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Pandora's Box
Click a Company Name: First Fuel - G.A. Bove - Blue Flame - Suburban
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First Fuel Customers..
I've been getting a lot of calls
from FIRST FUEL customers in
Columbia County and I have to ask
you:Tired of the
propane roller coaster? 
Tired of the gimmicks? 
Looking for consistent, fair propane
pricing and great service? 
Want to save some money on trash
collection? 
Join the Galway Co-op & save!
Michael Casadei, Founder
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Febuary, 2011
You may have seen advertisements for First Fuel & Propane on television. They claim you will save when you buy fuel from them. They say they want you to become part of the "First Fuel & Propane family." I have received many phone calls regarding First Fuel & Propane over the last few years and none of them were good. Recently a 69 year old customer of theirs, who is disabled and on a fixed income, sent me sent some documents that I'd like to share with you. The first document is the contract. The second document is the customer's letter to me outlining his problem with First Fuel & Propane. The third document is a letter from First Fuel & Propane to the customer advising him of consequences if he defaults on his contract. The fourth is an invoice reflecting a $471.08 annual usage charge, $4.99. per gallon rate and a $5.95 environmental fee.
Documents 1 & 2 - Documents 3 & 4
This is a good example why the Galway Co-op.com LLC was formed. In my opinion, this is nothing less then corporate bullying. Signing that contract would be against the better judgment of most people. First Fuel & Propane contends that because they; set him up with leased tanks at no charge, did a pressure test at no charge, and gave him a first fill special, he now has to stay with them for the life of the contract, which is 5 years. So in other words, the $4.99 per gallon they are charging him now can go to, let's say $20.00 per gallon? The $471.08 annual usage fee can go to, let's say $1,000.00 per year? And the $5.95 per delivery fee can go to, let's say $10.00, and there will be no way out of the contract? Is this what we want from a fuel distributor?
Rip off Report:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/utility-companies/first-fuel-propane-r/first-fuel-propane-rich-co-4ae3f.htm
May, 2010
I have received a number of calls from current First Fuel customers. It appears that some customers have been told by First Fuel representatives that the Co-op's pricing contains hidden fees, and that our pricing is not possible. The fact is there are no hidden fees, and the pricing you see on our website and advertised in the news paper is 100% correct. With respect to the statement that ìwe cannot possibly sell propane for our advertised price,î that is simply false. We have been selling propane to our 3000 plus members at the advertised price since the Co-op was founded three years ago. And we will continue to do so, simply because it's fair and it works.
Now, we have also been told by a number of First Fuel customers that they signed a five year contract with First Fuel and First Fuel won't let them out of their agreement. If that is the case, my suggestion is to not argue with them but, simply file a complaint with the New York State Attorney General's Office (link below). Let First Fuel explain to the AG's Office how they can force a customer to pay whatever price they set for a five year period without any way out.
http://www.ag.ny.gov/resource_center/complaints/pdfs/cns001web_consumer.pdf
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G.A. Bove Customers..
Rip Report:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/consumer-services/g-a-bove-sons/g-a-bove-sons-home-heating-f2dcb.htm
September 8, 2009
G.A. Bove was incorrect in their written statement to propane customers when they stated that the Galway Co-op does not offer a pre-buy. Galway Co-op has always offered a pre-buy. We don't push the pre-buy because time has proved it only benefits the Propane Distributors. Also, for those who don't understand the wholesale history of propane (http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/hopu/hopu.asp), there is nothing volatile about it. The only volatile variable in the propane industry is the propane distributors' profit margin. But, for the sake of those who find comfort in a pre-buy, here is a simple comparison.
G.A. Bove pre-buy with customer owned tank = $1.599 per gallon. Good until 9/18/09
Co-op pre-buy with customer owned tank = $1.499 per gallon. Good until 9/20/09
G.A. Bove pre-buy with company owned tank = $1.899 per gallon. Good until 9/18/09
Co-op pre-buy with company owned tank = $1.799 per gallon. Good until 9/20/09
As with both companies there is a 400 gallon minimum.
Now you have the facts.
You be the judge.
Read contracts carefully.
See pg.2 of this document for their letter & more details.
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Blue Flame Customers..
September 4, 2009
I am in receipt of your correspondce dated August 31, 2009. After reading it carefully, I fail to see how either of the laws you've sited in your correspondence apply to the information contained on the Co-op's website. In as much as the Co-op is not looking to engage in litigation with Blue Flame, what is posted on our web site is true and I don't see any reason to remove it and will defend our right to express our members' opinions. Our website is designed to inform not only our members, but also consumers who are assessing the various propane companies. The information contained on our site concerning Blue Flame came from former Blue Flame customers. The Co-op is simply echoing their sentiments. The alternative would be for us to post emails we've received from angry Blue Flame customers. Additionally, if anone is guilty of making false and misleading statements, it would be Blue Flame. Many ex-Blue Flame customers have told me that when speaking to representatives of Blue Flame about the Co-op, they were told that; the Co-op could run out of gas leaving the end user without fuel, the Co-op will go out of business, the Co-op will raise their prices, the Co-op does not offer emergency service and the Co-op has hidden fees, in addition to "you got to watch out for that Co-op." All of the statements are clearly not true and designed to mislead, deceive and scare the customer.
View the rest of our exchange with Blue Flame in
this document.
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Suburban Customers..
View these vidoes and articles concerning pricing & service with Suburban.
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