Physician Fell Victim To The Propane Policy Trap

It is beginning to look like Bemer's is a real shady outfit to do business with, I sure would figure a way to get rid of them and do business with a reputable company. Of course the real fault lies with the incompetent lawyer and the seller who failed to disclose the contract. This is a good lesson for anyone who is thinking about buying a home with propane.

He should get Bill O'Reilly on the story for some national bad press for the propane company.

The real fault lies with the CT legislature which passed ridiculous laws designed to put customers at the mercy of the dealers. Contact your state rep and tell them it's time to clean up the propane laws.

I still say find a way to shame the company. The guy is a doctor, certainly he can hire some people to campaign that the propane company has inflamed their prices. Maybe he can't get his prices lowered, but he can cause them to lose customers in bad publicity. This article is a good start. People screwing people is why the economy is bad.

This column shows the need for a change in the law. Just reading about the good doctor's problems gave me gas.

I can see by the "Judge It" icons that Bemers must be reading this post again, Hmmmmmm, I wonder what they have to hide?

state piggies wrote:

I can see by the "Judge It" icons that Bemers must be reading this post again, Hmmmmmm, I wonder what they have to hide?

By gosh, I am right, this slick outfit should be under investigation by the AG Office, where there's smoke there's fire, go getem Bloomie!

Seeing the icons that Bemers is leaving I think we are hitting a nerve. I will go to my town hall Tuesday and make sure they are aware of this slick practice of dodging property taxes, I know Bemer has many tanks in Laurel Ridge in East Hampton, maybe I'll check with their tax people to see if they are on the tax rolls there as well. And please don't forget my icons.

this column shows the need for change in our law makers. let the revolution begin. the time is now.

Sid King wrote:

This column shows the need for a change in the law. Just reading about the good doctor's problems gave me gas.

Actually, for those with underground tanks there IS a test that should be done to make sure your annodes are working as they should. It is a simple test and a reputable propane company should be able to check it.

Annode bags are wired to the tank and buried when the tank is installed. These bags protect the tank from corrosion by inducing a small electical current.

I am the doctor cited in this article. The fact that many people like me have been fleeced speaks to the sophistication of the companies involved and the way the laws have been crafted to allow such collusion.

I am shocked to find out that perhaps propane companies are not paying fair property taxes on the very items generating windfall profits. When my house was assessed this year Glastonbury hired a firm to come out to my house and measure my house with at tape measure. But, the town has allowed Bemer Petroleum to self report the presence and value of a taxable asset leased to customers! Am I crazy or are there two standards here?

Every town in CT should begin auditing propane companies and the assets held in their town to begin to evaluate tax compliance. This year Glastonbury is laying off teachers and yet Bemer Petroleum is allowed to have windfall profits but perhaps underpay taxes? Every home and car owner is held to the highest level of compliance but these companies are allowed such leverage. It is a travesty.

Time will tell if corporate behavior like this will be allowed, or whether government will stand up to protect the citizen and demand the same level of tax compliance they expect from homeowners.

As well, regulation should be adopted to allow leases, but also allow that the homeowner can use alternative suppliers as they see fit. Lease of a tank should be just that, a lease that allows payments over time for an asset - not a barrel to bend people over for years to come.

Wasnt there a story about something like this about six months ago?

Someone had connections years ago when these laws were passed!

It is very interesting that all of the above comments have been flagged with the same symbols.

This blog is only discribing the tip of the mess in this state. Being a propane users for the last decade, I have had all the events that are in this blog. The lastest came recently when I read a previous newspaper article on these propane dealers. I was drawn to my last bill, which happened to arrive that day. While, as is goes I was paying a wopping $4.79 per gallon - the payment was a house payment ! Anyways, enough is enough, like the Glastonbury doctor and others, I made some investigating calls to other propane companies. What did I find? They're all bashing each other and prices were the low introductory price. I called the State for direction and further information on my options. These folks were very helpful, they even mentioned the lack of State guidelines on the "huge mess". Why is it that these folks at the State know about this industry - front to back - and nothing is done to prevent some of these dealers? As for my complaining about the current price per gallon, I received a revised price of $2.67 per gallon from my dealer with the expectation of a increase of "about a dollar" on my next refill. Moral of this short story, "Once you think you're out of the shell game, your back in it ! " Someone at the State needs to step out and take care of this.........

I have been playing "rent the tank" with Osterman's as well....

As a landlord, I had a rental home that I found it necessary to remove the gas range and replace with an electric one.

The home is heated with oil and the propane was only for cooking.

At the time, the tank was full and being such, they would not refund the price of the unused gas if I turned in the rental tank (Also bought during property purchase and NOT disclosed at the closing!).

Having so much money invested in the actual fuel, it became cheaper to simply pay the annual rental fee.

Now, we are planning to use the gas for our outdoor grill until it is burned off. I suspect, to burn away that much fuel, we'll be having a lot of cook-outs but never the less, at least I will have not wasted the price of the fuel and let them have it back for free!

yes, the companies are EXTREMELY crooked.... This is why we will never have gas/propane for heating/cooking in any of ourmain house of any of our rental homes.

Interestingly, I have yet to check if Osterman is paying their fair share of taxes on my tank.........but I will go look FIRST THING tomorrow morning!

Shell gamer wrote:

This blog is only discribing the tip of the mess in this state. Being a propane users for the last decade, I have had all the events that are in this blog. The lastest came recently when I read a previous newspaper article on these propane dealers. I was drawn to my last bill, which happened to arrive that day. While, as is goes I was paying a wopping $4.79 per gallon - the payment was a house payment ! Anyways, enough is enough, like the Glastonbury doctor and others, I made some investigating calls to other propane companies. What did I find? They're all bashing each other and prices were the low introductory price. I called the State for direction and further information on my options. These folks were very helpful, they even mentioned the lack of State guidelines on the "huge mess". Why is it that these folks at the State know about this industry - front to back - and nothing is done to prevent some of these dealers? As for my complaining about the current price per gallon, I received a revised price of $2.67 per gallon from my dealer with the expectation of a increase of "about a dollar" on my next refill. Moral of this short story, "Once you think you're out of the shell game, your back in it ! " Someone at the State needs to step out and take care of this.........

OK but PLEASE don't suggest a "special commission" .........let's let the already existing consumer protection and the AG handle it. We don't need any more politicians feeding at the publich trough or milking the common cow...... COuld you IMAGINE, being such a huge problem, how easily the politicians could milk this issue to quell the multitudes of angry people?

Pass a few new laws, regulate the theives and enforce the laws......

Rick wrote:

It is very interesting that all of the above comments have been flagged with the same symbols.

Rick, Bemer's probably monitors this site since they are the culprit mentioned in the article, I believe they are putting the symbols there. Watch and see how quick this post gets the same symbols.

After all these articles, the simple question is why is BEMER's still in business??????????

I would have bought and installed another tank and let BEMERS tanks sit in it's spot UNUSED. SCREW BEMERS.

I once had a 50 gallon above the ground propane tank that came with my current house when I bought it nearly 25 years ago. The propane company came one day and changed the 50 fifty gallon tank for two 25 gallon tanks (without my permission) with their name labels on them. Then they took one of the tanks away when I switched from gas heated hot water to electric. Now since I only use propane for cooking, they are charging me $80 a year (not including the price of the gas) just for the 'privilege' of having their tank attached to my house. What bothers me is that I don't know whether the original 50 gallon tank was privately owned by me or not. We never thought about those things back then. Anyway, I have no recourse now but to pay their 'extortion' or remodel my kitchen to use electric. Finally, I have purposely not mentioned the name of the gas company nor my place of residence. This was not an oversight, but an attempt to bring to light an injustice (albeit anonymously) that at least one propane company is perpetrating.

Somebody should probably contact Foxnews and Hannity has a new show as well as Greta Van Susteren has a great investigative show. I think her email is greta@foxnews.com