home heating oil contract vs. COD (live, costs, delivery)

[lamontnow]

What's the advantage of signing a contract (and paying a fee)? I realize you get "free" service, but on just one COD full tank fill up I save enough to pay for service. And I don't mind checking the tank meter once in a while to see if a delivery is needed.

[arangoa79]

The only real benefit is fast service if you do have issues. For example my parents do COD which does save them considerably but last month during the cold spell their furnace crapped out. They called several plumbers but the earliest they could get someone was 2 days. If they would of had a contract the service would have been immediate, they ended up paying a $200 premium to get someone out that very same day. In all the service call costs $550 in parts, labor, and rush service.