Sorry to hear that.

Dead River is a really good choice for a long-term relationship. They are based in Maine and have been for a long-time. They are a little more expensive on delivery, but they have excellent service and will take care of you for the long-term.

I also think they offer good installation payment plans. If they didn't give you info on that, I would reach out and ask about it.

It is often possible to repair a rusty thank, but basically, you need to have space and ability to do it. There are a lot of YouTube videos on how, but basically, you have to drain the tank into something that can hold your remaining oil (~50 gallons it sounds like, so not nothing), then disconnect it from the system, rinse the inside and safely dispose of the residue so there aren't fumes, and then clean the area, sand out the rust, apply a rust coating, and then have it re-inspected, then re-installed flat.

The installers and inspectors from major dealers are typically very honest and if the Dead River tech told you it's a goner, he's probably right.

For next winter, in the spring, contact Dead River about going on a budget program. You can lock in a price that has downside protection (i.e. you get a good price lock at off-season prices, but if during next heating season the price drops, you still get the lower price). They'll take your expected usage, divide it into 10 payments, and then you'll pay that from like the summer through the next spring. You can go over your expected usage a certain amount and they'll bill you at the end of the season. This can really help you plan and normalize your expenses and avoid big $1k chunks coming due when you least expect it (i.e. Christmas time).

Good luck.

PS: If you are feeling DIY, the basics of an installation aren't intense, and you can find used tanks of Craigslist in Maine for well under $500. Do your own visual inspection for rust, read up on the connections and the equipment you need for the connections, rent a truck, get a friend(s) to help bring it down the bulk head, and go for it. Double check for sure, but I am pretty sure you do not need to be licensed to do an oil tank installation as long it's inspected by a tech before use.

Safety of the tank is no joke, and switching providers, they are more or less required to do a safety inspection. Can you tell me who was your old provider, and who your new one was? A tank replacement is hefty expense, but several of the larger providers have good options for financing which can help you spread the cost at least over some time.

Additionally, it's not impossible to repair a tank that will eventually need to be repaired. If there are rust spots, you can empty the tank, sand out the rust, patch the area, and then continue using the tank. What exactly did they say were the problems?

Finally, if you do have to do a replacement, aggressively shop the replacement around. $3k is a fair price, but you can possibly find someone to do it for less. Call around, and just tell them your best price and ask what the cost is for a replacement. Also, you may be able to find a tech willing to do the replacement if you provide the tank, and it's acceptable to source your own used tank.

There are other, slightly less reputable means you can use to extend the life of your existing tank. Be creative, you might be able to think of them on your own.

Worst case scenario, if you can't replace the tank this winter, look at space heaters, pellet/wood stoves, and electric heat to supplement. Long-term it will be more expensive but it can help you delay the expense of the replacement till later when you can afford it better.

The bar and it’s state chapters is really good at policing itself. Being disbarred is the quickest way to ruin your legal practice.

The AMA And state licensing boards are not nearly as effective because they also want to artificially keep turn number of doctors low, to keep wages high. It’s a classic cartel.

Ultimately smallish price swings (say 0.10/gallon) don't make the total ticket size that different. I know every dollar hurts/helps, but on a $400 order does $10 risk running out seem reasonable?

It's a touch situation.

Encourage everyone who struggles or might struggle to research LiHEAP.