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LP gas company \"hazmat fee\"....................(Starch)

Joe Brix
Joe Brix Member Posts: 626
in THE MAIN WALL
...who just talked to the LP company. Apparently the hazmat fee is supposed to be $0.0294/gallon, not the $2.94 shown on the delivery ticket. Driver fat-fingered his billing terminal, and missed the decimal place.

I still think the $150 same day service is a little steep, though.

Comments

  • Joe Brix
    Joe Brix Member Posts: 626
    A friend showed me his.........

    .........delivery ticket from his LP company. I'll withhold names to protect the....ummm.....innocent. Here's what it says:

    Propane 279.1 gallon @ 1.929 ------ $538.38

    Hazmat fee 297 ea. @ 2.94 ------- $873.18

    Fuel surcharge -------------------- $ 1.36

    Same day service fee --------------- $150.00

    Subtotal ------------------------- $1562.92

    Taxes ------------------------- $34.99

    Total ------------------------- $1597.91

    I went to the gas company's website, and it explains the fuel surcharge, which I understand. No where does it mention the "hazmat fee," though. Not only is this fee over a dollar more per gallon than the gas itself, it looks like their boning him for an extra 18 "gallons" worth of it - although that's probably a typo.

    Do the math, and this poor guy is paying almost $5.06 per gallon!!!!!!!!! That excludes taxes and the "same day service fee," btw. A hundred fifty bucks to show up the same day????????????????????

    Does anyone know what this "hazmat" fee is there for, and do other lp companies do this?

    Starch
  • jp_2
    jp_2 Member Posts: 1,935
    hazzard clean up costs

    but whats to clean up if you spill LP?

    so gald i heat with wood!
  • Frenchie
    Frenchie Member Posts: 113
    Fire them!!

    I would fire that company and put in a nice oil burner!!! With oil I've never heard of same day service fee, or haz-mat fee. Not to mention the lower cost, safety, etc.... And I used to work for Amerigas propane. (not saying that was the company in question) Why do people love LP gas so much???
  • Mark Hunt
    Mark Hunt Member Posts: 4,908
    ZOINKS!!!!!!


    Pretty expensive slip of the finger there!

    Anyone in the biz knows that insurance companies do not like LP. When we started our insurance compnay specificaly asked if we would be installing LP tanks. HUGE premiums for those that do.

    I have never heard of local LP companies charging a hazmat fee, although they may just hide it in their $/gallon or service fee.

    Never worked for an oil company so I have no idea what their liability premiums would be. I would imagine that it would have to be up there considering the oil trucks carry thousands of gallons of "haz-mat" on our roads every day. One spill could cost a bunch.

    Has the HO that got that bill come out of shock yet??

    Mark H

    To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"
  • J.C.A._3
    J.C.A._3 Member Posts: 2,980
    1 slip...

    Of a damn decimal point was all it took?

    A dissertation could EASILY be written on this subject...but I'm tired.

    LEARN and let live. Ciao for now . Chris
  • lchmb
    lchmb Member Posts: 2,997
    wow

    Jason I believe you'll find the "same day service" is what alot of companies consider an off day charge. Alot of the larger companies are setting up delivery route's for their driver's. His area may have been one that come's up for delivery on Tuesday's and Friday's. Since he needed a delivery today he pay's an extra charge to get the truck there (doesn't happen to automatic delivery customer's). Most however don't charge that much...

    OH and yes, oil companies in my area do this (including the one I work for).....
  • chapchap70_2
    chapchap70_2 Member Posts: 147


    Propane is still expensive in that area. When converting the heat content and comparing it to fuel oil, that is like paying $2.87 per gallon for heating oil and that does not include the almost 3 cent per gallon "hazmat" fee or the same day charge.

    Does this price include service of the heating equipment?

    Propane is "flammable" where fuel oil is "combustible". Propane is more dangerous but fuel oil costs more to clean up since it would be released as a liquid.
  • Perry_3
    Perry_3 Member Posts: 498
    Hazmat Fee

    Actually, I have heard of situations where hazmat fees are collected. But it is usually collected by all dealers in the area because the local community decides to require the local vendors to either collect it - or have a special insurance fund.

    So first inquire if all other companies in the area is collecting a "hazmat fee."

    The alternate explaination is that this is one of the ways that 'Profit' can be spelled. Remember that there is only one, and exactly one, rule in the english language: There are no other rules that apply in all cases... I before E except after.... etc, etc. It also applies to spelling as well.

    Alternate methods of spelling profit are amazing.

    I note that governments specialize in alternate ways of spelling "taxes" as well.

    Perry

  • Frenchie
    Frenchie Member Posts: 113
    Different areas

    I didn't mean to sound harsh or anything :) In my area LP companies also charge the haz-mat fee, but oil companies do not. NO companies,oil or LP, would charge the off day or off route delivery fee. too much competition! I am also an LP customer, but due to the high prices I only use a small volume to heat my garage. When I worked for Amerigas I couldn't believe how many people used LP for home heat. We have oil and NG in this area for much less. Maybe it's the penny wise pound foolish thing. The cheapest initial install would be the LP, but by far the most expensive in the long run.
  • lchmb
    lchmb Member Posts: 2,997
    no problem

    No problem Jason, didn't take it as harsh. It is intersting to see how thing's are done in different area's. I live in an area that has a decent voluum of both oil and LP. Natural gas in our area is much more expensive. I have seen a large switch over from oil to LP from people who believe it will be cheaper to do. I have also swapped a number of people back to oil after they find out that it's cheaper to start but much more expensive in the long run. As they say, can lead a horse to water but can't make him drink...
  • lchmb
    lchmb Member Posts: 2,997
    no problem

    No problem Jason, didn't take it as harsh. It is intersting to see how thing's are done in different area's. I live in an area that has a decent voluum of both oil and LP. Natural gas in our area is much more expensive. I have seen a large switch over from oil to LP from people who believe it will be cheaper to do. I have also swapped a number of people back to oil after they find out that it's cheaper to start but much more expensive in the long run. As they say, can lead a horse to water but can't make him drink...
  • lchmb
    lchmb Member Posts: 2,997
    no problem

    No problem Jason, didn't take it as harsh. It is intersting to see how thing's are done in different area's. I live in an area that has a decent voluum of both oil and LP. Natural gas in our area is much more expensive. I have seen a large switch over from oil to LP from people who believe it will be cheaper to do. I have also swapped a number of people back to oil after they find out that it's cheaper to start but much more expensive in the long run. As they say, can lead a horse to water but can't make him drink...
  • mtfallsmikey
    mtfallsmikey Member Posts: 765
    Could be that

    A lot of people still believe that gas equipment in general is still "cheaper" to maintain than oil. This came from back in the days of atmosperic burners and pilot lights, as well as the cheaper install costs.
  • Jim_47
    Jim_47 Member Posts: 244
    Hazmat fee

    OK so during the summer I'm a load and do not work on AC. So my hobby includes some welding. I went to the local welding shop to buy some electric "stick" arc welding rods. I was charged a hazardous materials handling fee. I asked about it and was told that everything gets the fee charged.
    I kindly returned my items to the shelf and went to the welding shop two towns over. No hazmat fee on anything in that store, and the stuff was cheaper!
  • Joe Brix
    Joe Brix Member Posts: 626
    I did speak with someone at another LP company.

    They informed me that they, too, have a haz-mat fee, but it is included in their per-gallon charge. I did not have the time to get into a long discussion with them to learn what the source, or reason for the fee is, but I assume it is valid. This company, btw, said that they also have a same-day fee, but it's 25 bucks!

    Starch
  • Bernie Riddle_2
    Bernie Riddle_2 Member Posts: 178


    Well I can tell you heating oil suppliers no better sometimes. Like I had a run it with a big name oil supplier a few years back after being on "auto delivery" and paying almost 25 cents more per gallon then the nearest competitor. Called, compalined and was given the excuse that they got "stuck" with a load at a higher price and they would knock some off the bill since I complained.

    Told them to take me off auto delivery and next winter seen there truck at my moms house and called to see what she had paid and what do you know, she was on auto delivery and paid 20 cents more then I had a week earlier.

    No prize for guessing what the excuse was when she called to complain lol.





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