Terms of Service

Last updated: January 8, 2025

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using RI Oil Prices ("the Service," "we," "us," or "our"), operated by Company 50 Inc., Cumberland, Rhode Island, you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use the Service.

These terms apply to all users, including homeowners and heating oil dealers. Additional terms specific to dealers are outlined in Section 16 below.

2. Description of Service

RI Oil Prices is a platform that connects homeowners in Rhode Island with heating oil dealers. We provide:

  • Price comparison tools for heating oil
  • Dealer contact information and details
  • Price alerts and notifications
  • User accounts for homeowners and dealers

3. User Accounts

3.1 Registration

To access certain features, you must register for an account. You agree to:

  • Provide accurate, current, and complete information
  • Maintain and update your information
  • Keep your password secure and confidential
  • Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use

3.2 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account if you violate these Terms of Service or engage in fraudulent or illegal activities.

4. User Conduct

You agree not to:

  • Use the Service for any illegal purpose
  • Violate any laws or regulations
  • Infringe on intellectual property rights
  • Transmit viruses, malware, or harmful code
  • Harass, abuse, or harm other users
  • Impersonate any person or entity
  • Collect user information without consent
  • Interfere with the Service's operation

5. Pricing Information

Important: Prices displayed on RI Oil Prices are provided by dealers and are for informational purposes only. We do not guarantee:

  • Price accuracy or availability
  • That dealers will honor displayed prices
  • That prices are current or up-to-date

Always confirm prices directly with dealers before placing an order.

6. Dealer Relationships

RI Oil Prices is a platform that connects users with dealers. We are not:

  • A heating oil dealer or supplier
  • Responsible for dealer services or products
  • A party to transactions between users and dealers
  • Liable for dealer actions or omissions

7. Intellectual Property

All content on RI Oil Prices, including text, graphics, logos, images, and software, is the property of RI Oil Prices or its licensors and is protected by copyright and trademark laws.

8. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

  • Merchantability
  • Fitness for a particular purpose
  • Non-infringement
  • Accuracy or completeness of information

9. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, RI OIL PRICES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

  • Indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages
  • Loss of profits, data, or business opportunities
  • Damages arising from use or inability to use the Service
  • Damages from dealer interactions or transactions

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless RI Oil Prices, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses arising from:

  • Your use of the Service
  • Your violation of these Terms
  • Your violation of any rights of another party

11. Modifications to Service

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Service at any time without notice. We shall not be liable to you or any third party for any modification, suspension, or discontinuance.

12. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Rhode Island, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. RI Oil Prices is owned and operated by Company 50 Inc., located in Cumberland, Rhode Island.

13. Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Service shall be resolved through binding arbitration in Rhode Island, except that either party may seek injunctive relief in court.

14. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms of Service from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Terms on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

15. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us through our Contact Us form on the website.

16. Dealer-Specific Terms

The following terms apply specifically to heating oil dealers who register for a dealer account on RI Oil Prices. By creating a dealer account, you agree to these additional terms.

16.1 Dealer Account and Trial Period

When you sign up as a dealer, you receive a 10-day free trial period. During this trial:

  • Your business listing will be active and visible to customers
  • All clicks are tracked for your reference but are never billed
  • You can cancel at any time with no charges
  • You have full access to all dealer dashboard features

After your trial ends, billing begins automatically unless you cancel your account before the trial period expires.

16.2 Cost-Per-Click Billing Model

We use a performance-based cost-per-click (CPC) pricing model. You are only charged when customers actively engage with your listing by clicking one of these actions:

  • Call Now button: When a customer clicks to call your phone number
  • Visit Website button: When a customer clicks to visit your website
  • Top Spot clicks: When customers click on your premium Top Spot listing (if you're bidding for Top Spot placement)

CPC Rates: Regular clicks and Top Spot clicks are billed at rates determined by us and may vary. Top Spot rates are bid-based and can fluctuate based on competition and market conditions. All rates may be adjusted with 30 days' notice. Your current rates are always visible in your dealer dashboard.

What You're NOT Charged For: You are never charged for customers simply viewing your listing, comparing prices, or browsing the site. You only pay when they take action to contact you.

16.3 Click Fraud Prevention and Deduplication

To protect you from fraudulent or duplicate clicks, we use advanced fingerprinting technology and configurable deduplication rules:

  • Fingerprinting: We track unique users through browser fingerprinting, IP addresses, and device identifiers
  • Deduplication Period: We prevent charging you multiple times for the same customer within a configurable timeframe (typically 24 hours to 7 days)
  • Maximum Clicks: We limit how many billable clicks can come from the same user during the deduplication period
  • Fraud Detection: Suspicious patterns (rapid repeated clicks, bot activity, etc.) are automatically flagged and excluded from billing

These protections are applied automatically. You can view your click activity and deduplication statistics in your dealer dashboard.

16.4 Monthly Billing Cycle

Billing is processed monthly on the anniversary of your signup date. Here's how it works:

  • Billing Date: If you signed up on the 15th of the month, you'll be billed on the 15th of each subsequent month
  • Automatic Charging: On your billing date, we automatically charge your payment method on file for all billable clicks from the previous month
  • Real-Time Tracking: You can view your current month's estimated charges at any time in your dealer dashboard
  • Billing History: Complete billing history with detailed breakdowns is available in your dashboard

Example: If you signed up on January 15th, your trial ends on January 29th. Starting January 30th, clicks are billable. On February 15th, you'll be charged for all billable clicks from January 30th through February 14th.

16.5 Payment Processing

All payments are processed securely through Stripe, our payment processor:

  • Payment Methods: We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover)
  • Security: Your payment information is encrypted and stored securely by Stripe. We never see or store your full card details
  • Automatic Billing: Your card is charged automatically on your monthly billing date
  • Statement Descriptor: Charges appear as "RIOilPrices" on your credit card statement
  • Update Payment Method: You can update your payment method anytime in your dealer dashboard

16.6 Payment Failures and Account Suspension

If a payment fails (due to expired card, insufficient funds, etc.):

  • We will immediately notify you via email with instructions to update your payment method
  • We will attempt to process the payment again within 3-5 business days
  • If payment fails after retry attempts, your account may be suspended
  • While suspended, your listing will be hidden from customers until payment is resolved
  • You remain responsible for all outstanding charges, even if your account is suspended

Important: Suspension does not cancel your account or waive outstanding balances. You must either pay the outstanding balance or formally cancel your account.

16.7 Billing Disputes and Refunds

Dispute Period: You have 30 days from the billing date to dispute any charges. After 30 days, all charges are considered final and non-refundable.

How to Dispute: To dispute a charge, contact us through our Contact Us form with:

  • Your dealer account email and business name
  • The billing period in question (e.g., "January 2025")
  • Specific clicks you believe were charged incorrectly
  • Detailed explanation of why you believe the charges are incorrect

Our Review Process: We will investigate your dispute within 10 business days and provide:

  • Detailed click logs showing timestamp, user fingerprint, and click type
  • Explanation of how deduplication rules were applied
  • Any fraud detection flags or exclusions
  • Our determination on whether the charges were correct

Refund Policy: If we determine that you were incorrectly charged due to our error (system malfunction, incorrect deduplication, etc.), we will issue a full refund for the incorrect charges. Refunds are issued to your original payment method within 5-10 business days.

No Refunds For: We do not issue refunds for:

  • Clicks that did not result in a sale or customer conversion
  • Customers who clicked but chose a competitor
  • Clicks from customers who were "just browsing"
  • Seasonal fluctuations in click volume or conversion rates
  • Changes in your business circumstances or pricing strategy

Chargeback Policy: If you initiate a chargeback with your credit card company without first attempting to resolve the dispute with us, we reserve the right to immediately suspend your account and pursue collection of the disputed amount plus any chargeback fees incurred. Chargebacks should only be used for unauthorized charges or fraud, not billing disputes.

16.8 Cancellation and Account Closure

You may cancel your dealer account at any time:

  • How to Cancel: Log into your dealer dashboard and navigate to Account Settings, or contact us through our Contact Us form
  • Effective Date: Cancellation takes effect immediately upon request
  • Final Billing: You will be charged for all billable clicks incurred up to the moment of cancellation, but no new clicks will be billable after cancellation
  • No Refunds: Cancellation does not entitle you to a refund for the current billing period or any previous charges
  • Listing Removal: Your business listing will be removed from the site immediately upon cancellation

No Long-Term Contracts: There are no long-term contracts or commitments. You can cancel anytime without penalty (other than paying for clicks already incurred through the cancellation date).

16.9 Pricing and Rate Changes

We reserve the right to modify our CPC rates at any time:

  • Notice Period: We will provide at least 30 days' advance notice of any rate increases via email
  • Your Options: If you don't agree with the new rates, you may cancel your account before the rate change takes effect
  • Continued Use: Continuing to use the Service after the rate change effective date constitutes acceptance of the new rates
  • Rate Decreases: Rate decreases may be implemented immediately without notice

16.10 Dealer Responsibilities and Obligations

As a dealer on our platform, you agree to:

  • Accurate Information: Provide and maintain accurate business information, including contact details, service areas, and pricing
  • Pricing Updates: Keep your heating oil prices current and accurate. Prices should reflect what you're actually willing to charge customers. Dealers who fail to update their pricing within 5 business days may have their listings suspended until pricing is updated
  • Honor Displayed Prices: Make good-faith efforts to honor the prices displayed on your listing, though we understand prices may fluctuate
  • Respond to Customers: Respond promptly and professionally to customer inquiries generated through our platform
  • Customer Service Standards: Maintain a minimum level of customer service as evidenced by your Google reviews. Dealers must maintain at least a 4.0-star rating with a minimum of 10 reviews to be eligible for Top Spot placement. Dealers who fail to meet these standards may be removed from the platform at any time. We reserve the right to impose additional customer service criteria at any time without notice
  • Compliance: Comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and licensing requirements for heating oil dealers in Rhode Island
  • Valid Payment Method: Maintain a valid payment method on file at all times

16.11 Dealer Liability Limitations

Platform Role: RI Oil Prices is a marketplace platform that connects dealers with customers. We are not:

  • A party to any transaction between you and customers
  • Responsible for customer satisfaction, complaints, or disputes
  • Liable for any damages arising from customer interactions
  • Guaranteeing any specific volume of clicks, leads, or sales
  • Responsible for the quality, accuracy, or conversion rate of clicks

No Performance Guarantees: We make no guarantees about:

  • The number of clicks you will receive
  • The quality or intent of users who click on your listing
  • Your conversion rate from clicks to actual sales
  • Your return on investment (ROI) from using our platform
  • Continuous, uninterrupted availability of the Service

Your Sole Remedy: If you are dissatisfied with the Service or the quality of clicks, your sole remedy is to cancel your account. We are not liable for any lost profits, lost business opportunities, or other consequential damages.

16.12 Dealer Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless RI Oil Prices, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

  • Your use of the dealer platform and services
  • Your interactions with customers obtained through our platform
  • Your heating oil products, services, or deliveries
  • Any disputes with customers regarding pricing, quality, delivery, or service
  • Your violation of these Terms or any applicable laws
  • Any inaccurate or misleading information you provide
  • Any failure to honor prices or commitments made to customers

16.13 Click Tracking and Data Accuracy

Our Tracking System: We use industry-standard tracking technology to record clicks. However:

  • No tracking system is 100% perfect or immune to technical issues
  • Browser settings, ad blockers, or privacy tools may affect tracking accuracy
  • Network issues or server downtime may result in missed or duplicate tracking events

Data as Final Record: Our click tracking data serves as the final and authoritative record for billing purposes. In the event of any discrepancy between your records and ours, our data will govern, unless you can demonstrate a clear system error during the 30-day dispute period.

Your Verification: We encourage you to monitor your click activity regularly through your dealer dashboard and report any anomalies promptly.

16.14 Suspension and Termination by Us

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your dealer account immediately if:

  • You violate these Terms of Service
  • Your payment method fails repeatedly
  • You engage in fraudulent activity or click manipulation
  • You provide false or misleading information to customers
  • You receive excessive customer complaints
  • You fail to maintain the minimum 4.0-star Google review rating with at least 10 reviews
  • You fail to update your pricing within 5 business days
  • You fail to maintain required licenses or insurance
  • We determine, in our sole discretion, that your continued use harms our platform or other users

Effect of Termination: Upon termination:

  • Your listing will be immediately removed from the site
  • You remain responsible for all outstanding charges
  • We will process a final bill for all clicks through the termination date
  • You will lose access to your dealer dashboard and all associated data

16.15 Dealer Data and Analytics

We provide you with access to analytics and data about your listing performance. This data is provided "as is" for your convenience. We make no warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of this data. You should not rely solely on our analytics for business decisions.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

18. Entire Agreement

These Terms of Service, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and RI Oil Prices regarding the use of the Service.