contract-law pennsylvania collections
Can a company I&#39;ve never been a customer of send me to collections?
<p>I bought a house in PA that has a propane tank on the premises that is rented from a propane company. I got quotes from this propane company and decided not to go with them. I received a contract with the quotes and did not sign it. They tried to charge my credit card, but I called them and they removed the charge as I made it clear I was not using their services. They now want to charge me to remove the propane tank and state they will send me to collections if I do not pay the charge. Can they do that? They own the tank, and the previous owner rented it. I never have conducted any business with them.</p>

<h2>Possibly</h2>
<p>In most contracts, the parties sign in their capacity as people (or agents for other people). However, some contracts are signed in the capacity as the owner of a piece of land and the contract transfers with the land. The liability rests with the current owner and, if unpaid, creates a lien over the property.</p>
<p>These are particularly common in contracts with utilities or where the contract involves the a structure on the land. Surprise, surprise, the situation you describe involves both.</p>
<p>You need to refer back to your contract for the land as these types of contracts are usually disclosed (unless they are a function of local law because everyone just knows - I don't know anything about Pa. law on this) and the original contract with the gas company. Your settlement may have also involved you paying a figure to purchase the gas in the tank as at the date of settlement.</p>
<p>For example, in <a href="/questions/tagged/new-south-wales" class="post-tag" title="show questions tagged &#39;new-south-wales&#39;" rel="tag">new-south-wales</a>, council rates and water rates attach to the land as a matter of law and the vendor pays the purchaser for any amount they have paid in advance (or vice-versa if they are in arrears). Electricity and piped gas don't; the vendor ends their account on or before settlement and the buyer opens a new account on or after settlement and each pays for their own use. Propane for portable bottles doesn't but for fixed installations does as a matter of contract with the gas company.</p>
