Free Tank Removal - Beware!
Learn the truth about free tank removals
Here is how the free tank removal usually works
When the contractor arrives to perform the work, the homeowner will pay the contractor $3,000 plus the extra charges assessed on site (see below for explanation extra charges). Many homeowners are surprised by this upfront payment. They thought they were getting a free tank removal. The contractor will most likely respond by reaffirming that the oil tank removal is free because the tank removal cost the NJ homeowner pays the contractor will be reimbursed up to $3,000 under the grant program. Many homeowners are shocked when they learn that any grant submission could take several years to get reviewed and there’s no guarantee of funding. In addition, the homeowner has no assurance that they will qualify for the $3,000 grant and will be left on their own to deal with the state of New Jersey and filling out the complex paperwork. The tank contractor is betting that homeowners will be more likely to pay the removal costs and wait for reimbursement especially with the contractor & equipment waiting outside their home ready to remove their tank!
The tank removal company gave me a price over the phone. If the company is offering a free tank removal without ever visiting your property, you can anticipate ”free” will evolve into many hundreds or thousands of dollars. Typically, in these cases, the contractor arrives on site to remove your tank and will detail a host of add-on charges. These charges such as installation for concrete pads, location of the new tank, installation of fuel lines and hand digging fees may be necessary but will often be charged at an exorbitant rate. These contractors believe that once they’re on site and started the tank removal process, you won’t object and shop for better rates. In addition, these contractors have been known to charge exorbitant rates for removing existing fuel, disposing of sludge and soil sample laboratory analysis. We’ve even seen fees charged mobilizing field personnel.
- Here’s what you can expect from ATS & the TRUST Program. We will visit every site and perform a thorough evaluation of the property. This will enable us to give you a written estimate that includes just about every anticipated cost. In the end, you can expect your cost for the tank removal & replacement to be substantially less than all the companies offering the ‘free’ tank removal gimmick.
What if your tank leaks? If you hired a tank removal company that’s playing the marketing gimmick, chances are you’ll be on your own trying to figure out how to pay for the tank removal costs. If a leak is discovered during the tank removal, you will need to report the spill and remove the soil which can be an very expensive project. It is highly doubtful these companies will help you get a leaking tank grant from the state because they don’t know about the program or how to get the funds.
How do other oil tank removal companies ensure they are giving quality service? In most cases, you will be dealing with the tank removal company directly. As the property owner, you are ultimately responsible for managing the entire project and making sure the company completes the job to your satisfaction. In the event you are not satisfied with the job, how will you hold the company accountable? Unfortunately, you are only one customer in state with a lot of oil tanks.
- The ATS TRUST Program makes sure the job is done properly the first time. We buy more tank removal services than anyone else in the state. We survey every project to make sure every customer is satisfied, and we hold our contractors accountable. Tank removal companies want to do a great job for us because they want more of our work. It’s as simple as that!
Read unedited reviews from our customers. You should always ask the contractor for a reference list. ATS collects reviews from every customer and posts them unedited. Read what people are saying about us.
Most companies cannot help you if you need your oil tank removed on short notice! Most of these free tank removal gimmick companies require coordinating tank removal projects with other projects in your town or even your block. If you are selling your home and need the removal quickly, most of these companies cannot accommodate your deadline with their offering.
- Under our TRUST program, the property owner can exercise complete control over scheduling the project. Our project coordinators are instructed to schedule at your convenience, when it makes sense for you. Even if you are selling your home and need the work done in a hurry, we have the capacity to meet your deadline. We will never make you wait for us to book other projects in your vicinity.
