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secondcurve · 09-22-2014, 05:35 PM

HUDSON, N.H. —The major supplier for Fred Fuller Oil is suing the company, saying it owes millions of dollars.

Sprague Energy said Fred Fuller Oil owes nearly $5 million for oil that Fuller picked up. Spraque said Fuller secured the contract with its fleet of more than 100 delivery vehicles.

The lawsuit comes after problems Fuller had last winter, when hundreds of customers complained about delivery delays. Senior Assistant Attorney General Jim Boffetti, the state's consumer bureau chief, said he's worried what the lawsuit could mean.

"We just know a lawsuit's been filed, but if (Fuller) were to be having problems, that would present some serious challenges to this entire state," Boffetti said.

Fuller's problems last year involved customers not getting oil they bought before the season began. Boffetti said most of those problems were resolved.

"At the end of the season, some people were owed money on their pre-buy contracts, and my understanding is that most of that has been repaid to the customers," he said.

Boffetti said he's still awaiting answers, not just about customers who might have pre-bought again, but in light of the lawsuit, how Fuller will get oil at all.

"Thirty thousand customers are all relying on Fred Fuller and his infrastructure, so his delivery trucks, his big tankers that go to Newington and pick up the oil, his storage facilities -- all of that provides him a capacity to deliver a huge amount of oil to a large customer base," Boffetti said. "So if that were to stop, then the question is, how could customers find a reliable source of home heating oil?"

Boffetti said customers should make their heating decisions carefully.

"Customers have to make their own best decisions for their own homes, but this is a serious matter that raises serious questions," he said.

Boffetti said he is waiting for a call back from Fred Fuller's attorney. News 9 did not hear back from the attorney either.

A spokesperson for Sprague Energy returned News 9's call but refused to comment.

A hearing on the lawsuit is set for Oct. 28.

09-22-2014, 05:35 PM	#92
secondcurve Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,084 Thanks: 1,267 Thanked 557 Times in 286 Posts	More News HUDSON, N.H. —The major supplier for Fred Fuller Oil is suing the company, saying it owes millions of dollars. Sprague Energy said Fred Fuller Oil owes nearly $5 million for oil that Fuller picked up. Spraque said Fuller secured the contract with its fleet of more than 100 delivery vehicles. The lawsuit comes after problems Fuller had last winter, when hundreds of customers complained about delivery delays. Senior Assistant Attorney General Jim Boffetti, the state's consumer bureau chief, said he's worried what the lawsuit could mean. "We just know a lawsuit's been filed, but if (Fuller) were to be having problems, that would present some serious challenges to this entire state," Boffetti said. Fuller's problems last year involved customers not getting oil they bought before the season began. Boffetti said most of those problems were resolved. "At the end of the season, some people were owed money on their pre-buy contracts, and my understanding is that most of that has been repaid to the customers," he said. Boffetti said he's still awaiting answers, not just about customers who might have pre-bought again, but in light of the lawsuit, how Fuller will get oil at all. "Thirty thousand customers are all relying on Fred Fuller and his infrastructure, so his delivery trucks, his big tankers that go to Newington and pick up the oil, his storage facilities -- all of that provides him a capacity to deliver a huge amount of oil to a large customer base," Boffetti said. "So if that were to stop, then the question is, how could customers find a reliable source of home heating oil?" Boffetti said customers should make their heating decisions carefully. "Customers have to make their own best decisions for their own homes, but this is a serious matter that raises serious questions," he said. Boffetti said he is waiting for a call back from Fred Fuller's attorney. News 9 did not hear back from the attorney either. A spokesperson for Sprague Energy returned News 9's call but refused to comment. A hearing on the lawsuit is set for Oct. 28.