Auto Top Up Heating oil rip off

peejay5

I'm in dispute with a heating oil supplier and trying to contact others in the North East who may have fallen foul of their Direct Debit Auto Refill "Scheme".
Anyone out there been with, or still with, Northern Energy Supplies Ltd. in Harrogate or sister Co. White Rose Fuels in Selby?

thozza

Can't help as a customer, but these Guardian articles are also about the Northern Energy top up scheme:-

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2015/feb/10/northern-energy-price-overcharge-top-up

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/nov/29/dont-pay-over-odds-oil-deliveries

peejay5

Thanks Thozza. Yes I've seen these and there's another article in The Northern Echo along the same lines.

G_M

Don't know exactly what your 'rip off' is, but these schemes regularly come up on the forum.

You sign up to benefit from not having to do anything. Just sit in your couch and the supplier will top you up without you moving.

The downside is the supplier tops you up when they want, at whatever price they choose.

That's the price for lethargy.

peejay5

Absolutely agree that if you are offered a service and that comes at an advertised price/cost it's my choise. But when a service is promoted with lots of carrots but with no mention of a premium that's deceipt. When I challenge them about this additional charge they deny it even exists!
The rip off is the fact there was no mention of it. I only discover years later that I could be receiving a heating oil delivery on the Auto Refill service and my neighbour (who's not on Auto Refill) could have then had that tanker hose shifted over the fence to his tank and been charged 40/50% less for the same oil. And that extortionate difference has been aroound £300 or more. Meaning in recent years annually I have had an additional £1000 (or more) taken from my bank account as a benefit of being a loyal signed up customer.


In the press articles they have stated they have 10,000 customers. So if conservatively just 5% (500) have been exploited in the same fashion, it's simple maths to work out that we're talkng VERY BIG £££££.


The analogy I'd use to illustrate how crazy this is:-


John goes into Tescissons super store and picks up a tin of beans.
He goes to till. Nice man on till says thas 40p please. Did you know that we offer a "SuperBeans" loyalty service. If you buy enough beans, once we work out how many you eat we'll deliver them direct for you. Save carrying all those heavy cans, plus you get a rebate on the price. there's no charge for the scheme, you just have to set up an account for payment.
Whats not to like - yeah that sound good I'll do it says John.
John goes back a week later; buys another can of beans. At the till pays 40p and nice man ticks the "Superbeans" box on his account application. Usage = 1 tin a week.
The following week Tescisson van pulls up outside Johns house and delivers 2 tins of beans.
Fortnight later 2 more tins delivered.
4 weeks later statement turns up: Beans £2.40.
John rings Tescissons: "Just want to check, I think there's a mistake; you charged me 60p for tins of beans?"
No sir, Beans are 60p.
But my neighbour has just been to the store and bought a tin for 40p!
No sir, Beans are 60p.
So, it's obvious your charging me a huge premium for being on the Superbeans scheme?
No sir there's no charge for the Superbeans scheme. The price of beans is very volatile. Beans are 60p.
John puts on his moustache and false glasses drives to Tescissons picks up a tin of beans and pays 40p cash at the till.
.............
That seems crazy enough but there is another twist to do with the VAT refund that the oil company offer as a benefit. It's a scam within a scam.


If anyone is intrigued by the beans I can do chapter 2 if requested.

G_M

I think that's quite enough beans thank you. Too many beans results in hot air, which appears to be your problem at present.