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Amerigas Complaint - Automatic renewal of contract without authorization - Propane
Propane - Complaint
LEWISTON, MAINE -- I have had several contracts for propane with Amerigas in Lewiston Maine but now they have done it. Every year I would go to their office and sign a new contract for automatic delivery with monthly affordable payments. This year they renewed the contract without my knowledge but here is the thing.
The monthly payments are almost double. I understand prices are up but the payments are also based on last year’s consumption.
So when I received an invoice for the first month’s installment. I called them to ask what it was all about. I asked to speak with the manager to talk about the payments as they were too high for our budget. I was not allowed to speak with the manager just Chris the CSR.
I was told that no matter what if any changes were to be made, I would be charged $150.00 for an early termination fee. I asked how I could be charged an early termination fee when I never agreed to a renewed contract.
Chris the CSR kept referring to the original contract that I signed last year so I pulled it out. I don’t think that he was accepting me to have it still. I read line 9 which states both parties must agree to the price per gallon. I never received any notice of what my new per gallon price was for this month.
Chris the CSR then stated that I received a letter about my per gallon price along with the notice of the $112.00 fee that is on all contracts. I pulled out this letter as well and read it to him and NO where on the letter did it state my price per gallon. He stated his copy had the price. (Basically calling me a liar.)
After quite a lengthy argument, which was going nowhere I decided to hang up and seek advice from someone.
I called the Attorney General’s Office – Kathy Peters Phone: 207-626-8800
After speaking with her, she stated that we have a case as we cannot be forced into a contact. I am filing a formal complaint with the State of Maine.
I advise anyone having problems with Amerigas to call the attorney’s office in their state. Keep all your documents and write down any conversations you have with anyone at Amerigas along with their name and date.
The monthly payments are almost double. I understand prices are up but the payments are also based on last year’s consumption.
So when I received an invoice for the first month’s installment. I called them to ask what it was all about. I asked to speak with the manager to talk about the payments as they were too high for our budget. I was not allowed to speak with the manager just Chris the CSR.
I was told that no matter what if any changes were to be made, I would be charged $150.00 for an early termination fee. I asked how I could be charged an early termination fee when I never agreed to a renewed contract.
Chris the CSR kept referring to the original contract that I signed last year so I pulled it out. I don’t think that he was accepting me to have it still. I read line 9 which states both parties must agree to the price per gallon. I never received any notice of what my new per gallon price was for this month.
Chris the CSR then stated that I received a letter about my per gallon price along with the notice of the $112.00 fee that is on all contracts. I pulled out this letter as well and read it to him and NO where on the letter did it state my price per gallon. He stated his copy had the price. (Basically calling me a liar.)
After quite a lengthy argument, which was going nowhere I decided to hang up and seek advice from someone.
I called the Attorney General’s Office – Kathy Peters Phone: 207-626-8800
After speaking with her, she stated that we have a case as we cannot be forced into a contact. I am filing a formal complaint with the State of Maine.
I advise anyone having problems with Amerigas to call the attorney’s office in their state. Keep all your documents and write down any conversations you have with anyone at Amerigas along with their name and date.
Comments:
Posted by jonthethird on 2011-09-21:
It seems more and more places, as a "convenience" to the customer, are going to automatic renewals. Of course, the new contracts are always beneficial to the business. A contract, if I remember right, is the result of a meeting of the minds, with both parties agreeing. How can we call such renewals a contract?
Posted by trmn8r on 2011-09-21:
I have been an Amerigas customer for 16 years. We have kind of a hate-love relationship, and I know to always expect to have to call to work out billing errors.
I would never go on automatic anything with AG, as they are incapable of doing it correctly on manual.
I would never go on automatic anything with AG, as they are incapable of doing it correctly on manual.
Posted by AStevens on 2011-10-15:
Update on my complaint about Amerigas in Lewiston Maine. I filed my complaint with the Attorny Generals office. They stated I could as it was a forced contract. They contacted Amerigas to let them know of my complaint. Amerigas had 10 days to contact me and resolve the issue…they did not. A mediator then called me to verify what I wanted which was not to be in a contract, have the $150.00 early termination fee reversed and now $35.00 late fee reversed. I have no problem paying for the unauthorized delivery of 11.9 gals. (It is about $50.00).
Mary at Amerigas tells the mediator that I have been a customer for eight years and they have always renewed contracts automatically. Not sure why she felt compelled to lie but she did and I can prove it. Mary stated to the mediator that she would waive the fees if I promise to only purchase my propane from them until June next year.
I had to laugh, they want me to promise!!! I put no promises in writing but as we all know it is difficult to have propane delivered from a different company unless you have your own tanks. I will purchase propane from them until I have purchased my own tanks then they will see me going to a different supplier. That could be in months or years…depends on the finances. I make no promises to liers.
The Attorney Generals office is keeping the complaint open until Amerigas upholds their end of the agreement and waives the BS fees and leaves me alone to order propane as needed.
Mary at Amerigas tells the mediator that I have been a customer for eight years and they have always renewed contracts automatically. Not sure why she felt compelled to lie but she did and I can prove it. Mary stated to the mediator that she would waive the fees if I promise to only purchase my propane from them until June next year.
I had to laugh, they want me to promise!!! I put no promises in writing but as we all know it is difficult to have propane delivered from a different company unless you have your own tanks. I will purchase propane from them until I have purchased my own tanks then they will see me going to a different supplier. That could be in months or years…depends on the finances. I make no promises to liers.
The Attorney Generals office is keeping the complaint open until Amerigas upholds their end of the agreement and waives the BS fees and leaves me alone to order propane as needed.
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