Heating oil prices: Heating oil: cancel your order – can you save money this way?

The year 2022 was characterized by ups and downs in heating oil prices. On January 15, consumers could still buy a liter of heating oil for less than one euro – from the end of February, heating oil prices then climbed steeply. According to information from “esyoil”, the peak was reached on February 9th – one liter cost a whopping 2.09 euros – on no other day in 2022 did they have to heating oil customers pay so much money for a liter. In the meantime, the situation on the energy market has calmed down a bit.

Heating oil prices fluctuate greatly: revoke the order? The definition of “cooling off period”

As of January 10, 2023, the price for a liter of heating oil is below the 1.20 mark. A downward trend has been apparent since the beginning of January – heating oil prices are at a low level and gas prices have also settled at a stable level. However, heating oil prices continue to change from day to day, sometimes even several times from minute to minute. That in turn makes the order for consumer tricky. Although there are online tools for comparing heating oil prices, they cannot predict new prices either.

It’s a bit like at the gas station: You can be lucky or at the wrong time pump stand. Although there are also forecasts for the price of heating oil, these usually only reflect a trend. But here another question arises: In contrast to fuel, heating oil is usually ordered online – it is therefore a so-called “distance selling business”. This means: The goods are subject to a cancellation period of 14 days. During this time, you can usually return a product without giving a reason.

The development of heating oil prices in 2022 at a glance:

Heating oil can be ordered online: cancellation possible? Revocation clearly regulated in the BGB

Does this right of withdrawal also apply to orders for heating oil? The Consumer CenterBaden-Württemberg has dealt with the question. And indeed: consumers could cancel their heating oil orders – but the emphasis is on “could”. Because now that’s no longer possible. The background is a European legislative process. In 2021, this led to a decision of Federal Court of Justice from 2015 – which also allows a revocation when ordering heating oil – no longer applies.

The consequence for consumers: Since the implementation of EU legislation in 2021, there has been no statutory right of withdrawal more for heating oil orders in distance selling shops. This means: Even with online orders, you are bound to the purchase contract. That’s also in Civil Code recorded under paragraph 312g paragraph 2 number 8. This initially reads negatively for consumers – on the other hand, heating oil customers can also benefit from the legal situation.

Heating oil: It is actually not possible to revoke the order – there is one exception

Because in the negative case – if the heating oil price increases after the order is placed – those affected still pay the agreed price and the supplier must deliver on the agreed terms. There are only a few exceptions to the acceptance requirement. Report “CHIP” According to this, the delivery of heating oil can be refused if the delivery time is not met. Otherwise, heating oil customers have little room for maneuver – especially at the height of the energy crisis in 2022, this was a disadvantage for many.

In extreme cases, one had to pay the horrendous heating oil prices. The good news is that the traffic light coalition has launched a subsidy for heating oil and pellets. This is intended to relieve pellet and heating oil customers retrospectively for the period from January 1st to December 1st, 2022 – but there is one Hook. Many consumers could go away empty-handed with regard to the subsidy for heating oil and be left with their additional costs. Because in contrast to the electricity and gas price brake from March 2023, the pellet and heating oil subsidy should only be granted on application.

Subsidy for heating oil and pellets: many details still unclear – expert makes forecast

In addition, many details about the subsidy have not yet been worked out. Among other things, reference amounts are missing and the period for the payment has not yet been determined. The good news is the current development of heating oil prices in Germany. In a forecast of heating oil prices for our editorial team, market expert Oliver Klapschus from “HeizOel24” assumes that there will be a downward trend heating oil prices in 2023 out. In his forecast, he gives a price per liter of 1.10 euros as a rough guide.

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