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Question for people in the propane industry

bolophonic

bolophonic

Supporting Member
Dec 10, 2009
9,731
18,460
Durham, NC
www.brendanlove.com
#1
Here is the scenario:

My wife and I purchased the house next door to our home and have been renovating it for a little over a year. At closing, we were told that the 500 gallon propane tank had been recently filled before the previous owner died and that the gas was paid for. It has been sitting in place since we began renovations, with the valve turned off while we installed new appliances, water heater, etc. My (mid?)understanding was that the tank was being serviced by a small local provider.

Yesterday, a truck arrived from a major nationwide propane conglomerate, saying that they were there to pick up the tank. I explained that there was obviously some sort of bureaucratic/administrative problem to be solved, but that there was absolutely no way that anyone would be leaving with a tank of gas that I owned. The driver left, but now I have to iron this out.

The tank was clearly placed at least 20 years ago, because the last owner allowed the property to grow wild and the tank is now sitting 20 feet behind the tree line in a reforested area. It would take a half-day’s work to clear the area to retrieve the tank and I’m not interested in cutting down the trees around it.

So my question is: what are my options? I don’t care about their tank, they can have it back because I’m not going to sign a service agreement with this company. Can the contents of the existing tank be transferred into a different tank? Can anyone tell me the going rate for an empty 500 gallon tank, in the event that I could simply buy the tank outright from them? I need to call them sooner, rather than later to square this up and this company is well known for absconding with customers’ gas when repossessing tanks, so I don’t want to go into it half-informed. My regular propane provider is on vacation camping until next week, so I can’t get in touch with him right now.
 
#2
I don't know, but I know who does:

360


(Sorry, I'm no help at all, no clue.)
 
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#3
well, it's the house next door to yours. Do you have use for the propane, either in your own house or in the new one? Are you planning to rent the new house (or relatives living there, whatever) and the new inhabitants would need to use the propane in the tank?

If so, I'd suggest the thing to do is just leave it all alone till the tank that's there is nearly exhausted, and THEN sign up with a supplier of your choice, have them place their new tank in a better location, run the old tank out completely, call the owner of the old tank (whoever that turns out to be) and have them get it.

I don't know about the magical world of propane, but I'd guess transferring from one tank to another requires various compressors, etc., that are probably hard to get out to your place when you want them.
 
#5
turf3 said:
well, it's the house next door to yours. Do you have use for the propane, either in your own house or in the new one? Are you planning to rent the new house (or relatives living there, whatever) and the new inhabitants would need to use the propane in the tank?

If so, I'd suggest the thing to do is just leave it all alone till the tank that's there is nearly exhausted, and THEN sign up with a supplier of your choice, have them place their new tank in a better location, run the old tank out completely, call the owner of the old tank (whoever that turns out to be) and have them get it.

I don't know about the magical world of propane, but I'd guess transferring from one tank to another requires various compressors, etc., that are probably hard to get out to your place when you want them.
Click to expand...

Yes, the plan is to use the full tank to run the house once it’s occupied in a month or so. The problem is that the company that apparently owns the tank itself wants it back now, so I don’t think I have time to use it all up before they start trying to repossess the tank.
 
#6
Where will you get the empty 500 gallon tank to pump your propane in to?
An issue you may run into is that the gas suppliers I have worked with over the years typically want to supply their own tank and equipment. You may be hard pressed to find a company that will service a tank you bought and own. But hey, maybe it's different in your neck of the woods. My experience comes from Washington State and New Hampshire.

-Mike
 
#7
I won't vouch for the wisdom of this idea, but it's an option:

Just inform the gas company that you'll be using the propane that's in the tank and they can have the tank back when it's empty.

When they insist that you let them take the tank immediately, tell them that you refuse and that any attempt by them to remove the tank will result in you calling the police and having them charged with trespassing on your property and theft of your propane. I'd send their company and email so that you have a dated record of this and maybe put it in writing as well.

They'll complain, and maybe threaten to take you to court, but just tell them to go ahead and sue you.

It's basically an empty threat, because this type of situation would certainly be destined for small claims court. Regardless, it will be at least a couple of months before the company would be able to invoke any kind of legal claim on the tank, by which time you should be able to use the propane, or otherwise transfer it to another vessel.

Once that's accomplished, you can let them have their tank back and any possible legal claim they might have against you will be nullified.

In other words, stall.


Another option would be to tell them they can take the tank anytime as long as they pay you fair market price for the propane it contains.
 
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#9
MJ5150 said:
Where will you get the empty 500 gallon tank to pump your propane in to?
An issue you may run into is that the gas suppliers I have worked with over the years typically want to supply their own tank and equipment. You may be hard pressed to find a company that will service a tank you bought and own. But hey, maybe it's different in your neck of the woods. My experience comes from Washington State and New Hampshire.

-Mike
Click to expand...
We have been using a small, local provider since we moved here, so I would ideally have him provide a new tank and start over with that guy. But I do like the fact that the current tank is sitting out of sight in the woods now, so I’d prefer to not have to clear out trees to move it.
 
#10
hbarcat said:
I won't vouch for the wisdom of this idea, but it's an option:

Just inform the gas company that you'll be using the propane that's in the tank and they can have the tank back when it's empty.

When they insist that you let them take the tank immediately, tell them that you refuse and that any attempt by them to remove the tank will result in you calling the police and having them charged with trespassing on your property and theft of your propane. I'd send their company and email so that you have a dated record of this and maybe put it in writing as well.

They'll complain, and maybe threaten to take you to court, but just tell them to go ahead and sue you.

It's basically an empty threat, because this type of situation would certainly be destined for small claims court. Regardless, it will be at least a couple of months before the company would be able to invoke any kind of legal claim on the tank, by which time you should be able to use the propane, or otherwise transfer it to another vessel.

Once that's accomplished, you can let them have their tank back and any possible legal claim they might have against you will be nullified.

In other words, stall.


Another option would be to tell them they can take the tank anytime as long as they pay you fair market price for the propane it contains.
Click to expand...
This was my default position as soon as I saw the guy pull into the driveway... ie, you can have tank back as soon as it’s empty, but not before that. I also thought about looping the sheriff into the conversation last night. I already blocked the driveway with a downed tree and now my wife told me that she doesn’t want me turning this into a Waco situation, because I am kind of prone to adopting a bunker mentality. I appreciate your suggestions.
 
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#12
bolophonic said:
We have been using a small, local provider since we moved here, so I would ideally have him provide a new tank and start over with that guy. But I do like the fact that the current tank is sitting out of sight in the woods now, so I’d prefer to not have to clear out trees to move it.
Click to expand...

Gotcha.
Do you think those guys would be cool pumping someone else's propane out of that old tank and into their new one?
That's possible to do, but I'd definitely let them do it.

-Mike
 
#17
bobba66 said:
When you want to get down, down on the ground, propane....:woot:
Click to expand...


Must resist.






5StringBlues said:
When you see hank hill you got to pay your bill, propane
Click to expand...



Uuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnng.


Muuuuuuuuuuuuust resiiiiiiiiiiiiist!







Aaaaaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuugh!

I can't take it!!!

248773.jpg





She don't lie.

She don't lie.

She don't lie.
















Propane!!!!!!!!



Whew!
whew-what-a-relief-picture-id471428407
 
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