With inflation an issue, homeowners are looking for deals. Unfortunately, that means they can become susceptible to risks like heating oil scams.
The good news is that avoiding heating oil scams is actually pretty easy. The main way to do that is to only deal with reputable companies, like Express C.O.D for COD heating oil delivery and our parent company, Tragar Home Services, and Larry’s Fuel Oil, which recently joined the Tragar family.
How Can You Be Sure a Company Is Reputable and Reliable?
A little research goes a long way, and Express C.O.D is very proud of its A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Check reviews in other places, too, such as on their Google Business Profile, Facebook page, etc. While a perfect score is difficult, and there’s always the possibility of a customer who can never be satisfied, reviews will give you a sense of the business and how it functions. The more good reviews, the better, especially substantive reviews that provide details. And a company that responds to criticism can also be telling. Many companies have had a public relations disaster when they responded to a negative review by being nasty in return.
How to Avoid Heating Oil Scams
One of the ways people get caught in heating oil scams is by answering a robocall and making a purchase. It’s a high-risk decision because you don’t know who is really on the other end of the line. Still, people fall for it, or the people behind the robocalls would try another scam. The Westchester County Consumer Protection department has even made a list of ways to avoid robocall scams because they’ve become so prevalent.
In addition to rip-offs, like sneaking in extra fees and deceptive pricing, there are four common methods used by heating oil scammers, according to Ross Anderson, who is the director of New York State’s Bureau of Weights and Measures.
- Meters that have been altered to show more oil was delivered than actually was.
- Forged delivery tickets.
- Air mixed into the oil to trick meter delivery readings
- Trucks with bypass piping to divert oil back into the truck instead of the home’s tank.
Other scams happen, too, of course. Disreputable companies have been known to do things like mixing waste oil with heating oil, but those four, along with price switching and illegal fees, are the most common.
Protect your home and finances by choosing a reputable heating oil company with a good reputation.
Get COD Oil Delivery from a Reliable Company Like Express C.O.D
Express C.O.D provides reputable, discounted oil-on-demand delivery. Even better, you can shop and place orders 24/7. With more than 60 employees, we provide speedy delivery and outstanding customer service. As Tragar Home Services, we’ve been serving LI homeowners since 1956, so you know you can rely on us. Contact us today, and let us know how we can help you.
