Avoid Driveway Sealing Scams
April 29, 2012

 

It's that time of year for con artists to make a lot of money ripping people off with fake offers of driveway sealing and asphalt work. Recently, Ronald Lange, 33, of Park Hills, was arrested on charges that he ripped off local people with the promise of sealing their driveways. Further, Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster recently filed criminal charges against three Missouri men for allegedly defrauding elderly consumers into overpaying for substandard asphalt and paving work.

The three defendants, Terry Wayne Phelps, Michael David Rickey and Peter Jason Morgan, offer asphalting and paving services under names such as “Road Maintenance Construction” and “Premier Paving.”

Koster is warning Missourians to be on alert for “asphalt companies” that go door-to-door, claiming they have leftover asphalt.

Scam artists posing as legitimate asphalt companies target individuals in rural areas as well as elderly individuals, and use high-pressure sales tactics to get them to agree to work.

Koster warned that these scammers will increase the prices significantly after the work is done and will immediately cash the check at the victim’s bank. Oftentimes these individuals are unable to produce local references and may have out-of-state licenses or plates.

They also often have no proof of workers’ compensation insurance. After performing shoddy work, they will skip town, leaving the homeowner with little or no recourse.

Koster offered the following tips for consumers to avoid being scammed:

• Get at least two estimates in writing before choosing a contractor;

• Never enter into or sign a contract after reviewing it quickly. Always review the contract thoroughly, and then check with the Attorney General’s Office and the Better Business Bureau for complaints and information regarding the company and the individuals representing the company;

• Ask how long the company has been in business and their physical location;

• Know the source of the asphalt and supplies, and request invoices for all purchases;

• Ask the company for insurance and licensing information, and make sure they have the proper work permits before work begins;

• Never pay cash up front, or before the job is completed;

• A check is the best payment method. However, be cautious if the company asks you to write a check to an individual rather than a company;

• On all door-to-door sales, obtain identification, such as driver’s license numbers, on the individuals performing the work;

• Know the price and how you are being charged, and keep an eye on possible price gouging;

• Don’t pay full price for services you have yet to receive. Make full payment only when the terms of your agreement have been fully met;

• Always get a phone number and address for the company represented, and then check it out before signing a contract;

• Ask for local references and check with the references about the work provided;

• If you notice out-of-state plates, logos on vehicles, etc., make note of the information; and
Immediately call your local police if you feel intimidated, if the individuals demand more money, or if they refuse to leave the premises.

To report these types of scams to the Attorney General’s Office, submit a complaint form online at ago.mo.gov or call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222.