Domestic heating oil: Smaller quantities

Only the 8th of April, 48.85 ex VAT, for 2000l.

I got in just before sudden 2p hike. Other quotes were 49.95, 55.98, 50.95 & 52.39. Local company that is nearly always about 1p cheaper than anyother supplier. They only have to come about 10 miles to us others have to do nearer 50 miles round trip...

Well to shift 1000l of oil one would have to be a bit organised even if you were just going to put it in your own tank. 1000l is 50 jerry cans,

As others have said the delivery overhead is much the same regardless of quantity. When my mum had oil heating - probably one of a small minority in the area - IIRC the cheapest option was automatic top-up: IOW if they had a tanker in the area they would refill your tank, saving a special journey.

No, but if I were, what is wrong with that?

MM

But there have been many thefts (ordinary household thefts) from houses while the owners have been in bed asleep. So stealing oil from a tank in a remote part of the garden would seem pretty easy, really. Unless there are dogs in the vicinity...

Also, what about when residents go to work? Or to church on Sunday?

MM

But how would one know that one is constantly getting the best deal?

MM

The filler cap is on the *top* of my tank, and completely useless for emptying it...

You don't. You can't have it both ways.

And just how would you transport the oil? You'd need a large tank mounted on a vehicle and probably a pump to get it in there.

I'd hope neighbours might find it strange to see a pikey vehicle with a tank loading up at a house.

I'd say transferring the contents of most tanks to a portable one would involve a pump.

Siphon it into a low container.

Lots of rural dwellings are isolated from immediate neighbours.

MM

Er, did you, as a youth, never need to syphon petrol out of your mate's car to get you home?

MM

I think I'd rather have the choice of finding the best deal WHEN I actually need the oil.

MM

Even if that actually gave you a worse price?

clive

I know criminals are stupid, but do you really think some pikey is going to

Your choice. Nobody forces you have the auto top-up service - some people would rather have the convenience than the money.

Why not? They are daft enough to try and steal the copper from 11kV lines without dumping the line first...

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember Huge saying something like:

Of course not. They turn up in a Transit with a heating oil tank in the back of it. A 2" petrol-powered pump, and Bob's yer dodgily-moustachioed brother's auntie.

There's a real spate of heating oil thefts in rural areas and has been for the past couple of years. Many rural properties are occupied by working couples and the thieves know when the house is empty. Here's a tip: you often find pikeys wandering around looking for scrap - they have eyes in their head and take everything in, often passing the info on to other pikeys who are up for a bit of oil theft.