I was a major customer of Petro's (burned 2000 gallons of heating oil per year) until a few months ago when I discovered that they had been ripping me off for nearly a year. They had been massively overcharging me on their "market rate" plan. I surveyed several area fuel companies and found that they were all 10-30% cheaper for their regular non-teaser rates. Consumer websites like this one are riddled with similar complaints against this company. Below is the letter I wrote to the General Manager about this issue. I have gathered evidence and documents that prove that they defrauded me. I am contemplating suing the company to get back the money they stole from me.


Sharon MacVicar
General Manager – North Jersey
Petro
94 Dell Ave - Unit #1
Kenvil, NJ 07847


3/12/10


Dear Ms. MacVicar:

I’m writing to serve you notice that I am terminating my business relationship with your firm effective immediately. Your pricing for home heating oil is fraudulent and misleading. It has come to my attention that Petro has been billing me at ever increasing levels of inflated prices over the regional average. Attached is “Exhibit A” which includes a spreadsheet and a recent fax from Petro outlining your fraud against me. I have included recent pricing from one of my many local heating oil company’s that shows the extent in which your firm is gouging its innocent victims. The company’s name is Hilltop Fuel of Fairfield NJ.

I am aware that many heating oil firms offer “teaser rates” to lure customers. Your own salespeople have told me that Petro is one of the companies that engages in this ugly practice. The pricing that I referenced above was the regular rate for all customers at Hilltop Fuel – no teaser rates. I’m sure you have a standard boilerplate response letter that allows you to hide behind the teaser rate concept.

You claim that I have a current balance of $728.09. I claim that you owe me a refund of $1, 109.27. I demand that you immediately waive the $728.09 charges and issue me a refund for the $381.18 difference. I intend to seek counsel on this matter. I am also contemplating reporting your firms’ fraudulent and unethical activities to the following authorities and media: Better Business Bureau, NJ Office of Consumer Protection, NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, NJ and NY State Attorney’s General, ripoffreport.com, consumeraffairs.com, complaints.com, Shame Shame Shame on Fox 5 with Arnold Diaz, Troubleshooter with Roseanne Colletti on WNBC4, regional and local newspapers, and a variety of internet heating oil forums.

Reporting you to these agencies and services would only add to your dubious record of thousands of consumer complaints littered around the region. I trust that you’ll make the right decision and refund me my money. This would go a long way towards placating my anger about this matter.


I await your immediate reply,


Yours truly,


Justin R. Evans
46 Cherry Tree Lane
Kinnelon, NJ 07405