LPG suppliers and contracts

ohmochraich

I bought my house in feb this year.
The property is supplied by a large LPG tank in the garden.
The previous owner gave me the phone number for the supplier she used - and after moving in - I phoned them and asked them to fill the tank up.

I paid the bill (sent out to me within a week of them supplying the LPG) over the phone by credit card. - all good - so far!

I have just received a bill for £70 from them for 'contracted' tank rental and standing charge capacity (whatever that is).

At no point during my telephone conversation with them (when ordering or paying) was any contract mentioned (and they were well aware that we moved in in feb and had never used LPG before).

I live in rural scotland - and these suppliers are a long distance away from me. I had hoped to see if I could find a cheaper (more local) company to supply me before the tank needs filled up again.

Can they just assume a contract when nothing has been signed?
can they bill us for something even though they didn't advise us THEY (I assumed the tank was owned by the previous owner) owned.

They sent a leaflet detailing the repairs and upkeep that this bill covers (they have only been here on one occasion - and only touched the tank to connect and disconnect the pipe used to fill it.
The tanks is rusty - and in need of painting.
If they can charge - surely we should have been told this - and surely we only have to pay from feb to nov (and last nov until feb should be paid by the previous owner).

Finally - how can they tie us into a contract that we were not aware of - and have NOT agreed to.

Does anyone know how all of this stuff works - do you have to sign something agreeing to a contract?

MAny thanks for your help and advice.

ohmochraich

So - does nobody buy bulk LPG here - or does nobody who does buy it know if you have to actually sign a contract or if accepting even one delivery of LPG makes you legally contracted to that particular supplier?
Thanks.

david29dpo

Most tanks are hired (mine is) I pay £40 per year and 35ppl for the gas. As you have had some gas off them they may assume you wish to continue using them in the future. This could be a little tricky, you have signed nothing so are free a shop around for a cheaper supplier. Have you paid the rental fee yet? It may be best to for this year as if you refuse, they could take the tank away. I would let this go and shop around ready for next year.

Lifton

I find myself in the same situation. We moved into our house in September, and arranged for and paid for a delivery of gas from Shell. At no time did they tell me the tank is supposed to be rented - I thought I'd bought it with the house. Having checked with the solicitors I now accept that the tank is formally Shell's property. However I refuse to sign a contract that commits me to them for two years, which is the exclusivity period introduced by the Competition Commission (it used to be 5!). So far Shell have not taken the matter further. My guess is that I have not got a contract with them since I've signed nothing nor paid anything to imply a desire to have a contract. There remedy for this will be to remove the tank, which i'm likely to do as I would rather have oil.

I'm not sure about Scottish Contract law but my guess is that until you've signed something and exchanged something (usually money!) you don't have a contract and they can't assume that you do. If you dont pay the rental you may be in a stronger position, but then they may not supply you with more gas until you do.

I've just started a discussion with Trading Standards to get their perspective on this. It might be worth your while contacting the scottish equivalent of Consumer Direct for more advice.

Hope this helps.

Seraphinaoflondon

I am in a similar position to the OP. We are in England and are at the pre-exchange stage. In our case, the tank is underground so if it is removed, we'd have a big hole to fill and landscape and of course a new boiler to fit. I would actually rather have oil but the existing LPG boiler is a modern combi-boiler and I think it would cost several thousand to fit a new oil boiler? Not to mention a tank.

However, at least then we don't have the nonsense of being tied to one supplier and the fuel is cheaper.

I'm going to have to instruct my solicitor, I suppose? Nobody has yet suggested that we are inheriting a contractual liability -- I guess that would have to be a clause in the contract of sale?

Suppose I tell the tank owners to get stuffed and remove their kit....

1. Can I do that, in law?
2. If they take the tank must they fill the hole and make good?
3. If they don't take the tank, who is responsible for a gas tank with remnants of gas, un-inspected and unused?

I'd really appreciate some help on this. I've searched Calor and FloGas's websites and they don't mention this problem (surprise, surprise) and direct you to a phone number to speak to their 'team'. I don't want to talk to their 'team', I want to read the contract, but how?

Many thanks

[Deleted User]

you need your solicitor to check with the sellers about the existing contract and the alternatives

Seraphinaoflondon

woodbine wrote: »

you need your solicitor to check with the sellers about the existing contract and the alternatives

But then I have to pay a solicitor to do what I can perfectly easily do for myself at no cost?

david29dpo

woodbine wrote: »

you need your solicitor to check with the sellers about the existing contract and the alternatives

Absolute nonsense.

aled_morgan

Hi
I m wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the following . I’ve just finished my two year contract with Calor and whilst speaking with my neighbour he told me that “Flo gas” was worth looking at as he’s found them to be around 25% cheaper than what Calor was.
At the moment I pay Calor £98 p/m for my LPG and I’ve just checked with them and the current price for LPG was 55ppl. However when I told them I was going to have a look around to see what’s out there, they came back with a better offer of 50 ppl plus £150 worth of credit!!
Is this a good offer or would I be better off looking elsewhere if so where can i find a list of suppliers from my area from ?
Thanks

p.s. The house is a 2yr old 3 bed bungalow in SW Wales (SA14 postcode)

frankie

aled_morgan wrote: »

Hi
I m wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the following . I’ve just finished my two year contract with Calor and whilst speaking with my neighbour he told me that “Flo gas” was worth looking at as he’s found them to be around 25% cheaper than what Calor was.

Look at the sticky bulk lpg thread and you'll see that flogas are very suspect to the extent that most posters say don't touch with the proverbial bargepole!

Good initial hook price to get you signed up, the see the prices get hiked.

Buyer beware!

[Deleted User]

david29dpo wrote: »

Absolute nonsense.

!!!!!! it was only a suggestion and the OP will be using a solicitor anyway if buying a property
but dont worry i`ll crawl back in my hole head bowed