Help with oil payments i think were being ripped off?

Question

I am only a witness to this but i need to no how to handle it because its hurting my family. I'm 17 and my grand mom pays for the oil to heat the house in the winter. We do not receive oil during the summer. She has been getting bills for $400 even during the summer months. I don't think this is right seeing that we don't get oil during those months. She has called to ask about it but they just say well you no the price for oil is getting higher. I think their ripping her off. Is this leagle if not then how do i get her to realize it?

Answer 1

Some power companies structure their payments by averaging them over the year so you aren't paying huge bills in the winter.  That may be the case here.

Unhappily fuel costs are going up and that means an expensive heating bill in the winter.  

Pray for a warm winter and fiscal sanity to return to Washington D.C.

The almighty may be able to help you with the first, but Satan is in charge of the latter.

Answer 2

You don't know what the bills are for.  She may owe money for the oil that was delivered during the cold weather.  You may have had deliveries during the summer for a hot water heater.  She may be on a monthly payment plan of $400 per month to help pay for the upcoming heating season.

Since you don't know what the bills are for, this is the best I can do.  However, I am will to bet that these are prepayments for the upcoming heating season.