Paving Scam

How it works

The paving scam is nothing new. It generally resurfaces during the spring and summer.

A contractor shows up at your door or leaves a pamphlet in your mailbox. They claim to have been working in the area and noticed the condition of your driveway. They tell you they have leftover asphalt or concrete from a previous job and can give you a discount to pave your driveway.

They often ask for the payment up front. Many will accept only a cash payment, but some will take a check.

What happens next can vary. The contractor may take your payment and disappear. The job is never done and you don’t hear from them again. If you paid by check it is cashed immediately.

Another scenario is that they do the job, but the work is unprofessional. The material may not be installed properly and the driveway may degrade quickly. You may notice rough spots or cracks, the driveway may not be level, there may be improper drainage, ineffective sealing and incomplete resurfacing. You may not notice the problem right away.

They may also ask for more money to complete the job stating that they did not have enough material to finish the work, or some other issue has occurred that requires the additional payment. They may even threaten to leave your driveway unfinished if you don’t pay.

If you try to contact the company, you may find that they do not exist and there is no record of the business.

How to avoid the scam

Never respond to unsolicited offers either by phone, mail or by someone showing up at your home.

If you want your driveway paved contact a reputable company yourself. Always check the company’s credentials with the Better Business Bureau BBB

When you have any type of work done at your home get everything in writing. A legitimate business will provide a contract. The contract should include an estimated start and finish date, a detailed description of the job and the work that will be done, the cost of the materials, payment agreements and warranty information. Read it carefully before signing.

Get quotes from multiple contractors before selecting a company.

Hire only licensed, insured contractors.

Most contractors will ask for a portion of the payment up front and will collect the remaining balance when the job is complete. Never pay the total cost before the job is finished and you are satisfied the work has been done correctly and the terms of the contract have been met.

Use a safe payment method. Credit cards offer more protection than cash, a check, or a debit card.

When hiring any company to do a job get the name of the business and name of the owner, phone number, address, website address and references. Verify all of the information before signing a contract

Report scams to the FTC Federal Trade Commission.

https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/

Also call your local police department to report the scam.

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