Great Lakes Energy, Frement, MI - propane got shut off - rude service experiences

# 13 for October 9, 2003

Complaints.com received the following on October 8, 2003:

From:

RE: Great Lakes Energy, Frement, MI - propane got shut off - rude service experiences

Great Lakes Energy/ Propane- Fremont Michigan

They are very rude and will not work with the consumer, in our experience. I was having trouble paying for 500 gallons of propane at a time, I asked if I could buy this in 100-200 gallons instead due to the fact that we were going to be moving and would need a refund anyway.

We had a 6 month old baby and it was January (very cold). Since they told me several times that I could not buy only 100 gallons, I was borrowing money to pay for the whole 500 gallons. I had 3 days until they would shut my tank off if I didn't pay for the 500 gallons. I even took cash up to the office for 100 gallons and they would not accept this. Two days before my "shut off."

They came and shut my tank off. I called them that afternoon and asked why they came early. I was told it was a mistake that they truck driver must have been in my area and stopped to do it early while he was near my house. I told them I had a baby in the house and needed it back on, that I was coming to pay the next day. They did not come back for 31hours.

They said sorry, but they should have came right back to my house. Two months later I needed more propane and it happened again. I asked if I could please get 100 gallons, we were moving in one week. They said NO. They came and shut it off two days before the date they had gave me. Again they had to come turn it back on. When a week went by and we moved out of the house.

I called and asked about a refund for the remaining propane, which I had paid cash for before they filled the tank. For 5 months I was told the refund was coming. It didn't come for 6 1/2 months after we moved out.

This company has lost a lot of business in the past couple years. Consumers have wrote articles in the local newspaper about how rude they are. I personally know 7 people who have discontinued business with this company. I didn't not know any of these problems before I accepted Great Lakes Energy as my propane company.