Fuller Oil and Propane

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

From my perspective, automatic delivery does not mean the oil company (any oil company) is going to be able to always calculate oil supplies. I feel that as a homeowner, I have a stake in monitoring the amount of oil I have on hand.

In essence I agree with you. If your usage is much higher than "normal", then you might have to call and schedule a delivery early. But if you are not using excessive amounts of heat, the oil company can and should be able to anticipate your usage AND schedule their drivers on logical routes to make efficient deliveries.

I could see a rare instance where you might have to call them and request an early delivery, even with normal usage. If their business is running properly, it would be reasonable to expect you can get through on the phones with no issues, and they could give you a confirmed delivery in the next 24-48 hours. My experience this year with Fuller has not shown that to be true. In January we were well below 1/4 of a tank and I couldn't get through to anyone at Fuller for a full day, so I had to use an alternate supplier. I finally got through to Fuller, and they topped off the tanks a few days later. Based on historical data (over the last 13 years, I've logged every delivery date and amount) we would have been due for another refill mid-February. That didn't happen, and we were a couple days into March with our tanks running empty. Again, it took several attempts to get through the phones, and on the first call they couldn't give us any confirmation of a timely delivery, just a promise to "put us on the list".

IMO, if they are going to sign you up for *automatic* delivery on a pre-buy program, they should be able to manage that appropriately. Yes, as the homeowner I need to keep an eye on my oil levels, which I did. But Fullers performance this season has been pretty much consistently poor since December-ish.

[tis]

BRK, I feel sorry for you. I hope you get all your pre buy before and if anything happens.

[ishoot308]

Brk;

Sounds like you did everything right and were put in the same boat as many of the others who are rightfully unhappy.

I hope everything works out for you.

Dan

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Brk;

Sounds like you did everything right and were put in the same boat as many of the others who are rightfully unhappy.

I hope everything works out for you.

Dan

Thanks. It's not like we're in danger of freezing, I can afford to abandon whatever I have left with Fuller and just buy more oil someplace else. It would be disappointing for sure, but hardly something to put me in financial distress. I'm more concerned about people that have a chunk of money tied up with Fuller and no financial means to just go out and essentially re-buy their heating oil from another supplier. What Fuller is doing here is, IMO, a very significant disservice to the community. They are putting customers at risk, and I think it's reasonable to assume they are putting the income stream of their employees at risk through bad business practices.

While I've been a satisfied customer for 13 years, their handling of this is atrocious and when I look at the greater extent of the problem I'm not willing to cut them any slack. The rolling impact of this is too great for anything less than a complete and honest explanation by the company. They did NOT get into this because of a faulty phone system, and the longer they attempt to hide behind that excuse, the more worried I am about the sustainability of the company.

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

IMO, if they are going to sign you up for *automatic* delivery on a pre-buy program, they should be able to manage that appropriately. Yes, as the homeowner I need to keep an eye on my oil levels, which I did. But Fullers performance this season has been pretty much consistently poor since December-ish.

As I said earlier, I am fortunate (?) because I usually get one fill up a year, which is really good seeing how I have to use Kerosene. I am not on a pre-buy because of our low use, and because my experience with a pre-buy with an organization I am involved with was not good... for two years. The pre-buy was good if the price went higher than the pre-buy rate, but no relief if the price dropped below. but that is for another thread.

Back on track, I hope they get it together... I can see some legal ramifications coming about, either in a civil area, or by the state.

[Legionnaire70]

I'd say the writing on the wall is pretty clear, they will be claiming bankruptcy soon i'm sure....probably in the same line as THE MEAT HOUSE...

[brk-lnt]

BTW, if you were one of the Fred Fuller customers previously affected and had to buy oil elsewhere, you can read a fairy tale letter from Fred here, and download a form to submit a claim for reimbursement:

http://www.fullers.com/news/issue-claims-form

They have set up a fund equal to their "donation" to the state of NH, which had to step in to run their business for them. So, this fund is about $22,000 or so. That means the first, maybe, 150 people to submit a form might have a chance at reimbursement.

[Lakemamma]

Thank you BRK for that....

I called them today as I am still waiting for our delivery. Again I got told might b there in 10 days and that's what I was told last time I called. The receptionist said well we understand if you go somewhere else. Wow, ok I will thanks I need oil and I need it now.

Called another company and will get delivery tomorrow.

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by Lakemamma

Thank you BRK for that....

I called them today as I am still waiting for our delivery. Again I got told might b there in 10 days and that's what I was told last time I called. The receptionist said well we understand if you go somewhere else. Wow, ok I will thanks I need oil and I need it now.

Called another company and will get delivery tomorrow.

You're a good person for waiting so long to take your business elsewhere. But it is always the right move to make when a company is consistently unable to meet its customers' needs.