Dead River Company

They cancelled the job. Do not use this company. I signed a sales agreement that was also signed by a member of their sales team. (I think most people would belive this was a contract). 3 days later I paid the required 1/3 down-payment ( per the signed agreement remainder payable on completion). A couple of weeks went by, and I did not hear anything, so I contacted my sales representative and the signer of the sales agreement. Took about 2-3 days of trying but finally managed to get an installation date in June. (Almost 3 months after signing the agreement) they are busy, and short handed so this part is understandable. There was no financing of this agreement, so I had the funds on hand to pay when the work was completed. After getting the installation date, I thought it would be a good idea to setup automatic fuel delivery. Submitted my information to apply for the credit. It came back as Cash on delivery only from their credit department. This triggered an email, where they demanded the full price of the installation prior to install. I may not be a lawyer, but I am pretty sure their signed sales agreement is a contract. I push back stating the contract stipulates payment upon completion. They tell me to contact their credit department. Where I am told it is company policy that any account that is classified as Cash on Delivery, has any agreement changed to that, and must be paid before delivery. Now the State of Maine Attorney General has a nice pamphlet on their website about house construction/repair laws (it also covers heating furnaces and/or permanent attachments), which is even referenced to on the sales agreement. I inform them that changing a contract without both parties consent is against the Maine Commercial Law (read from Attorney General). They inform me that the signed sales agreement isn't a contract, and that they do not have to do the installation if I don't like their modified terms. At this point instead of swear or cursing at them, I inform them that I do not appreciate this, and may have to take legal action to preserve my rights. I later, email the sales rep, and relent and agree to pay a few days prior to installation. They decide to cancel the installation, and at least refunded my deposit. But this is alsmot 60 days after signing the agreement, and leaves me high and dry. This company is not to be trusted, as they think any signed agreement is only valid as long as it suits them 100%. How dare I think I have contractual rights with a signed agreement. Well I pretty much thought a signed agreement was a contract. As I would think most rational people would. So this is my word of warning. I have also placed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.

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My family has been customers of the Dead River Company since 2006 when we moved into our new home. This is an oil company from which we purchase home heating oil as well as an annual contract which entitles us to have our furnace serviced when needed as well as having an annual tune up performed by one of their technicians. After every tune up we experienced our furnace not functioning only several hours after the technician left our home. I will say, to be fair, that there was only one time when this did not happen. We had only one serviceman take pride in his work and complete the job accurately and did not eave until everything was thoroughly checked to be sure that all was working properly. If we choose to use this company in the future, it has been requested that this serviceman would be the only one that we wanted to be sent to our home. I could completely understand a mistake once in a while, bit this SAME mistake has occurred over and over. Not only is it a big inconvenience to rearrange our schedules to have a person come back again to fix a mistake, but it is unprofessional and at this point uncalled for. We urge anyone looking into oil companies to closely consider whether this company would be the one for you.

It went very well overall, from when he arrived to when he left. He answered any questions I had and was polite and courteous. We have a highly efficient Pensotti boiler, and it is important to keep it clean and in good working order. Dead River installed it several years ago and our experience with their annual cleanings has always been positive.