MADISON (WKOW) -
The Better Business Bureau(BBB) is warning homeowners to be wary of driving paving scams as we enter the warmer Spring months.
The BBB suggests you ask for references and verify that the contractor is in compliance with all
local licensing, bonding and insuring requirements. Also, get all
promises in writing and pay by credit card when the job is done.
Paying with a card provides added protection in the event there is a problem with the work performed. In addition, if the paving service was sold to you at your home,
the FTC's Three Day Cooling Off Rule gives you three business days to
cancel with a full refund.
The BBB offers these red flags that you can look for in a driveway
repair scam:
The contractor says there are leftover materials from
another job – Professional asphalt contractors know, with great
accuracy, how much paving material is needed to complete each project.
Rarely will they have leftover material.
Scammers use this as a ploy to explain how they can provide you with
a huge discount over the normal price. The catch is that they will ask
you to pay everything up front. The materials tend to be inferior and the
work ends up shoddy.
Beware if you are pushed to make a quick decision – Trustworthy
contractors will provide a written estimate that will be valid for days
or weeks. It should specify in detail the work to be performed and the
total price.
Be suspicious if you are asked to pay on in cash – Most
reputable contractors will take checks or credit cards.
Watch out for a company that is from out of state – Look
at the truck the representative travels in. If it is unmarked or has an
out-of-state license plate, be cautious. Even if the representative
claims to have a local phone number, scammers can easily purchase
disposable cell phones to provide a local number in the area they are
soliciting.
If you suspect that you are dealing with a paving scammer, you are advised to file a complaint with the BBB at www.bbb.org and contact your local police department
immediately.
