Beware of Non-standard Heating Oil Payment Methods

By John Swindells 13 Nov 2011 | Comment

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There is some consternation over a website offering discount heating oil prices, as long as you pay for it using relatively unknown payment methods.

The website in question is heatingoildelivery.co.uk, a plain affair with a payment page that requires a UKash paypoint voucher number or a Moneybookers email id. Most people won't have heard of either of these means of paying, but may be tempted to do so given that the advertised 900L oil price is under 54p/L (compared to a market baseline of around 58p/L). You can also inject money directly into their account using a money deposit or a BACS transfer.

Note: As of January 2012, a very similar website has popped up, with the same payment page and lower-than-normal prices: wholesalepricesheatingoil.co.uk

Before you decide to order from this supplier, consider what action you will take if your heating oil isn't delivered. Bank transfers are notoriously difficult to undo, and banks have a reputation for failing to assist you; read Martin Armstrong's story, No Go-Locate Fuel! for how to recover your money from a bank transfer. As for the other payment options, you will really need to read (and understand) the small print, to determine how much the third party will assist you in getting your money back. Oilbuyer.co.uk has a useful page on what to look out for, so you don't get caught out by a heating oil delivery scam.

Here are a couple of (unsubstantiated) complaints about "heating oil delivery co uk":

3 November 2011 qype.co.uk "I have unfortunately been caught out by this company by transferring money into a Natwest account" by Soanesy from Thetford
29 October 2011 freeindex.co.uk "I have a sinking feeling that this may not been a legitimate company and I would not want anyone else to part with their money if this is the case" by Ruth Brander, Bedford; "I have had several emails but never a phone number, I have also not received the oil delivery and have not received any further contact from this company" by Nicci Girkin, Hockwold; "it eventually came the next day" by Berrol Stevens, Manchester.

6 Comments

by www.oilbuyer.co.uk on 31 August 2012

OilBuyer.co.uk have identified another suspected scam heating oil website - setup in August 2012.

You can read more about it here: http://www.oilbuyer.co.uk/news/scam-warning-www-cheapoildirect-co-uk/225.

by John Swindells on 01 September 2012

Thanks for the warning. www.cheapoildirect.co.uk (owned by Jupiter Ventures Limited) doesn't appear to be functioning, so has it been taken down already?

by John Taylor on 02 February 2012

Company in question from the last submit is wholesale prices heating oil which can be found on the following website, www.wholesalepricesheatingoil.co.uk

by OilBuyer.co.uk on 05 March 2012

Looks like the same scammer that operated www.heatingoildelivery.co.uk back in November 2011.

Sadly looks like they have been successful in defrauding unsuspecting heating oil users yet again.

by John Taylor on 02 February 2012

This company also appears to be part of the bacca group of bank accounts, as i have ordered 1000ltrs of heating oil from them but they have failed to deliver. On further investigation and reading your comments i believe this is a scam business. But the account is a uk bank account which seems to be legit with Barclays bank. Have reported the issue to trading standards and have been advised to give the company a deadline to deliver then goto the small claims court to claim your money back.

by Mike Herbert on 09 February 2012

I have just tried to get a quote from Wholesale Prices Heating Oil but their web site now has message saying they have ceased trading.

by ukoilman on 16 November 2011

I have alerted UKASH to the fact that this is a scam and will advise if I get a reply.

by Herowife on 24 November 2011

This is now registered with the National Fraud Reporting Centre.

by Chris Pomfret on 14 November 2011

Once again Swinny you are doing a brilliant job.

And a great comment above too. Please people think about this...I buy for thousands of people via many groups and negotiate direct with suppliers, it is a professional buying service, and rarely have I been below 54ppl in the last few weeks. These are prices are EXTREMELY unlikely to be correct - the wholesale price is pretty close to that so explain how they will be getting you OIL at that price?

Please don't be suckered...there is of course one way to ensure you do that and that is to follow one of our FOUR NEVERS:

NEVER buy direct from the internet - for so many reasons - but most obviously because you can't negotiate with the internet and OIL is one product that is NEVER cheaper by buying direct.

PLEASE stop and think it through and then email us and come and buy with a group of people LOCAL to you...that is the way to safeguard yourself from being held to ransom by the suppliers.

Well done John

Chris

chris@community-buying.com

(search wootton oil on you tube and you'll see why groups work)

by John Swindells on 14 November 2011

Thanks for your pricing information Chris. If people are interested in buying as part of a local group, then do email Community Buying Unlimited!

by ukoilman on 14 November 2011

I have done some investigation on the domain.Thge registration was on the 6/10/2011 and was alledgedly registered by T Hargreaves, Clarks Lane, Leeds, LS9 8PN via TUCOWS in California. A drive along the road on Google earth confirms old 2 up 2 down terraced houses all with numbers. There is no number on the registration info. The site is also hosted outside of the UK,in Hollywood, CA, USA. What gave me a clue was the truck featured on the web page. It is an American truck and the driver is pulling the hose out on the "other side of the truck". Truck has a different name and the power mast is typically American also. Checked the address at thge bottom of the web page.. Queens Road etc. At the location given is a Biffa Depot, waste collectors.. you could believe the vehicles parked there are tankers, they are in fact refuse trucks. I can find no trace of the "Bacca Group" except in Egypt. I think these details need to be put out further in the public domain and the authorities contacted.

by John Swindells on 14 November 2011

This is some great investigative work, UKOilman. It really doesn't add up, does it. I also noticed that the payment form asks for the customer's country, which is rather odd if it's just for UK oil deliveries.

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Beware of Non-standard Heating Oil Payment Methods

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