POTENTIAL DRIVEWAY SCAMS

In any industry, there are bad apples who seek to defraud the public by preying on their lack of knowledge about a particular product or process. The asphalt industry is no exception.  These con-artists are known in the asphalt industry as “gypsies”.  This term refers to these con-artists moving from town to town.  Because of this, it is often hard to track these culprits down to make them accountable for the shoddy work they leave behind. 

Here is how they work:

The gypsy contractors move from town to town approaching unsuspecting homeowners with seemingly reasonable estimates for driveway work.  They often make false promises regarding the services they will provide and may offer no legal contract.  Many times when their work is completed it is of such poor quality, that it must be removed and redone, leaving the homeowner to pay additional costs to fix the driveway properly.

TIPS FOR SPOTTING POTENTIAL DRIVEWAY CON- ARTISTS

• If you are interested in having work done, do it on your own terms.
• Be suspicious of someone who approaches you to do the repair work. Con artists will often tell homeowners that they have leftover asphalt from another job and offer to repave their driveways.
• Always get at least two written estimates from local contractors before authorizing any work, and ask for the names of references to call.
• Get a written contract that outlines the responsibilities of both the homeowner and the contractor.
• If you encounter someone you suspect is trying to defraud you, tell them “no,” close the door, and call your local sheriff or police department immediately.

To determine an estimate for your asphalt job, use the Asphalt Calculator.