WEIGH SCALES - The state is recommending customers receiving public assistance for their heating oil not use a Shamokin area company because of a number of complaints about non-delivery.
The Department of Public Welfare (DPW) said it has received approximately 50 complaints over the past three weeks about Duke Heating Oil from clients who are part of the LIHEAP program.
"We don't have formal
records if it was either 50 individual reports or if some people have called more than once," said Anne Bale, DPW press secretary. "What we have been doing is telling recipients that if they have a problem, they could have their money reissued to another vendor."
Duke, which filed for bankruptcy in October, was closed both Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning when a News-Item reporter stopped at the business along Route 61 between Shamokin and Paxinos in Ralpho Township. The doors were locked and nobody appeared to be inside.
An answering machine for a 648 exchange phone number for Duke says normal hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. A number for the company with a 797 exchange is no longer in service.
Charges pending?
Bale has not heard anything suggesting possible criminal charges against Duke's operators. She said DPW officials have been unsuccessful in contacting the company.
Northumberland County District Attorney Tony Rosini said he couldn't discuss whether an investigation is being conducted, but acknowledged having discussions with DPW regarding individuals who have not received deliveries that were already paid for through LIHEAP.
Anyone who did not receive oil deliveries paid by LIHEAP should call 717-772-7830 or toll free at 866-857-7095.
Customers complain
The News-Item was contacted Jan. 27 by Duke customer Peggy Lutcavage, of Strong, who said she had $700 in fuel oil owed to her by Duke. She said she was told numerous times that a delivery would be made, but that hadn't happened.
After not reaching anyone at Duke by phone, a reporter visited the business that day and was told by a female employee that Lutcavage had just left, and that delivery had been arranged for the next day. The News-Item checked with Lutcavage the following day and learned she had received her fuel oil.
Lutcavage, a LIHEAP recipient, said she still has a balance of $192, which she plans to transfer to another company.
Lutcavage later said her call to The News-Item had apparently upset Duke's operators.
"They called me about the reporter visiting and asked me about why I wanted to cause trouble," Lutcavage said. "She stopped short of threatening me, but let me know that I was going to get the oil."
Bankruptcy filing
On Oct. 14, Duke Heating Oil filed for bankruptcy in federal court. According to court documents, Stanley Romanoski, manager, listed an estimate of the company's liabilities of between $500,000 and $1 million. The list of 20 largest unsecured claims totals $666,565.40.
Among the largest debts was a $282,719 mortgage, $140,000 owed to a Danville oil company and $106,791.35 to a Sunbury fuel company, and two personal loans from the former owners, Thomas and Dolores Duke, totalling $97,189.01
The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare and the LIHEAP program is also listed among the creditors, for $1,023, not counting any money received since then.
"If there is a problem," Bale said, "we are going to do everything we can to get that money back from Duke."
Others on the creditor list include Ralpho Township Tax Collector Charlene Zeigler, the state Bureau of Waste Management, and the state Department of Labor and Industry, Office of Unemployment Compensation Tax Service. Ralpho Township is also listed for local withholding taxes, but is using a debt collection service to recoup monies.
Fight with competitor
Romanoski made news last May when he allegedly confronted the owner of a competing business in Tharptown and assaulted him. Romanoski waived the charges to county court and is awaiting his arraignment, at which time he can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial in Northumberland County Court.