Heritage Propane

I moved into my apartment (Village of Canterbury) on November 15th of 2011. My first Heritage Propane bill was $123.00 (Nov 15-Dec 20). Next month, December 20-Jan 24, I received a bill for $334.00. After I received this bill, I made major changes. I turned off my thermostat. I purchased an Eden Pure Heater, letting my water drip out of one sink, to keep the pipes from freezing. I rolled up towels under my doorways. All that, to still come into a cold apartment, and my next bill was $304. I don't understand where this is coming from. I know the propane runs the hot water, heat, and the stove, but I don't cook, and I shower once a night. I pay $732 in rent, and I cannot afford a $300 propane bill. I'm a student, working two jobs, and this is my first time living alone, and I must say it's become a nightmare. I call the company constantly to talk to rude, unsympathetic, sarcastic people, who keep telling me "it's winter time". I know it's winter time. They are rude.

First off, I've been a customer for years and have been on the keep fill list and I prepay my gas in August of every year. I explain this past year I wasn't sure how much gas to buy because I wasn't living in the home. Anyway I received a bill dated Jan. 29, 2010 for $578.87 225 gallons. I called and question this because I didn't feel as though I used this gas. I had to wait for someone to call me back. I got another bill for $438.92 163 gallons of gas dated Feb. 26, 2010. They wanted to charge me $75 to see if I had a leak at the tank and another fee to come inside to see if I had a leak.

I don"t agree with this. I paid these people first check $600 on 3/10/10, leaving a credit of $21.13 to go towards the second bill, which I paid $411.34 on 4/27/10. I went by my home to cut the grass and Heritage Propane driver came to me and said you owe $50 and I'm here to collect or put a lock on your tank and it will cost you $75 to get it removed. Days past and a lock was put on my tank full of gas. Well last week, Friday, I came by my home to do an outside repair and my full tank of propane was gone. Do I need to report this to the police?

I recieved a bill statement dated on 3/11/08 from heritage propane stating that my acount was past due and I quote" As of this date your acount balance is $143.14 includes late fees and statement fees".I recieved the bill on 3/12/08 and got it out of my mailbox at about 5:30 P.M. when I got home from work. I called at the office at 9:20 A.M. on 3/13/08 to pay my bill when they informed me that my bill was $8.00 more for late fees. whem I question the fact that the letter states that laete fees were included on my bill, the tell me that late fees are posted on the 10th of every month. I asked them why they were not on my bill, dated 3/11/08 and Mr. Don said that is ussually that way it is. I tthink this practice is decieving to custumers in order to keep charging more. This is not the first time this happens. I want to know what I can do as a consumer.