We have received a strange letter from Butagaz claiming that we have a propane gas tank on our land, a contract having been taken out by previous owners and that (even though we are not their clients) we are somehow responsible for the maintenance and well-being of their tank.
We have been here 18 years and never come across a tank. The young man who answered my phone call said it could be buried. Not sure where!
I said Butagaz were very welcome to come and look for it. (And if buried, take it away )
In passing, does anyone know, if there IS a propane cylinder buried anywhere on our land, should this have been mentioned in the purchase documentation 18 years ago?
Mind you, the previous owners (for 15 years) used the house as a maison secondaire and I doubt would have bothered with a gas tank. Maybe it pre-dates them?
Did they give details of the name on their contract???
Frankly, I’d have a word with the Notaire who sold the place… (and maybe the Mairie).
Can’t see why you are responsible if it was not part of the Sale… yes, it should have been mentioned.
We had to certify that buried tanks (petrol/diesel) were empty/cleaned and filled with sand… experts did the checking and produced the document.
This might be a Scam since it seems to have been 18 years and you’ve had no prior contact from Butagaz.
Tell them to make an appointment to come search for it.
They might have forgotten they removed it years ago.
I’m a Butagaz customer and they contacted me about 6 months after buying our house as they previous owner used them and it was easy to setup the new contract.
“We need to confirm where the cistern is.”
“Ask the driver that delivered 500kg of gas 2 months ago. This is the same tank that you deliver gas to for the previous owner for 20 years and they haven’t moved it.”
You really should not have ignored the first letter from Butagaz.
You should write to them A/R, informing them when you bought the house, and that you have no knowledge of a tank on your property. You should also ask them where exactly it is, and if they want it, to come and take it away.
As has been suggested… write and tell 'em you know nowt about it, no sign of Tank and no mention of it at time of Sale to you.
and send it by the system of getting a signed receipt back in your letter box (as proof they’ve had your letter)
…And mention the rate you’ll be charging them for their visit to their tank on your land since you’ve not had any contract with them Plus your charge for any no-show on an sppointment guessing it will be a subcontractor
Though a friend has just had Antargaz remove their tank from her property sfter she decided to no longer use gas. She was chsrged for the removal I think.
It was also complicated to arrange as dates were not offered soon snd then when a date was sgreed later it was changed by them sgsin. There also hsd to be x space snd turning circle for their lorry on the land.
It sounds like there is now an environmental regulation requirement been put on them to sccount for the location of every tank they’ve ever installed?
)