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Pocono News Section
A&B Fuel Owners Miss Bankruptcy Meeting
A&B Fuel Owners Miss Bankruptcy Meeting - Friday, June 6, 2008 at 5:56PM EST
Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Friday, Jun 6, 2008 @ 05:56pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY --These customers say it's another slap in the face by the heating oil company that ripped them off. Nearly six months ago A&B Fuel suddenly shut down and declared bankruptcy.
The company that also goes by the names All-State Petroleum and Country Craftsman owed hundreds of customers tens of thousands of dollars in fuel. Today, company owners Arthur and Beverly Baio were supposed to appear for bankruptcy meetings in Scranton. They failed to show for the second time.
It has some of their former customers fuming. "If I don't show up for court they come and get me. If they don't show up nobody cares," said Gladys and Harry Franks.
They lost more than $1,700 when their heating oil company went belly up last December. They waited at federal court Friday to face A&B Fuel's owners during a scheduled bankruptcy meeting. Arthur and Beverly Baio never showed. “I think they just don't care. I think they're very arrogant," said Harry.
The Attorney General's office has received more than 1,100 consumer complaints since the Gouldsboro business closed. The company had accepted prepaid contracts. The Franks liked the idea of locking in a price. J. P. McGowan of the Attorney General's office said, "Will anyone get any money back? We certainly hope so and we intend to do everything we can to get their money back."
But attorney John Martin says after banks, and other creditors take their share, customers may only receive a fraction of what they paid --if any at all. "I can't guess. It could be 2 percent. It could be 20 percent," he said.
That's doesn't sit well with the Franks who have just one message for the Baio's. “If you have a conscience please refund out money."
The bankruptcy trustee says he will file a motion to force the Baio's to appear to testify under oath at a future hearing. | | |
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