Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Reprise of The Cost of Not Buying
If you look back to the entry I made here on November 9, 2008, you'll see my rant about Ferrellgas, one of the local (and national) suppliers of propane. And the one we have purchased from for over a decade.
My rant was due to the company charging us a $210.00 "non-usage fee" because we didn't have our propane tank filled last year. (We didn't use much.) Saving energy doesn't pay, it costs through the nose if you're a customer of that company.
I knew it was futile, but I had to complain publicly (besides here), so I wrote a complaint to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection.
The first response was a December 5th letter acknowledging the receipt of my complaint.
The second response, 10 days later, included a reply from the propane company, which did "not offer a resolution."
Here are the relevant parts.
And here, is the propane company's response. Even though I've never had the pleasure of taking a course in contract law, I recognize that the "agreement" to which I am a party might be a legal agreement, but it's not a contract. It's bullshit. And so is the policy and rationalization offered by paralegal Erin M. Strickland on behalf of Wade Clarin (SCGM), Ben Guzzi (Region Manager), and the whole rotten company.
The Wisconsin bureaucracy will keep my complaint on file for three years. If you have any to add, please do. Write to the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection, Division of Trade and Consumer Protection, 3610 Oakwood Hills Parkway, Eau Claire, WI 54701-7754 or call them at 1-800-422-7128.
I think my next letter will go to the Wisconsin state legislator for the district within which the lakes Blake lie and suggest that such one-sided agreements be outlawed in favor of contracts that are made between equal parties and that offer benefits to all parties and impose substantially equal responsibilities on all parties. (I may not vote in Wisconsin, but I certainly pay taxes that buy a lot of things I never benefit from.)
My rant was due to the company charging us a $210.00 "non-usage fee" because we didn't have our propane tank filled last year. (We didn't use much.) Saving energy doesn't pay, it costs through the nose if you're a customer of that company.
I knew it was futile, but I had to complain publicly (besides here), so I wrote a complaint to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection.
The first response was a December 5th letter acknowledging the receipt of my complaint.
The second response, 10 days later, included a reply from the propane company, which did "not offer a resolution."
Here are the relevant parts.
December 5: Thank you for contacting the Department... I have written to the business to try to assist you to find a solution to your complaint...
December 15: I have received a response from Ferrellgas concerning your complaint, which does not offer a resolution. I have enclosed a copy of the reply for your information...
I have recorded your complaint... and it will be included in information provided to consumers who inquire about the business for a three-year period...
And here, is the propane company's response. Even though I've never had the pleasure of taking a course in contract law, I recognize that the "agreement" to which I am a party might be a legal agreement, but it's not a contract. It's bullshit. And so is the policy and rationalization offered by paralegal Erin M. Strickland on behalf of Wade Clarin (SCGM), Ben Guzzi (Region Manager), and the whole rotten company.
The Attorney General complaint... has been forwarded to the Legal Department... I have completed my investigation...
Customers who do not purchase fuel for an extended period of time are charged a fee to help offset the use of our asset (propane tank) that is not generating revenue...
Our Master Agreement... states... "If you lease a tank from us, you agree to purchase from us a volume of propane at least equal to two times the water capacity of your Tank each 12 month period...
The Wisconsin bureaucracy will keep my complaint on file for three years. If you have any to add, please do. Write to the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection, Division of Trade and Consumer Protection, 3610 Oakwood Hills Parkway, Eau Claire, WI 54701-7754 or call them at 1-800-422-7128.
I think my next letter will go to the Wisconsin state legislator for the district within which the lakes Blake lie and suggest that such one-sided agreements be outlawed in favor of contracts that are made between equal parties and that offer benefits to all parties and impose substantially equal responsibilities on all parties. (I may not vote in Wisconsin, but I certainly pay taxes that buy a lot of things I never benefit from.)
