Swezey Fuel Company, Inc.

Review: This company made official reading of fuel capacity of underground storage tank for closing. Since the seller never had a valid contract with this company the employee did not have any knowledge of type of the tank underground. The employee performing reading based on assumption that this tank is basic cylindrical metal tank.The tank underground is in fact fiberglass ball shape tank. That resulted incorrect reading in amount of about 350 gallons.The worker also ignored the fact that when he measure the level the stick did drop 9 feet down which is extremely unlikely for regular cylindrical tank which is buried about 1.5 to 2 feet bellow ground and is only about 4 feet in diameter.That would make about 6 feet (7feet with the filling neck) and not 9 feet. This company "somehow" calculated a rate $3.59 per gallon (for customer who did not have a contract with them) in times where oil was sold in historical low and sold by any other company around $2.80 per gallon. How this rate was calculated is anyone guess. This incorrect reading resulted extra charge on closing for buyer in amount of $1300 for oil which was not in the tank. It is imperative for any oil company providing official reading to have knowledge of the tank to make a correct reading.Majority of oil companies do not provide this reading unless the customer has a contract with them.Before oil company goes into contract they inspect the equipment in the residence which make them aware of what kind of tank and oil burner etc. is serviced.Swezey Fuel Co. Inc. failed to to assure that official reading is accurate which cost the seller significant amount of money.

I did tried to contact this company.First they told me that this reading was falsified by someone who used their letterhead since they do not provide under any circumstances reading for someone with no contract.They also told me that that the signature on that document is not from anyone who works for this company and that this document is incomplete with missing information.Ho ewer later that day I get call back from them that this in fact was done by them and that "they did as a favor " for someone. Based on that excessive rate it make me question what was the motive for this "favor". Although they acknowledged that this reading was incorrect they refused to provide corrected and accurate reading.Desired Settlement: Reimbursement equivalent of the damages caused by this negligence and an official letter stating how much oil was in the tank at time of reading based on the fact that this tank is spherical (ball ) shape tank in 6.5 feet in diameter with 27 inches of oil. Description of the tank is available from [redacted] upon request.This letter should be mailed to the seller as well to the buyer.

Business

Response:

Swezey Fuel did measure this tank on December **, 2014. The reason we could not originally find the measurement was because we did the call for [redacted] under his other account. We were told the tank is 1080 gallons, the tank had 27" in it on the day of the measurement. According to our chart 27" in a 1080 tank equals 647 gallons. The market rate the day of the measurement was $3.499 (647 gal X 3.499 per gallon) X .025tax on oil equals the amount on the closing $2327.64. OIL is a commodity and the price changes on a daily basis, we are not cash on delivery company and our prices can not be compared to one. This tank is underground and we not know the dimensions. If this tank is in fact a cylinder tank as [redacted] claims she should be contacting the seller of the house not Swezey Fuel.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

[Your Answer Here]Your company put a signature on official document which is completely inaccurate and wrong.I did not see any disclaimer on that document stating that this reading is for only one type of tank.Your false reading cost the buyer significant amount of money and you should claim some responsibility for that. The fact that you refusing to do that just speaks about how you stand behind services and work you performed and how you value your customers.

In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

Sincerely,

Business

Response:

We contacted the previous homeowner who agreed to make the buyer whole in this situation. I will reiterate the tank was buried we do not know the dimensions, this complaint should be marked as resolved.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.

Sincerely,

Review: Today was an interesting exchange between sweezey and my banking institution. But first, some background and context. I paid my the entire balance of my bill online and received a confirmation number. The same day we contacted their customer service to request a delivery as the winter months are soon upon us. We were informed that the payment hadn't shown. We also had an issue with the boiler and Sweezey did send a technician who fixed the issue expeditiously and got the oil burner running. We then made another follow up call the next day to check about the payment as we were informed that the next delivery would be on Tuesday. All is well and Tuesday comes, but the payment still has not cleared according to Sweezey's systems. The oil truck came and gave us 50 gallons and advised us to get the balance situation cleared up to which we quickly informed the delivery person that we paid the bill the week before. Here's when things go from bad to worse.

We called sweezey on Wednesday and had a conference call with a rep from our banking institution that confirmed the funds were taken out of our account and sent to Sweezey's account. The rep on the phone from Sweezey still claimed the payment had not cleared. It had been a total of 4 business days and the bank informed the Sweezey rep that the funds were sent to their account. To our shock, the Sweezey rep claimed that we must've made a payment on a fraudulent website since the confirmation numbers were not coming up in their "system"

I have made payments using a debit/credit card and a check online all of which are provided in the payment history of this same exact website that I use to make a payment. I also have the bills (which are on carbon paper) that show the dates of payments and the matching dates on the online payment history. Clearly, the website shows me history that supports the physical bill that Sweezey uses.

My complaint is that Sweezey continued to just use the excuse of "its not in our system" and the resolution is that we must file a fraudulent claim with our banking institution and the bank will refund our money. I've now witnessed a new low for a business in claiming without hesitation that a confirmation number just doesn't come up in their system and that even the bank telling them that the funds went to their account, the rep from Sweezey just kept saying its not in their system.

So here's the conclusion. Sweezey collects our $700, claims they didn't get it and now we have to file a report with our bank because Sweezey claims the website I used to make a payment was not the right website even though I have print outs of the confirmation #'s and the sweezey bills that confirm payments in the past. So now we still have an outstanding balance which we have to pay again (another $700+ dollars to Sweezey) in order to get our tank filled.

I wonder how many times this happens to the hardworking people in our community that are in greater need of oil with the cold months. We have a 10 month old baby at home and will need to heat our home with the oil in our tank. However, given the issues with paying Sweezey on the internet, we're not sure that if we were to pay over the phone that the "system" would still not show our confirmation and around and around we go.

I doubt the 2nd time will result in a missing confirmation number in their "system" but if you multiply this exercise in 10 households with tanks that are typically 250 gallons. You're making quite a profit off the people who need heat and the banks who send the funds. A gallon cost about $2.50 so you do the math with how much this "system" could cost households.

The conclusion of the call was to just wait more days, until Friday which would be 5+ business days from the time we made the payment online and the bank rep advised Sweezey that the funds were sent to their account.

I'm filing this complaint because I believe that it's criminal to claim non payment, claim that on of your customers made a payment on a fraudulent website, and then force the customer to work with their bank that may or MAY NOT approve a refund. And the tank is still not getting anymore oil and the days are getting colder.Desired Settlement: confirm our payment, confirm our $0 balance, and stop telling people that the payment did not come up in your "system." And lastly, for the love of god, please take this advice seriously:

update your technology to the 21st century. You could run your books using cheap software and have a more sophisticated e-commerce portal that sends an email confirmation of the payment made by your customers.

Auto bill pay or balanced monthly billing programs like the one offered by [redacted]) would enable your business to collect payments easier.

oh before I forget, please don't hire people that don't know how to use the "system"

Business

Response:

[redacted] as all our customers are given payment terms of 30 days. The balance was from a August [redacted] delivery. On the day the customer called the balance was over 90 days old and over 60 days past due. We pay our suppliers in 10 days and is difficult to carry balances for this amount of time. Swezey's customer service representative was told a payment was made on [redacted] given a authorization code that doesn't match our system. The payment was made through the customers online banking. While this person was acting in the interested of our company it could have been handled better on our side. We sincerely apologize to the Ford's and I have released them for a full delivery.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.

Sincerely,

Review: I cancelled all deliveries the week of December [redacted] because I was moving. The decided to deliver oil on the [redacted] of December and Bill me for it. Now I am stuck with a full tank of oil and I am moving.Desired Settlement: Refunded $82.99 for 36.1 gallons of oil.

Business

Response:

We did make an error, and the customer was sent a refund check on Dec **, 2015. Please make this case as closed.Thank you,[redacted]

Review: I purchased a new heating and cooling system in June of 2014 from Swezey. Upon purchasing this system I was told the system would save me about 1/3 on my heating bills in the winter. My heating system worked properly from november to the beginning of february. The first weekend in february I noticed that the heating system was relying on auxiliary heat ( prior to this it used heat). A swezey sales rep came on sat the [redacted] and said it was due to the snow around the outside condenser. The next week they came back and replaced a part of the system ( I believe some sort of pump). A week later I noticed the outside system was making loud noises (like a chain saw). A rep from swezeys came by on the [redacted] and said it was fine. (He was not familiar with the system and was on the phone getting help). The next week I called swzey again and they then said there was a problem with the defrost sensors (the sensors had been recalled). They then replaced the sensors and the system seemed to be working properly. Two weeks later I again noticed the system was working on auxiliary heat. A rep came to my house last weds and noted that the AC was going on and that without the auxiliary heat I would have AC running, He contacted the rep from the company and they came with a plan for remediation ( I believe flushing the compressor). The parts needed were not available until friday the [redacted] and the rep came back to my house that day. I called Friday evening and spoke to [redacted] and he said there was wiring problem and they fixed it. I went home at 9pm that night and the same problem persisted. Heat->cool air->auxiliary heat-> heat-> temp dropping. I again tested the system on saturday. It had the same issue and I called for service. The woman I spoke with on the phone stated she would send a senior rep to my house. About 2 hours later, I received a voicemail from someone at swezey (they did not leave their name) stating they would have the service rep call me. No rep called my house and at 9am on Monday I asked for a supervisor. I spoke with [redacted] and expressed my frustration with this system. I explained that I worked long hours and that I did not need to spend my days off with Swezey. He arranged for the rep to come to my house today at 8am. The rep arrived at 825 am with a rep from swezey. I was here for approximately 75 minutes with them. They both noted a problem with the auxiliary heat going on. They spent time looking at wiring. I left and then they spent several more hours working on the system. They left my house before 1pm. No one from swezey called me with an update. I called at 210pm asking for [redacted] but he was at lunch. I then called back at 330 pm and spoke with [redacted]. He told me that the thermostat that controls my heat has an 8 minute delay and that this was the cause of the problems. I stated that this did not make sense as no one realized this in the last 6 weeks. He proceeded to tell me that they have never found a problem with my system with all the service calls I placed. ( if there was never a problem why did swezey service reps change parts?). I then demanded further answers and [redacted] told me he would have the manufacturer come to my house. I explained that I work over 60 hours per week and that I was sick of spending my days off waiting for swezey. He stated that he and everyone else on long island works long hours. (not sure how thats possible because swezey is open 9-5 and they clearly get lunch hours.

I expect to be treated with respect and to get an answer. I am not sure how now the thermostat is the problem when it worked fine for 2 months. I am sure that my electricity bill will be almost the same with this new system,Desired Settlement: 1. I expect that swezey will give me an exact time for the manufacturer to come to my house next friday 3/**. I will not be waiting for 3 hours.

2. Since [redacted] says there is no problem with the system, Swezey will provide service on the heating system for the next 10 years,

3. Swezey will pay for an independent company to evaluate the system

4. In the future before installing systems, reps from swezey will understand how they work.

Business

Response:

We have resolved the problem and to our knowledge [redacted] is satisfied with the outcome. We met all of [redacted]'s requests. Please let me know if there is any follow up work.Thank you,[redacted]

Review: Swezey has Illegally violated their contract by delivering oil to my home after I sent a letter of termination months prior of which I have a copy, but they claim have never received. My contract ended June **, 2015 and I sent a letter termination any future business on May ** 2015. I sent a letter prior to the same address and they responded. I have no contract with Swezey for this year. I have not signed a thing. They violated the delivery again, by not calling first which I required for a delivery. I have many emails stating my wish for termination in addition. I have fulfilled my obligation and want nothing to do with this unethical company, but they delivered anyway. How can a company do such an appalling act when the customer is not home to witness?

Action: I bear no responsibility for their delivery on September **, after I have followed all the legal obligations. This is a sneaky and manipulative company and must be addressed.Desired Settlement: I owe nothing for a product I did not sign an agreement for , and stated in writing prior, fulfilling all my obligations, and I want no further contact with this business for oil delivery,Billing Adjustment

Business

Response:

We delivered oil on 9-**-15. [redacted] called on 9-**-15, THAT DAY we credited the full amount of the delivery she has a $0.00 balance. We didn’t receive notice of her cancellation, since it was a small amount of money we decided to credit the delivery rather the argue with her.Sincerely,Kent F[redacted]###-###-####