Suburban Propane review: Price gouging 58

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This an unregulated monopoly. There are very few options in the are and they have gouged my Mother who is quite elderly for years. They will try to screw even their long-term customers because they know that most people are not watching carefully or dont have any easy options to switch propane suppliers. These people should be regulated by the State of Vermont until it can be shown there is real competition for these products and services. I would have no complaint if there was real competition for this product but there isnt and their CEO makes millions by ripping people off.

I have been a customer of Suburban Propane for one year. During the year, there has been a significant increase in the cost of propane provided by Suburban Propane. I soon received an $ 1100.00 bill and a "pre-pay" offer for the winter months under the pretext that I would save money by buying propane at the cost of summer pricing, instead of later at the winter pricing. I was currently being charged $3.51 per gallon with a pre- purchase winter price of $ 3.16 per gallon.

I began checking other propane providers and quickly discovered the current price for propane was a $1.39 per gallon, less than half of Surburban Propane's pricing. The provider I contacted also had a winter lock in rate of $1.69 per gallon, with no up front cost or "pre-pay", as Suburban Propane required.

I contacted Suburban Propane about their pricing. They lowered the cost a small amount, but refused to meet their competitors price.

In reviewing my bills, I noticed an ironic charge on my bill. A safety charge of $9.00. If I were to ever go back to Suburabn Propane, I would request they not charge me for a safety fee and go rogue. It would be interesting to see the unsafe handling of fuel delivery. I have since left Suburban Propane. I tried to resolve this issue through the state utility commission, only to find out they do not regulate propane companies.

Yes by all means check around! Best time to switch is Summer, usually can get free hook up and tank delivery if you already have the connections. Suburban is the Highest Priced propane Company, and the Virginia office managers are rude and not helpful at all. They just don't care if you quit service.

Suburban will fool you with a low first fill price that will be close to other company's. But always ask what the next few fillings will be priced at. Suburban quickly jumps the price up every time they refill your Tank.
Always check around for prices and not just the first fill price, also tank rental and length of contract.
Richmond area try Parker propane or Revel propane for good price and service.

I had a delivery from them about 2 weeks ago. Going rate for propane from their local competitors is 3.14 per gal. They charged me 4.29 a gallon. Called to complain and they lowered to 3.49 a gallon. Not great but better. I was told I had to pay a higher price because I use less gas than others. What a crock, you are going to pay the same price if you use the gas or don't use it. Go figure! Guess what, I'm on them and going to have their tank removed, and have their competition come in and bury me a new tank and supply my gas. I'm tring to purchase the tank and they won't even call me back or issue me a new bill for the lowered price. What a bunch of thevin' bastages! I think it's time to call the attorney general of the state on them and see about this price gouging stuff that they are doing.

I have also been price gouged!
A set pre pay amount per month for one year was agreed to on a full tank on September 2014. About halfway through the year our payment jumped 80 a month to 100 a month without notice only the bill in mail! When I called, they said it's because of rate hikes... I thought how can a rate change for something I had already bought in bulk for the year at said set per gallon price, not a refill this was a first time fill up on an empty used tank. AVOID if at all possible!

I Totally agree with all the PRICE GAUGING COMPLAINTS. I called today to ask for a fill of only 50 gals. as I know Suburban raises their prices during the winter and felt it was all I could afford at the tune of $4.57 a gal. I was told the minimum purchase HAD to be 100 gal.=$457.00. Delivery won't be til next week, so I will diligently check for any alternative propane companies. I think my options are slim here in Kuna.

Suburban purchased my local supplier 2 or 3 years ago. So I've had the same company/contract for 15 years total. Pricing Propane two weeks ago I was told 3.09 per gallon to fill up. Research shows residential prices should be sig less. I called customer service today to ask about rate and why my contract rate is so high. I was told the best they could do was 3.05. When I asked what there rate is for delivery if I owned my tank, she shyly told me 1.75. (CHOKE). So I have no choice to get a fillup due to weather conditions but I will be buying a tank this summer and giving my business to the lowest bidders in the future (Suburban will not be on my call list).

I have been a customer of Suburban propane for the past three years and on March 14, 2017 asked for a delivery and was charged $4.029 a gallon. Looked on line at the going rate for my area, Found the rate was $2.79 a gallon. Very dissatisfied with the service and being ripped off. The company should be investigated and refunds for the difference should be made.

They continued to charge me winter prices well into late June . Their fee structure is a rip-off. I bought propane at this location for 15 years and never had a problem. Then it was re flagged Suburban and all these bogus fees, none of which are quite same at my neighbors house, began to appear. Have changed to a small family owned business... GREAT prices and service. As an older retiree, it is a difficult to make a change... but trust me, do the math and will act sooner or later.

Here in Alabama there is a law against price gouging Propane. But Its only in effect in cases of Emergency. I have a tank rented from Suburban. I called the other day to check Propane Prices. Suburban wanted $ 3.96 a gallon. So I called a couple of others and got prices of $1.29 and $1.25 with a $29.00 delivery fee. Its a shame we have to pay a penalty for renting there tanks. It should be an award for doing business with them. Non the less I told them to come get there tank off my property. I would advise others to do the same.

Here in Tupelo MS, ever since Dowdle was bought by Suburban it has been unfair practice after unfair practice. Managers hide behind their sales ladies who cannot make any decisions on pricing. Price gouging seems to be the Suburban business model. They made me pay 2.99 for 200 gallons in Nov 2017, today they want 3.97 per gallon when the going rate was 2.30 in Mississippi (Nov 2011). They take advantage of peoples desperation to be warm. I'm down to less than 100 gallons - will wait for this to completely run out and change to a better company.

We were told by Suburban Propane service tech that we had a corroded propane tank and that we should call Suburban Propane to schedule installation of a new propane tank. That was in November 2016. Five months later (March) we finally got it installed...after numerous phone calls and missed commitments and rescheduling efforts (due to no propane tanks----on backorder).

Doris (out of the Clearwater, Fl) office was very nice and communicated with us on a regular basis, ...HOWEVER management made commitments to us that were missed. They seem to be understaffed and demonstrate weak customer service.

Shortly after purchasing a second home in the country we received a letter from Suburban Propane (Indiana PA) informing us that we needed to contact them to open an account and continue service . I called and set up an account and said that because the three 100 gallon tanks were almost full it would be many months that a refill would be necessary .
However for some reason during sub freezing temperatures last winter, without notice or permission, they entered our property and took the three 100 gal tanks . I had winterized the property by shutting off the water, turning on the heat tape at the water inlet and setting the interior thermostat to 50 degrees . Yet because of Suburban Propane, both toilets cracked, the hot water heater is damaged and the under sink water filter ruptured. They still have to reimburse us for the propane still in the tanks - each about 3/4 full at that point
Why this isn't TRESPASSING, VANDALISM and THEFT ...I don't know .

Suburban Propane is a rip off. I was charged one amount for gas and then I called a different company to find out it was about 40 cents cheaper per gallon. I called Suburban and was basically told by a [censored] named Barb Derr that it was because of the trucks not being able to travel because of the weather. I am seriously considering getting rid of them. It might cost money to get rid of them but it will be worth it in the long run.

I have also been a victim of price gouging by Suburban. I have used them (or their predecessor company) for almost 30 years. Last December, they charged me over 80% more than what my neighbors are paying. When I first moved into the neighborhood, their predecessor company was the only company that serviced our area. Naturally, I thought I had no choice. That ended and there are choices now, but I didn't know until they had already filled my 250 gal. tank. I tried to dispute the charges and they said they charge the customers who lease their tanks much more than the customers who buy the tanks (even though I pay a yearly rental fee). I asked how much it would cost to buy the tank, and they said they don't sell tanks anymore. Kind of a catch-22 situation, if you ask me. Yesterday, I received a bill for my yearly rental fee for the tank and it is 80% higher than last year. They have no shame. I will never do business with these people again. I'll have to use up the rest of the tank which will probably be this coming fall, and I'm expecting to be gouged again somehow when I end the service.