Be Aware Of Door-To-Door Asphalt Paving Scam

Last month a guy pulled up to my house in an unmarked truck, offering to pave my driveway at a ridiculously low price. He said he had just finished a paving job nearby and had a bunch of leftover asphalt that he needed to get rid of. Thankfully I heard my dad's voice in my head saying, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

I turned the guy away and later did some online research to see if anyone else had been presented with leftover asphalt that could be applied to their driveway at 50% off the going rate. It turns out this has been an ongoing scam around here for some summers now. Be wary of door-to-door home repair or improvement swindlers. Here are some things to look out for:

• arrival in an unmarked truck or van
• door-to-door salesperson claiming "leftover material" and the ability to do the job at half the price
• High-pressure sales tactics
• Refusal to give you a written estimate, contract or references
• Very low bids
• The ability to "start right away" on your project

Consumers with complaints or questions can contact the Office of Consumer Protection at (800) 481-6896