I had signed up with a new oil company in July 08 when oil prices were out of sight. I locked in at $4.49 gal and paid $100 for a one year service contract which I have not used at all.
As our economy suffers so has my business in the last few months. I work 2 jobs as does my teen daughter (after school) and we can expect to gross more than $20,000 less than last year (like so many people). I have been cutting our expenses where ever possible.
I called Romanelli and Son to try and renegotiable my price per gallon and explained my financial position. I was surprised as their total unwillingness to speak to me regarding a new agreement. I said I simply could not afford to pay $4.49 gal when I could get oil from any other company from between $2.99-$3.29 (and these companies do provide full service contracts as well for a similiar fee). I was told that there is nothing they could do. I then said I would be forced to cancel due to inability to pay such price. They made it very clear to me that I would have to pay the $595 cancellation fee and other fees as it stated on the reverse side of an agreement in paragraph 4 & 5 (out of 13). I told him that I could only make small monthly payments towards that fee and tried to renegotiate the fee. This time I was informed that they did not accept monthly payments and if I did not pay in full their attorneys would "come after me" and I would be paying for this as well.
I continued to try and plead with him to try to work with me. He then said he could sell me the oil for $3.99 gal and I'd have to pay a $250 fee up front. Well, what is the $250 called? It is not a cancellation fee? Is this a punishment fee? I also took offense at how stupid he must have thought I was because I was not in a high income bracket by making such an offer. Yes, I can do math and the end result would be within approx $40 of the $595 cancellation fee.
WATCH OUT BEFORE YOU SIGN ON WITH THIS COMPANY. They ARE NOT consumer friendly and are lawyer happy.
They need to put all their fees on their website. Consumers are getting the pretty picture - not the truth.
Get your oil from a company that is not afraid of losing you as a customer and has little or no termination fee. Other companies want to keep their customers happy. Romanelli wants to keep themselves happy.
I have now hired a consumer friendly oil company and their rates are terrific. If I cancel with them, my fee is 0
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