Vent: I didn't order this oil! WWYD?

[kaw1218]

If you told them to pump it back out, I'd be worried that they'd pump out too much.

That would be my fear too.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

If you told them to pump it back out, I'd be worried that they'd pump out too much.

That would be my concern too. How do you trust that they won't be spiteful and take more than they should?


I have no advice. I don't have a clue what I would do in your situation. I do hope it all works out in your favor though.

 

[LSchrow]

I wouldn't have them come pump it back out. There's always a chance that oil can leak and then you'd really have a mess on your hands. Personally, if they've lowered the oil to a price that you're happy with and they'll let you pay it off on your terms I'd leave it at that. Although I might try to protect myself from this happening in the future and send them a letter, certified RR, that says that you do NOT have an auto delivery relationship with this company and that any future deliveries from them, unless specifically requested by you, will NOT be paid for and they will NOT be allowed to remove it from your tank. That's what I'd do.

agreed.
they messed up, but making them pump it out seems a bit extreme.
have them match (or beat by a small margin) the other company's price, & pay it off.
less headache, potential mistakes, & mess, imho.

 

[crisi]

Technically, if you truly did not order it, its a "gift." You can keep it and laugh at them for sending you a bill. Whether that is ethical in this case - which sounds like it may be a misunderstanding, is up to you - and depends on how you feel about it. The company may learn a little about delivering product without proof of it being ordered.

 

[richs52]

There is no way that I would pay for it.

 

[shamrock30]

This happened to us once, but it was a much smaller amount of oil. The company said we had to pay it, and we did. However, there was recently a story on this type of situation on our local news (Boston). They said you do NOT have to pay for oil you didn't order, and to consider it a gift!

 

[Rootskate]

Im pretty sure that they can't pump the oil back out once it is in your tank. That said, I would not pay for it.

 

[Wendaeh]

I agree with others -- do not pay for it.

As for the question about the size of tanks -- ours is nearly 750 gallons.

 

[sanilacjack]

I agree that you should not have to pay for an employees mistake but.....my only concern is that you mentioned that you were a past customer. Would it be possible for them to have your personal information on file and that they could place this bill on your credit report???
JMO.

-Kim

 

[CowboyCO]

I would ask them to pump it out as well, unless it causes trouble (I don't know). I would definately call your local BBB and get that on their report. First of all, were you on an automatic fill up schedule? My sister is on one and that means they come out and fill the tank every so often not just when she calls. Did she give you a discount on it? If so, keep it and then pay for it the next time you would need a tank.

I wouldn't report them to the BBB until you have failed to come to an amicable resolution yourself. If it is unlikely that you would need another refill this winter, you might try to negotiate terms that would have you pay on your schedule at either the same rate as what you paid the other company, or the current rate in the future, whichever is less.

If unable to come to a resolution, ask them to pump it out and be there to verify that they only remove what they put in...

 

[unbroken chain]

The answer may vary by state. What state are you in?

Here's Massachusetts:

"Chapter 93: Section 43. Unsolicited merchandise

Section 43. Any person who receives unsolicited goods, wares or merchandise, offered for sale, but not actually ordered or requested by him orally or in writing, shall be entitled to consider such goods, wares or merchandise an unconditional gift, and he may use or dispose of the same as he sees fit without obligation on his part to the sender."

http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/93-43.htm
http://www3.whdh.com/features/articles/helpmehank/BO43860/

So if you are in Massachusetts, perhaps you have received some free oil.

 

[maccagerl]

This recently happened to a friend of mine- when he called to complain they told him they would take 10% off of their very inflated price. He said NO DEAL and suggested something like 50% off the price-
He told them that otherwise he would have to ask his own oil company to come out and check his tank for any damage done by the offending oil company, and he would send them the bill from his own company for the time taken to do this.
They ( the offending oil company) whined and moaned about the price of oil and their losses but in the end they gave him what he asked for, so he got to keep the oil and pay a lot less for it, too.
Good luck!

 

[starwood]

I agree with what's been said. Don't pay and report them to the BBB.

We had a situation with True-Green lawn service. We used them one season to get our grass back into shape. We cancelled at the end and said we didn't need it next year. We came home one day the next spring and there were the tags in the lawn saying they did the service as well as a bill.

They tried the same tactics to get us to pay and I just said give me your manager and I refused to pay. They cancelled the bill.

I'm still getting calls from them asking if I want them to service my lawn again. I just laugh and hang up.

OMG they did that to you too! We had it set up that we only wanted service when we called them. DH called and asked them to put down lime before we had the lawn reseeded and they never showed up (but they called 3 or 4 times to confirm we wanted it). Several weeks after seeding the lawn I went downstairs and found a bill on the front door and the signs that they had sprayed. It practically killed the new grass. I went ballistic and called them (I WAS HOME! and no one rang the bell). They apologized and said I didn't have to pay. I told them to cancel and we did not want them back. They kept calling. A few weeks later I saw their truck out front and I watched. The guy started pulling out his hose and I asked what he was doing. He said fertilizing. I asked where he got the authority to spray since I had cancelled. He said it was on his list. I told him he was not to touch our lawn and not to come back.

I called again and they gave me the runaround saying they didn't have anything saying I had cancelled. I again went nuts and they had the attitude that I had no right to be angry. DH called the home office and told them that if they ever contacted us again we would call an attorney and file a harassment suit. The home office faxed us and the office we were doing business with a letter saying they were not to contact us again. So far they haven't but everytime I see a Tru-green truck on the block I watch them to make sure they're not coming here.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I would not pay for the oil. You didn't order it. If someone decides to show up and say install sprinklers at my house without me asking them to I wouldn't pay for that. It is no different. You don't walk into Macys and they load you up with clothes and then tell you that you have to buy them! You didn't order it, you don't have a contract for it. They just decided that you needed some oil. Too bad so sad for them. They need to get better organized. I would not pay them a dime.

 

[Hensandchickens]

I would refuse to pay. If you do end up having to pay, I would. You will need the oil next winter and they price is only going to go up.

 

[lowie]

i too agree with the not paying. you don't know what damage can be done by them removing their oil or that they will do the right amount.

but i wouldn't just ignore the bill either. you need to settle this the proper way and have it in writing. these kind of companies have a way of coming back months later, after the staff has turned over and swear that you never made "X" agreement.

you should check with the BBB and see if there are other similar complaints against this company, not necessarily to make your own complaint.

OTOH, if they agreed to a very low price and you can start paying when you would have normally made another order, then you may consider keeping this oil. just get that in writing!

 

[brota]

Offer them $.50 per gallon!!!
If not they can come pump it out when you are there and tell them you want to see it pumped into 50 gallon containers so you can verify the proper amount.

Brian

 

[DisneygirlTeacher]

Since I live in a state that doesn't even know what heating oil is, lol, I would just like to say that NO company would use bully tactics on me. The fact is this is their mistake, not yours, and that is quite a lot of money to "owe" them. Call them back and tell them since you didn't order it they can come take it back. You will contact a lawyer if they don't and tell every single one of your neighbors not to ever use them. Talk to the highest up person you can find, then send a certified letter stating the same thing. No way should they be allowed to get away with this and think of how many other people they are doing this to, too. I wouldn't let them "win" with this strategy they have of making money.

 

[scrapquitler]

I'd call them up and tell them that they can either NOT charge me for it, or come and pump it out!

 

[ashlynn_j_m]

This happened to me last year. They delivered to the wrong house, then called and told us we owed them over $500. I stopped by the office which is also my friends salon and talked to her about it. Her dad owned the oil company. She said you don't have to pay that. It was the drivers fault not yours. I told her they could come and pump it out, and she said theres no way to do that, because they can't measure what they are taking out. She said not to worry about it, it happens sometimes with new drivers. They've never bothered me for the money.