Complaint Review: Amerigas

I had a seperate 100 gal tank installed for my detached workshop in Jan. 2008. The terms of the new install included a propane price of 2.49 per gal..The person who gave me the quote kept telling me that I needed to get in on there price lock progam. I didn't get in on their program because in the past it actually cost more money to lock in a price than to just pay the regular price after you figured in all the extra fees to get into the program.

Anyway, this price quote promted me to check my tank fill on my residence, I have a 500 gal. tank for the home, which I was charged 3.7999 a gal. in Nov. 08. I checked the internet for propane prices during that time and discovered that propane never got over 2.70 a gal. I also checked with several neighbors who used other vendors and they paid between 2.56 and 2.59 per gallon during that approximate time period.

On Jan 25, 2008 Amerigas came and filled both my home and workshop tank and put it on one bill (316 gal.). I contacted Amerigas and advised them that the driver should have put it on seperate bills because of the discounted price of 2.49 for the workshop tank. They said that they would have the person who handles the new tank installs contact me; this never happened.

This same date I contacted two other vendors and received price quotes of 2.56 a gal. I contacted a neighbor who also uses Amerigas and they indicated that they paid 3.25 per gallon about a week earlier. When I suggested that my november price (3.80) may have been a clerical error (someone hit a 3 instead of a 2) they said that no 3.80 was the correct price. when I told them that other venors were chargeing in the 2.56 range, I was told that that must have been an introductory price. These were not introductory prices.

On 2/8/08 I received my statement, and amerigas charged me 3.9499 a ,gal. for 316 gallons, plus another 100 gallons @ 2.49 a gallon. So to recap they not only charged me 3.95 a gallon for both fills, but added on an extra 100 gals at 2.49. Why would they charge me for 100 gallons of propane when the tank only takes 80% which I thought would only be 80 gallons.

When I contacted them to terminate my account, because of the outrages price, they told me that I would have to talk to the manager, who was in a different district , and to call back Monday. When I told them about the double charge for the propane, I was told I would have to contact the new install person, and that a message would be left for her to contact me. I said that would be fine, but she never calls back.

Several minutes later, the new install person called, unfortunately I was not home, so she spoke to my wife and said she was going to give us a break and charge us 2.49 for 100 of the 316 gal fill, Wasn't that what they were going to charge me originally, and take the seperate 100 gal charge off the bill. and quoted a statement balance that my wife and I still can't figure out.

This being said, I would be interested if any other NJ residence who are amerigas cutomers are aware of how much they overcharging for propane. How can they offer new cutomers such a low price per gallon (2.49) and charge regular customers 3.95 (1.46 a gallon more).

I contacted the better business bureau and the utilities board and was advised that I could file a complaint, but that propane is not regulated (this must be the only thing that is not regulated in this country). How in the world can this be. They can basically charge anyprice they want, which they seem to be doing, and there is nothing anyone can do?

Needless to say I will be terminating my account with them ASAP. It cost me over 1000.00 to deal with them instead of other vendors this winter. Oh well ther goes my stimulus tax advance refund check; sorry Wal-MART.

Trooper
bordentown, New Jersey
U.S.A.