Cuomo
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo on Friday said his office has reached a settlement with 14 Suffolk County-based home heating oil companies over allegations the businesses illegally added surcharges to consumer credit cards.
The agreements were met with Avalon Fuel Corp., Ben Oil Co., Inc., Blue Collar Fuel, Inc., Comfort Fuel, Inc., Discount Oil, Inc., K Skee Fuel Oil Corp., NAPCO Oil Heat Corporation, Nordica Fuel Corp., Oil King of Long Island, Parkside Fuel, Inc., Pazienza Bay Carting and Fuel Company, Inc., Rocky & Marciano Fuel Oil, Inc., Southville Petroleum Corporation and Taylor Fuel, Inc.
As a result of the settlement, 2,000 affected consumers will get a refund check.
The settlement requires:
-Lindenhurst-based Ben Oil Company, Inc must provide refunds to approximately 40 of its credit card-using customers;
-Shoreham-based Blue Collar Fuel, Inc must pay refunds to 600 customers;
-Greenlawn-based Comfort Fuel, Inc must pay refunds to 30 customers;
-Huntington-based Discount Oil, Inc must provide refunds to 50 customers;
-Centereach-based K Skee Fuel Oil Corp must refund 150 customers and pay a $1,000 fine to the State;
-Lindenhurst-based NAPCO Oil Heat Corporation must provide refunds to 200 customers and pay $3,000 in penalties, fees and costs to the state;
-Ronkonkoma-based Nordica Fuel Corp must pay refunds to 70 customers;
-Oil King of Long Island, based in Bay Shore, must pay refunds to 40 customers;
-Parkside Fuel, Inc., of Mount Sinai, must provide refunds to 50 customers;
-Holtsville-based Pazienza Bay Carting and Fuel Company must give refunds to 150 customers and pay $1,000 in penalties, fees and costs to the State;
-Holtsville-based Rocky & Marciano Fuel Oil, Inc must provide refunds to 400 customers and pay $4,000 in penalties, fees and costs to the State; and
-East Northport-based Southville Petroleum Corporation must pay refunds to 55 customers, plus $1,000 in penalties, fees and costs to the State;
"As winter approaches, families across the state start looking for the best and most affordable way to keep their homes warm," Cuomo said.
"This already massive expense should not be compounded by hidden costs and charges that place an even greater burden on New York homeowners. Today's agreement will provide welcome relief to thousands of Long Islanders who suffered from these companies' misleading and deceptive business practices."