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What You Should Know About Oil Deliveries

Millions of consumers across Pennsylvania use domestic fuel oil for heating and hot water purposes. How do you know you are getting the amount of product that you are paying for?

First of all, you really don’t. Nearly all transactions of weight, measure, and count are based on consumer trust. You may be on an automatic delivery plan or you may call for a fill-up when your tank is low, but either way, you trust that the truck’s meter is accurate, has been legally certified and is being used in an appropriate manner. You receive a printed meter ticket that is required by law to contain a number of important items of information. What can you do to protect yourself in this “transaction of trust”?

1. First, you should limit your dealings to local firms with well-established reputations. Be wary of super discount outfits that travel into your area from long distances.
2. Check to see if the firm is listed in the local yellow pages.
3. Make sure the delivery truck has a current approval decal on the back near the meter. A current approval decal would be one that is not more than twelve (12) months old.
4. Make sure you receive a meter-printed delivery ticket on each delivery. Pennsylvania law requires that meter tickets contain the following information:
   • The vendor’s name and address.
   • The date and time of delivery.
   • The purchaser’s name and address.
   • The product identification.
   • The driver’s signature or employee number.
   • The delivery vehicle’s permanently assigned company number.
   • The price per gallon.
   • The “printed” volume in terms of gallons to the nearest one-tenth gallon.

Note that the volume must be printed by the meter (hand-writing the volume is illegal) and the meter ticket must bear a printed non-repetitive serial number. The seller or deliverer is required to maintain the vendor’s copy on file for two (2) years in an orderly and retrievable manner.

Always try to resolve any questions or problems by first calling the vendor. If you do not receive a satisfactory answer, you should call your local Weights and Measures office for assistance or information on the status of the delivery vehicle. In Bucks County, you can call the Office of Consumer Protection/Weights and Measures at 215-348-7442.