to public opinion, is really just a sham organization. They have no authority but try to act like thru do.

Somehow you have given all of them the impression you are some kind of jerk and they are treating you accordingly.

I bet if you went in and talked to the people who are in charge in a polite business like manner you could dispel the jerk impression and get your problem resolved. Maybe. Good luck!

 

[Domush]

First: do you have reciepts that show how much was in the tank. Like when they "repo'd" the tank. Did they give you any paperwork then? possibly stating how much was left in the tank??? Did the officer verify what was in the tank??

Unfortunately it was all so much drama I didn't get any log of the propane amount in it. I don't think the sheriff even looked twice at the tank. The 'repo' guys checked and verified it was 42%, but somehow I can imagine that being lied about in court.

Second: How long did you have left on your "lease" and how much did that cost you per year?

It is supposed to be no charge when two tanks of propane are bought per year (which I bought).

Third: how much did they charge you for line burial that they did NOT do??

$53 for "14' of burial" (the line sticks out of the ground from 8 feet on and no part is buried more than 2" (fire code requires 12" minimum)

Fourth: how much do they normally charge for leveling blocks?

They normally come with the tank when you rent, but the guy used mine instead.

Because IMO, if you go the small claims route, you are entitled to ALL of the above IF you can prove your case. Because you paid for the propane, BUT you have to prove what was in their. They could very easily say...." he wanted us to transfer to his new tank, but it was empty, so we loaded up and left" The line burial is pretty clear cut. They tried to charge you for work you can prove was NOT done. (provided you havent already burried it and can take photos). The lease...you should be entitled to that back, but you may have a contract termination fee or something that may void it. And the leveling blocks, that is just plain theft.

It is really two vs two, as my ex-wife also saw the level recently.

You say you prepaid for the Propane. So if you paid $700 for propane, they should have only put in $700 worth of propane in the tank. NOT $850 worth and then try to re-collect???

I ordered 195gl per tank and prepaid @ 1.499. They put all 390gl in even though they changed the charge on the second tank (they did one tank @ $1.499 and the other @ $1.899). The contract says nothing about the discount being limited to a specific tank, which is the entire point of the dispute. Not to mention they agreed to that fact when I prepaid. It wasn't until they pumped the propane that they changed their mind and decided to change the terms of the contract mid-fill.

 

[LD1]

I ordered 195gl per tank and prepaid @ 1.499. They put all 390gl in even though they changed the charge on the second tank (they did one tank @ $1.499 and the other @ $1.899). The contract says nothing about the discount being limited to a specific tank, which is the entire point of the dispute. Not to mention they agreed to that fact when I prepaid. It wasn't until they pumped the propane that they changed their mind and decided to change the terms of the contract mid-fill.

This is the part I am still hazy on and the part that may make your case.:thumbsup:

Your ordered 390gallons over the phone and prepaid for it at $1.49/gal. They had no issues then only charging you $1.49 right?

So now you are the brand new owner of 390 gallons of propane waiting to be delivered. They deliver it, and THEN try to bill you 50 cents per gallon on 195 gallons?? Is that correct?

IF there is nothing in your paperwork or "fine" print about limited # of tanks...etc, then I think that is your case right there. SINCE they are only trying to collect on 1 of the tanks at the higher rate, they cannot lie and say that it was a typo or a mistake.

They way I see it, you have a clear cut case. Go to small claims IF you cannot resolve it with them. (Which I would still try first). You bought and PAID for 390 gallons of propane. They took back 42% of YOUR propane that was already paid for.

Too bad you cannot afford a lawyer or the amount was greater because a lawyer would have a hayday. It very well could be Domush Propane Company before a lawyer were through with them

 

[tcreeley]

I bought a small camp once I was renting out of school. I didn't know the propane tank wasn't mine. I owed 45 or so and the propane guy arrived to take it with his help. Through the window I heard him say to his employee- grab some wood after we got it on. Thieves in business.
You can't win, move onto another company.

 

[grsthegreat]

I personally cant see how they could take the tank without a judgment. Once its installed on your property they cannot just come and remove it. If you owed money they would need a legal judgment to remove it.

If i install a set of stairs on your property and you don't pay me, i cant LEGALLY just remove them. I have to sue you and get a judgment prior to removal or its theft.

Have yo contacted the police dept and talked with someone higher up than this cop that showed up?

I go small claims also....ive had to do this in the past and its cheap.

 

[kenmac]

I personally cant see how they could take the tank without a judgment. Once its installed on your property they cannot just come and remove it. If you owed money they would need a legal judgment to remove it.

If i install a set of stairs on your property and you don't pay me, i cant LEGALLY just remove them. I have to sue you and get a judgment prior to removal or its theft.

Have yo contacted the police dept and talked with someone higher up than this cop that showed up?

I have to agree. If I were to install an A/C system or do some plumbing on someones property & they don't pay & order me off their property. I have to leave & sue them , get a judgement in order to repo.the property. Same with a auto repo company . If you tell the repo/ wrecker to leave your property they have to leave. It's called trespassing once they order you to leave

 

[grsthegreat]

That good old boy cop was probibly the guys brother (or being Kentucky his sister :laughing

 

[kenmac]

Had a couple builders didn't pay for HVAC /Plumbing jobs. Said they were going under & didn't have the $$$ to pay. I had to place Leins on the properties .I wasn't allowed just to go in & remove all my Plumbing & HVAC equipment.

 

[Alan L.]

Easy to second guess, but I would not have called the police. No way they would have left the premises with that tank without running over my vehicle. You need to file a formal complaint with the police. No way somebody should be able to confiscate your property on the basis of a story that you owe them money, with no proof. The police should have order them to put the tank back where they got it and let the court decide who it belongs to. You'd think a cop would err in favor of the property owner rather than the trespasser. This makes my blood boil.