Heating oil consumers advised to avoid expensive express delivery surcharges

Experts are advising consumers in Germany to refill heating oil tanks proactively rather than waiting until reserves are nearly depleted. Due to high current heating oil prices, the cost of emergency refills can be significant.

An analysis by the consumer portal Finanztip revealed that express deliveries requested within 48 hours cost an average of nearly 300 euros extra, with the highest recorded surcharge reaching 857 euros. Even deliveries scheduled within a ten-day window incur an average surcharge of 3.1 percent compared to flexible delivery options.

Choosing flexible delivery allows distributors to plan routes and dates according to their logistical needs, avoiding extra fees. Furthermore, express options significantly limit consumer choice; the number of available offers dropped from an average of nine for flexible deliveries to approximately three for express requests.