Comments on: Total Butler Oil Central Heating Oil : Butler Fuels – A GB Oils brand

By: Mark smith

Mark smith — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:38:40 +0000

I have massive problems with TB, I rang to order my usual 1000ltrs in November and was talked into trying the “NEW Glomax, i was told it would run in any boiler and was garanteed that there would be absolutely no probelms. I eventually agreed. The fuel arrived 2 days later (Fri) by Saturday morning my boiler was spewing thick black smoke from the flue and within a matter of an hour was refusing to light. I called a local engineer in , he stripped the boiler and was shocked at the amount of soot was inside ( I had a full service a few weeks before). The boiler was fully cleaned and relit, but within a few hours it started again. I rang TB and was told by the sales woman that they would DEAL with the problem but it would be Monday, So I waited and waited and waited some more, I eventually rang them and was told that a manager would ring that day, guess what i waited again. I eventually got a call form the Operations Manager 3 days later and found him to be the most unhelpful man i have ever had the misfortune to deal with. He point blankely refuse to replace the oil saying there was nothing wrong with the oil and it has passed all of their tests, I explained to him that the quality of oil was not the issue the compatibility with my boiler was. I run a pub and for almost 3 weeks i had no heating which affected my business, who wants to sit eating a meal with your coat on, I dont and neither do my customers.
Where are we now – I have 1000ltrs in my tank that i cant use, I have had to hire a second tank and fill it with normal kero (which happens to be TB kero bought from the company i hire the tank from at inflated price) the boiler fired up straight away on normal kero and has been running ever since, and total refusal to offer any help or advice from a company that i have been a loayal customer of for over 5 years.
The last conversation I had was on the 14th Jan with the operations manager, he refuses to do anything at all but he expects me to pay for the Glomax and if i dont he will pass me over to a debt collection agency. i am amazed. I am myself taking legal action.
All i wanted was the fuel removed and replaced, what i got was nearly £2000 pounds worth of repair and hire bills.

By: Not a happy bunny

Not a happy bunny — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:33:41 +0000

As a followup to my comment on 30th Dec. I tried calling Butler Fuels to get this reduced and the first response I got was “that was the price on the day”. Not very happy rang back a few days later and was told there was an “administrative error” on that invoice and it should have been 63.1ppl not 73.1ppl. At the time I was promised a refund to my account, so I’ll wait and see if it materialises. It would appear they were just trying it on with top up customers over the christmas period hoping nobody would notice. If you ring up and complain you stand some chance of getting a reduction. But my previous comment sticks, I will not ever use them again, not any of the other DCC brands.

By: Josie

Josie — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:17:17 +0000

I was (until today) a customer with Total Butler fuels for 4 years. I committed to their top up service and paid a direct debit each month. On 5 Dec 2011 I took delivery of just short of £1000 worth of fuel and it’s not until today that I found out I paid 74.95 ppl!!! My friend on the exact same day took delivery of fuel from Goff and it was 18 ppl CHEAPER. I have now spoken to Butler and there is nothing they were will;ing to do about it!!! I have paid off my account and will not be using them again!!

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:07:03 +0000

Very interesting topic … I just had my oil delivered through the top up system run by Total butler, on my ticket price per lt was 78.49 p plus vat , I thought this was a little high so used the internet and found oil delivered to my house could have been 56.49p !(boiler juice.com) I had just under 1400 lt delivered … thats over £317 difference with the VAT . I was not happy so I called TB and was told someone would get back to me they didnt return my call , I eventually spoke to a manager and she charged me 72p per lt plus vat. In the mean time I had cold called TB and asked for a quote for that amount of oil and was quoted 60.33 p by the telephone sales girl ( a small amount of haggling) this price would have saved me £145 approx. Needless to say I have now cancelled my contract with them . Tried to contact their MD but so far no returned call!

By: Not a happy bunny

Not a happy bunny — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:37:02 +0000

I’m another mug who got ripped off by butler fuels (as they are now known) top-up service. I’d always been quite happy with their service and price so went onto their top-up service and paid by DD. On the 8th December I got a delivery of 858 litres, when the bill came through it was at 73.1p per litre!!! I rang them to complain about this being 25% over the market average and was just told “that was the price on the day”. So I’ve now cancelled the auto top up service and wont go near them with a barge pole.

By: D Nicol

D Nicol — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:37:15 +0000

On Monday 31st I requested a quote for 500 litres from a local company who I have used before, located 5 miles away. Their price was 60.84p. Rang another local and was quoted 56.9p. A third company quoted 56.95, but reduced to 56.85p. I have used Total Butler as they don’t demand payment up front. Rang them and their price was 58p, but reduced to match 56.85p. Placed order and told this would be befor 9th – arrived today 4th at 8am. I have never had any problems with their Norfolk depot and would recommend them. Have no experience of automatic system, but am not surprised that price would be higher.

By: Jeremy Vibert

Jeremy Vibert — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:38:37 +0000

We used to routinely shop around for heating oil prices but Total Butler were almost always the most competitive. So about three years ago we signed up their auto top-up service, which we pay by regular monthly direct debit. A couple of weeks ago we had 920 litres delivered through this service. An invoice arrived yesterday for £689, based on 71.33p/litre + VAT. I phoned Total Butler’s sales line today and asked for a quote for 900 litres delivered. The answer was 52p/litre! I know prices are volatile, but not by 30% in two weeks. So I appear to have been overcharged by nearly £200 on this one delivery alone. Customer service is sadly closed now until Monday but TB, if you read this, you can rest assured I will be checking past invoices and seeking a refund for this rip-off.

By: john kent

john kent — Thu, 19 May 2011 08:19:13 +0000

yes it will pay you if you haggle any thing from a litre of heating oil to a car do not except the first price

By: Just a Customer

Just a Customer — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:50:47 +0000

Friday – Contacted CS , who inform us we are down for delivery first thing = great !!! 10.45am we still have not seen anything ……………Oh and I forgot to add , we are actually only 30mins away from the TB Depot ………so work that one out .
Rang Mole Valley Farmers & Karen from CS very kindly has found us some oil in 25ltr drums at Watson Fuels Columpton , so we are now going to collect our own .

By: Just a Customer

Just a Customer — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:20:55 +0000

Feb 2011
We ordered oil a week ago ……… and were given the it’s 5 to 7 working days delivery = Ok, it’s not a problem, we can last.

Unfortunately- it didn’t quite work out that way.

Having moved here a couple of years ago we have yet to replace the old metal oil tank, which has nothing but a stick to dip in and check the level of the oil ……. and quite simply, we got it wrong “ hands in the air “ and we ran out.

No problem we thought – just ask for help.

So, I rang Total Butler last Saturday morning, explained that we had an order awaiting delivery and that we had a special need as we have a disabled child in the house, who is immobile and we really do need to try to keep the little might warm.

Sorry – we can’t do anything until Monday, I was told.

So, we had a miserable cold weekend , poor Popsy spent most of it wrapped in blankets to keep her warm .

Monday the phone rang and we were delighted to be told delivery would be Tuesday.

It’s now Thursday 3.30pm – we have gone past 3 g’td delivery days and still have no oil, no heating and no hot water and I’m on the phone again to TB – waiting for CS, who are all busy …… to try to find out why it did not arrive again today .

I now speak to Customer Service at least twice daily – get another story from them and have to laugh.

Quite simply TB, don’t give a tick and the frustration you feel is immense as you are simply not able to talk with anyone , nor get an answer , nor even plead for a bit of empathy , understanding or help – it all falls on deaf ears .

This is life in 2011 ………..or is it 1811 …../ not sure .

We do however have one open fire , one kettle and more blankets , so we are still alive.

4.10pm – got hold of CS – they now say ” no delivery today ” it could be tomorrow.

All I can say is that they should be absolutely ashamed of themselves …………they have no conscience and simply no care.