PROPANE TANK OWNERSHIP

[antlers125]

Corporate America at it again. It seems that a big name Propane supplier has bought out 1 of our local suppliers & is trying to force some residents to buy from them at a much higher rate, claiming ownership of underground tanks that have been in place for many years. The company Is requiring proof of ownership on the tanks or pay a rental fee. If anyone has any advice would be great. And how do you show proof of ownership on a propane tank that has been in place for 20+ years? Anyone w/sound advice please feel free to send me a Private Message. Any & all info is Greatly appreciated.

 

[Deere Dude]

Just make a handwritten note to yourself and sign Joe Blows name. They just want a paper.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Seems like possession is 9/10 of the law. Tell them to prove ownership if they think they own it.

How long have you owned the property? When was the tank installed? Maybe the county or township has some record if a permit was issued to bury it.

 

[Sprinklerman]

Go to the hall courthouse and look at your property records and make sure there is no record that someone else owns the tank. I had a similar problem with a national company , there was a problem and I told them to pack sand , they said they were coming for their tank . I told them BS , it belongs to me . they wanted proof of ownership from me , I told them I wanted a certificate of origin from them with serial number . The company told me they bought a smaller company and those records were lost . Their "other " response was " Nobody owns their own tanks " Well I won . The problem is getting another company to fill the tank , they have a unwritten rule about filling tanks that arent theirs.

If you are going to fight them POST NO TRESSPASSING signs , lock the lid to the tank shut ( they will try and fill and bill you) send them certified mail not to tresspass .

Or use my method , when their little crane truck came down my driveway to pick up the tank , he pulled past my garage . There was only 1 way out , which I blocked with a backhoe . I told the driver I know he is only doing his job , but he is tresspassing , please leave the property by foot , he wanted me to move the hoe . I told him to call his boss and tell him to get the backhoe moved I will need a letter stating that the company agrees that the tank is my property and that no money is owed and the account is closed . Signed and written on company letterhead . The manager was there in 2 hours with the paperwork. I switched to heating oil .

 

[kthompson]

I am not an expert on this but before you prove you own it you may should find out if you want to own it. 20 year old tank in the ground may be near the end of it's life or may already have small hole rusted in it depending on the quality of the tank.

If your tank were to catch on fire or explode not good in any manner. If their tank were to they should be liable. Not sure how the EPA looks at propane tanks leaks.

 

[TnAndy]

Just make a handwritten note to yourself and sign Joe Blows name. They just want a paper.

Exactly. Print off a standard internet 'bill of sale', fill it out and give them a copy. I can tell ya from personal experience it works.

I bought an older above ground tank with "XYZ" propane logo on it. The property owner who bought the place called XYZ several times to come get their tank, each time was told they didn't have a tank at that location, and was finally told "DON'T call us again !" So I found out, went and got the tank, for nothing...guy just wanted it gone.... wire brushed it down nice, put a new coat of paint on it, and had....get this.....XYZ propane come put me a new regulator on it, and fill it....with a bill of sale that said I own it.....ahahahaaaa....

 

[kthompson]

You know even if the company did not sell the tank the cost of it has been recoup many times by the fee built in the fuel cost for the tank. For a company to pursue the removal of the tank if a buried tank they will have a good bit of cost in that with equipment and manpower needed and then have a tank that may have only scrape metal value to. I would expect they would have to fill the hole left by their removal and any damage to lawn if in a yard. By the time they take all that into consideration plus if their tank no one else I think can not fill it.

I still say find a person who you can talk with in the business and ask about the liability of you owning the tank. Here they say they can not refill the 20 pound tank unless it meets current standards or test date or something along that line. There may be such a requirement on tanks like yours and they really want you to take ownership of it for such reasons.


To me common sense says they would be better off without giving long term customers reason to buy own tank and then be able to shop for pricing rather than locked into them for the fuel. Then common sense is not very common.

 

[PILOON]

A bit off topic but still propane.
When I cleared this property I discovered 6 100 pound cylinders (all full) in the bushes.
Called the supplier and asked them to remove them as they were all rusty and I deemed dangerous.
I know they were leftover from the times when the previous owner stocked up for the winter as the site was not accessible in winter.
Company refused and denied ownership. (the paint code confirmed them to be theirs)
It took our fire department to force the pickup.
(The previous house had burned down due to lighting strike and poor grounding.)

 

[check]

Why bury them anyway? Around our cottage all the propane tanks are above ground. Doesn't seem to make sense to bury them, because of the rust problem in the wet ground.

 

[TnAndy]

Why bury them anyway? Around our cottage all the propane tanks are above ground. Doesn't seem to make sense to bury them, because of the rust problem in the wet ground.

Burying them gets an ugly tank out of sight, plus here, they will fill a buried tank to 90% versus an above ground at 80%, since the underground one is more temperature stable. Buried tanks are coated with a heavy tar coating, and have a sacrificial anode bolted to them to help prevent corrosion.