OIL PRE-BUY CONTRACTS ENFORCED AGAINST OLD TOWN DEALER

August 14, 2003

AUGUST 14, 2003

KATHI PETERS, RESEARCH ASSISTANT, 207-626-8854

 

            The Attorney General’s Office today announced the settlement of a consumer lawsuit against Old Fox Fuel of Old Town, a home heating oil dealer.  In the suit, the Attorney General alleged that Old Fox had entered into “prebuy” contracts with consumers for large volumes of oil at fixed prices, and then, as the season progressed, failed to honor those contracts. In order to resolve the suit, Old Fox entered into a Consent Decree barring any repetition of this conduct, and provided restitution to affected consumers. Old Fox did not admit to any wrongdoing.

 

“We are pleased with this resolution,” said Francis Ackerman, the Assistant AG who handled the suit. “With a new heating season coming right up, consumers are shopping. Dealers who offer oil on a prebuy basis will be held to their commitments.”

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