When we first came to check out this neighborhood and these Ryan Homes we ended up walking away for a couple of reasons actually, one being the timing of not wanting it to be completed before we were down with our rental contract but mostly what had us running for the hills was the propane contract Ryan Homes makes you sign in this particular neighborhood. We had been up to show the kids our lot we were thinking of getting and met our would be next door neighbor who told us about the propane contract and how he had bought his from the company so he could use any company he wanted to fill his tank. Scared us. We decided we didn't want to deal with the propane issue. We even asked our SR about getting electric heat... which he said its energy efficient, I am now starting to feel like they just don't offer it because they are in business with this one propane company (Matheson, by the way... so if anyone out there is reading this and is thinking of building with Ryan Homes or with anyone where you will be forced to sign a contract with Matheson, I am telling you right now... RUN! Don't do it!!)
Anyway, as the story goes we ended up signing about a month later, despite our worries about propane. Our SR assured us of a few things to help ease our worries... 1. We could buy the tank for $3400 now but as time goes by the price of the tank goes down significantly so if we wanted a couple years it would be much more affordable. 2. Matheson was competitively priced and if we ever felt like that wasn't true we should inform Ryan Homes and they would take care of it. 3. Ryan homes fills the tank to use during construction and whatever was let in the tank when we closed was ours to keep and then we would be responsible to fill the rest.
Now, when we closed our tank had 50% propane in the tank. We called Matheson to have them put our name on the account. No one explained anything to us just asked us to fill out some forms, and send a photo of our propane gauge so they'd know how much we needed. Over a month went by and we finally received a bill. A bill for nearlt $800, charging us for an entire tank of propane instead of just the 30% we needed (they only fill to 80%). My husband called and got the explanation from Matheson. Something about how Ryan Homes was suppose to fill our tank to full before we moved in, but that it was still all our responsibility to pay for the entire tank. See how these two statements, one from Ryan Homes before we signed our contract, and one from Matheson after we have already closed are 100% opposite of each other?!?!?! (We have also learned the price of the tank remains $3450 no matter when you buy it... also I have researched how much a tank costs and this is 3-6 times more than market)
So I emailed our SR and he talked to his boss. They both agreed that we were right and something sounded off. That was a month ago, at least. And that is still as much as I personally have been told.
About a week and a half ago I went around my SR and contacted his boss directly. Not only asking about the status of our personal situation but letting him know how disappointed we are in the service we are receiving from the propane company they FORCE us into business with. And asking for help in getting Matheson's prices lowered to match other competitors prices, which are more than 100% cheaper. (.89 a gal vs 1.99).
He wrote me back the next day and said he was working on it and asked for my phone number to give me a call. That is the last I heard from him.
Come to find out from our neighborhood FB page and from our family walk around the neighborhood, many people happened to also contact our SRs boss and so it wasn't just my email that prompted him to "look into it". Our neighbors had more info bcuz they actually spoke on the phone with the man and some of the options being thrown around were leasing the tank at $120 a year and being able to use whoever we wanted for gas, a lower price to buy the tank outright from, and a more competitive price. All of these sounded great.
Next day some neighbors say the gas company isn't budging and they think their prices are competitive.
I have still not heard back from my SRs boss, so I am unsure if anything is even being done anymore. And I am not sure what the status of our personal bill situation is.
I am completely disappointed in this entire scenario. Other homes in our neighborhood were built by other companies and their homes CAME WITH their propane tank. Which oh my goodness MAKES PERFECT SENSE!!!! Why doesn't Ryan Homes include the propane tank in the sale of the home?!?!? Why did they not even offer buying it out right from them as an option when pricing out the house? I am so curious about just what back room deal they have going with Matheson? It must be pretty sweet for them, they must be making so much money from it to FORCE all their home owners into business with this shady, dishonest company.
Our personal experience with them double charging for gas isn't unique, they have done it to all the home owners of recent. Since we all let Ryan Homes know about it they have since scolded Matheson and told them to fill the tanks no higher than the 25% they charging Ryan Homes for, then they will charge the home owner for the propane they put in on top of what is "leftover" from construction.
Our personal experience is also just the tip of the iceberg people. Some neighbors have reported damaged fences from Matheson trespassing and putting locks on their propane tanks so one one else can fill them. Some neighbors report being told their tank belongs to Matheson and they will sue the home owner even though they built with one of the other builders whose tanks came with their house! Its crazy in here right now with everyone fighting Matheson and no helpful solution being offered.
What I want to do is warn any potential home buyers of Ryan Homes and more specifically in this neighborhood. Educate yourself before you buy, and if its propane gas neighborhood maybe don't buy at all... and really don't buy if Ryan Homes has a contract they force you to sign putting you in business with any one company but absolutely never do business with Matheson!
I am not sure what the outcome of this will be, or what my next step is to get help from someone at Ryan Homes. Its really putting a damper on our house excitement, making me wish that we never built with Ryan Homes in the first place. I hate being lied to and I hate being taken advantage of.
Wow! The propane supplier knows they have you in a situation where you need the product and you have little control. It's awful that Ryan put you all in that predicament. Ryan probably does have some kind of lucrative deal with them, but it doesn't seem like they would want to upset so many new homeowners. I hope they make it right.
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