Help Me Hank: Help Me Hank! Oil delivery dilemma

But the person walking into it isn't Susan. It's her co-worker and pal, Thomas.

Thomas Burke, Susan's co-worker
"She was a little camera shy."

So shy that Susan asked Thomas to do the talking about her oil delivery dilemma.

Thomas Burke, Susan's co-worker
"I said, 'No problem.'"

In October, while Susan was sitting in her office, an oil truck was stopping at her home, and the driver was delivering 60 gallons of oil. He also left a bill.

Thomas Burke, Susan's co-worker
"The bill was for $144.90."

The problem was that Susan never asked for an oil delivery, and what arrived wasn't even from her oil company.

Thomas Burke, Susan's co-worker
"It was for meant for her neighbor, someone I think, who lived four or five houses away."

Oops. The driver left this note, saying sorry for the mistake, just give us a call and it'll all be OK.

Thomas Burke, Susan's co-worker
"She didn't think it was any big deal, so she called the number and left a message."

Here's what she got instead: it’s another bill for $144.

Thomas Burke, Susan's co-worker
"She called again at that point and didn't get any one. [She] left another message, saying there's a mistake here, and I'm not gonna, obviously, not gonna pay this bill."

Months went by, the weather got colder and the oil company insisted she pay. Susan needed to turn up the heat.

Thomas Burke, Susan's co-worker
"She called Hank Phillippi Ryan and asked for help."

We headed right to the Division of Standards, and Assistant Director Charles Carroll told us the law is on shy Susan's side.

Charles Carroll, Division of Standards
"The rule is that if you receive something that you did not order, you can consider it a gift."

Hank Phillippi Ryan, 7News
"You don't have to pay for it?"

Charles Carroll, Division of Standards
"You don't have to pay for it."

Hank Phillippi Ryan, 7News
"And you can keep it?"

Charles Carroll, Division of Standards
"And you can keep it."

After that, it took just one phone call to the oil company to get that big bill to disappear and be replaced by a big lesson.

Thomas Burke, Susan's co-worker
"I think she would want them to realize that it's important that you know your rights."

That rule saying you don't have to pay for something you didn't order is a powerful one for consumers. Check the links below for more information.