Don’t Let Yourself Fall Victim to This Common Asphalt Paving Scam

When your driveway or patio is in rough condition, it’s a good idea for you to begin researching reliable asphalt paving companies in Nashville, TN so you can get the surface repaved. A high-quality repaving job should last you for years to come.

Of course, any time you’re working with a new contractor, it’s important to spend some time doing your due diligence with regard to researching their capabilities and background. It’s an unfortunate reality that, in many fields, there are less-than-trustworthy contractors who will be willing to skimp on the quality of their work to make money, or be misleading with the information they provide you for the purpose of getting quick cash. The world of asphalt paving is sadly no different.

A common scam

There is one scam in the asphalt industry that’s more common than any other. It works like this.

A contractor will make contact with you, either via the phone or showing up at your door. They’ll say they were doing work in the area and noticed your driveway is in poor condition. They offer to give you a discount since they’ve already been working nearby. They’ll give you a price, and if you agree, they’ll ask for a portion up front. They’ll resist your efforts to get more information until you make the payment.

The scam artist may disappear entirely after this—you might find their contact information is a dead end. There’s also the possibility they will attempt to continue to seek payment from you even before any work is done.

They may end up doing the work, but do an unprofessional job after you’ve already made the full payment. You’ll likely have a difficult time contacting them for a refund afterward.

Avoiding the scam

There are several steps you can take to avoid falling victim to this classic contractor scam.

First, always beware of contractors that come to you with unsolicited offers. Reputable contractors have their clients come to them for work, not the other way around. If they’re a trustworthy and successful business, they don’t need to go door to door asking for work.

Make sure you get any agreements in writing. This includes price estimates, start and completion dates, detailed descriptions of the work, material information, payment arrangements, warranty information and anything else you need to know about the job. Never make payments before these agreements are in place.

With regard to payment structure, most legitimate contractors will allow you to stagger payments. There’s nothing unusual about being asked to make a portion of the payment up front, but never the full price, and only when there is a contract that clearly stipulates when the other payments are due. Never pay in cash—pay only with a credit card, or with a check that’s made out to the company and not to an individual person.

For more information about avoiding common scams from so-called paving contractors, contact a reliable asphalt paving company in Nashville, TN like RoadBuilders. We have years of experience and good references, and would love to tell you more about what we can do for you.

Categorised in: Asphalt