(DOVER, Del.)--DelDOT shares tips on how to avoid being scammed by a fake paving company.
With spring approaching, many homeowners will be considering improving their homes by paving their driveways, or sealing driveways that have already been paved.
Unfortunately, paving scam artists also start appearing at this time of year and homeowners need to be careful.
The Delaware Department of Transportation knows something about hiring paving contractors, and wants to share with the public some tips so people can avoid being ripped off when hiring a paving contractor.
Usually, the scam goes something like this - A work truck pulls up to your house, some men get out and explain to you that they are doing a paving job nearby, and they have some leftover asphalt or concrete. And if you give them some money, they say, they will go back to the job site, get the trailer with the material and pave or seal your driveway.
In a way, this scenario sounds convincing. When doing a project, many of us end up with extra materials. These workers say they just want a few dollars in their pocket, so they will use the asphalt or sealant they were just going to throw away to pave your driveway.
Unfortunately, in cases reported to DelDOT, when the homeowner hands over some money, the workers drive away, never to be seen again.
To protect yourself, DelDOT recommends the following ways to tell if you're being scammed.
First, very few legitimate paving contractors will sell their services door to door. So if someone comes to your door, and is offering paving or asphalt sealing services, you should know right from the start that odds are it is a scam.
If you need paving services, contact a contractor that advertises their services in a local newspaper or by mail and describe what needs to be done. Ask them to provide you with the names and phone numbers of homeowners in your area that have used their services. If comfortable with their response, make an appointment for them to visit your home when you will be there to meet them. While there they will take measurements, talk to you about the job, and provide you with a written estimated price for the work.
Second, you should not pay for services until they are completed.
If the contractor wants you to pay for the job before the work is complete, decline their service. A reputable paving company will expect payment as soon as the job is finished, not before the work begins.
Third, good paving contractors rarely have much material left over.
For paving contractors, every ton of asphalt and every cubic yard of concrete is money, so they are very good at estimating how much asphalt is needed for a particular job. A good contractor will rarely have enough material left over to pave someone's driveway. Otherwise, they wouldn't be in the business very long.
Fourth, are they pressuring you to make a decision right now?
If so, resist the pressure and take time to think it over. Legitimate contractors will provide a written estimate that will be good for days or weeks. Besides, it is always a good idea to get several estimates from a few companies before making a final decision.
Fourth, check to make sure that the company is legitimate.
Before agreeing to a paving job, there are a few other questions you
may want to ask:
Is the business a licensed contractor for the State of Delaware?
Is the contractor a member of the National Association of Paving and Asphalt?
Is the contractor a member of the local or state Chamber of Commerce?
Lastly, if you think you are being scammed, get a name, write down the vehicle tag number and ask for a telephone number.
If someone you know is scammed, tell them to contact law enforcement with the information you have gathered.