People across south-east England have claimed that heating oil suppliers are engaging in "unfair" practices.
Maria Norcott, from Tonbridge in Kent, contacted BBC Your Voice to say she had paid up front for heating oil just before war broke out in the Middle East.
But the 66-year-old said after fighting started her supplier cancelled the delivery and told her she needed to either request a refund or repurchase it at a massively inflated price.
UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA) said wholesale prices were "moving quickly" because of the Iran and US-Israel conflict.
"Because distributors buy almost daily, these shifts are reflected quickly in customer prices."
"We have spoken to many distributors who, despite the very large price swings and increased demand, are honouring orders as quickly as they can," UKIFDA added.
Norcott, who is retired, told the BBC her supplier was not answering the phone and ignoring her emails.
"They should honour their agreement," she said. "It is only fair."
Norcott said people would probably pay the higher fees as they would be "desperate".
"We're low on oil," she added. "That's our heating, our hot water - everything".
David Knight, from near Charlwood in Surrey, said his supplier cancelled a prepaid contract for heating oil shortly after the war broke out.
He told BBC Radio Surrey the company then tried to charge him double for the same delivery.
"It's price gouging - simple as that," Knight said.
"We don't have a choice [but to buy heating oil]," he added. "There is nothing we can do."
Knight said that, while there was a contract clause that allowed this, it was unfairly rigged as price drops were not passed on to customers.
"There's no projection in the system," Knight continued. "It does not benefit consumers [and] favours suppliers".
Since speaking to the BBC, he said his supplier had agreed to honour the contract at the original price.
Andrew Griffith, MP for Arundel and South Downs, said he had heard examples of his constituents having booked heating oil orders cancelled.
"These are often the most vulnerable people, living often on their own and far away from the town," he told BBC Radio Sussex.
"I don't want to tar every business with the same brush by any means, but there is some profiteering."
The Conservative politician called on the government to create a price comparison website for heating oil so consumers could shop around.
He pointed out heating oil prices also lacked a price cap, in contrast to electricity.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband told the BBC on Friday the government would "not tolerate" profiteering from the conflict.
He added the competition watchdog was primed to step in to stop "rip-offs".