Ending a BOC contract - having hassle!

[lummocks]

Not sure what's going on here really...

I've managed to find a place near me for contract free bottle http://www.southwestgassupplies.co.uk/ Now I need pure argon for my tig as well as argon/co2 mix for my MIG I thought it would work out cheaper for me so I returned my BOC bottle today to my local BOC outlet (Wellington welding supplies in Avonmouth, Bristol)

I called up BOC when I got home to tell them my intentions of wishing to end my contract.

I'm not sure what I was being accused of by the jumped up sounding girl on the phone but she was basically telling me I'd returned a bottle that wasn't the one supplied to me. It's only my second ever bottle so I'd have a hard job of mixing them up especially as for around 14 months since picking up the bottle it's been tied to the back of my MIG and never transported anywhere. I remember picking it up from the main BOC place on Whitby road in Bristol and the guy just telling me to help myself. So I'm not sure how they know what bottle you take anyway!

So I've been told by this girl it's being investigated and that they would be calling me. I've been annoyed about it all afternoon as I was hoping to get my 10 months up front rent back asap to fund the majority of my contract free bottle of argon/co2. I called them back to be told by a rather more helpful chap that it would normally take around 2 weeks to be sorted out. Factor in Christmas and New Year and I'll probably be looking at sometime in the first week of January I expect. I asked the guy what I was actually being accused of and he mentioned a label being missing from around the valve...I have no recollection of a label...and as it's never been moved it's unlikely that I've knocked it off like he suggested. He mentioned something about people buying bottles of eBay and taking them back to BOC but I'm unsure of any gains to be had from this?

It's probably worth mentioning that the bottle looked brand new when I got it, the paint was very fresh, the valve was lovely and shiny and it had a brown painted metal guard that I'd never seen on a BOC bottle before.

Any idea what they reckon has happened and what may have happened? It's really ******* me off!!

 

[Luke]

It sounds like they're getting more aware of 'bottle switching'.

You take out a rental contract on a cylinder, and rent/buy a full cylinder of gas. You then buy an empty cylinder off ebay, and after a while, return the empty one to the gas supplier, and cancel your contract.

You end up with your original cylinder, still full of gas, and rent-free, and the gas supplier ends up with a cylinder of unknown history.

 

[Pete.]

They only do it with argon so I was told recently by a BOC supplier, none of the other gases, but basically there's a tag on the neck that they use to trace the bottles. If the tag is missing they automatically suspect foul play. Anyone pulling the trick Luke is on about would only need to give back the tag with the 'odd' bottle, saying they just broke it when loading. Or a drop of superglue would hold it in place long enough.

It's probably a mix-up at their end. I got charged for the rent of a oxy bottle I never had because they said I went in for a refill. I told them to show me the ticket with my signature, because all I had ever had was a x-sized bottle of argoshield. They refunded me but with a bloody credit note, after initially taking the cost from my bank. Now I don't get anything from BOC anymore, only ever go there on company business.

 

[chunkolini]

I had a similar thing years back, they got so mixed up re what I had I was asked to tell them what had got. Lordy, I missed the spare oxygen bottle they dropped off by mistake.
Just after that I found a decent company to work with.

Best thing to do would be get the mess sorted out, try and get hold of somebody in management, not the desk flunky, (note some desk flunkies are called God, and impossible to get past) then when it is sorted find an alternative supplier.
I think BOC used to have almost a monopoly on gas supplies, and still act as though they do. Good luck.

Chunko'.

 

[lummocks]

Thanks chaps I'll get onto them again tomorrow I think...as far as I'm concerned I've returned the bottle and expect a refund straight away on my pre payment. Otherwise I'm paying rent on something I don't have in my possession. Grr

 

[mike os]

odd this..cos mine are going back this week, if I get my van back

 

[Paul.]

Your refund will likely come on your next normal direct debit date, usually 25th of the month, or the nearest banking day.

 

[mart]

Lummocks,
this sounds very annoying & frustrating for you, and as you say, coming up to the xmas break has the potential to make the situation worse.

Personally i would do the following:
Write a letter to the manager. Explain the situation in full details, including the fact that you have given verbal instructions to them on (date) to end the contract. Also explain that if you have not received a full refund for the full the amount in question by (date), then you will charge them for any costs incurred (including consequequential losses & and out of pocket expenses). Make sure you photo-copy the letter & send it via recorded delivery. If things get nasty, the letter will prove that you have tried to resolve the matter before taking xyz legal action etc. Good look, and hope it works out for you.

 

[chunkolini]

Another thought, whenever you speak to anybody on the phone, make sure you get their name.
Chunko'.

 

[julieanncharters]

could be worse ,air liquide's customer service is unreal , if ya get an account problem god help ya