How to Avoid Asphalt Paving Scams

How to Avoid Asphalt Paving Scams

Our paving contractors are committed to working efficiently and producing quality results. But not all companies share our work ethic. If your asphalt driveway is cracked or showing signs of age, your home could be targeted by scammers. If you suspect you’re dealing with a scammer, file a report with your local police department and the Better Business Bureau.

Here’s what you need to know before you hire an asphalt contractor.

Beware of Deep Discounts

Beware of people who knock on your door promising deep discounts. When it comes to asphalt paving, you get what you pay for. It’s worth taking your time to research asphalt companies before committing to driveway repair. Often scammers are able to offer low prices because they claim they’re using leftover materials from a previous job.

Keep in mind that what these scammers are offering is completely different from asphalt recycling. While our company sometimes uses recycled asphalt, we always make sure that we have enough for your driveway.

Scammers use scraps from a previous job to partially repair your driveway. When they run out of asphalt, they promise to return the next day only to disappear.

To learn more, check out our blog post on how asphalt recycling is supposed to work.

Don’t Trust Out-of-State License Plates

It’s a red flag if a company representative has an out-of-state license plate. Established driveway pavers have spent years building their reputations by doing quality work. Scammers move from town to town to avoid getting caught.

We recommend choosing a company that has been doing work in your area for several years. For example, A-1 Asphalt has been in business since 1988. Not only is our company local, but we’ve been providing asphalt repair for over 30 years.

Even if a company representative gives you a local phone number, this is no guarantee that they’re actually from your area. It’s not uncommon for scammers to give you a local phone number to a disposable phone. For this reason, always check out their license plates.

Always Ask for Contact Information

When you reach out to a legitimate company, the first thing they’ll do is hand you their business card. Reputable driveway contractors want to build a relationship with you so you feel comfortable asking questions and setting up an estimate for asphalt repair. If a company representative doesn’t give you their card, it’s because they don’t want you to be able to call them when they skip town with your money.

Be Suspicious of Door-to-Door Salespeople

A reputable contractor will rarely (if ever) sell door-to-door. This in itself should make you extremely suspicious. In general, a trustworthy contractor will have roots in your community and won’t need to go door-to-door to drum up business. Instead, they’ll rely on other methods to generate leads, such as driving traffic to their website. An asphalt company that invests in marketing plans on sticking around.

Scammers don’t tend to advertise because they have other tactics. For example, scammers will often pressure and manipulate people into parting with their money. They’re also more likely to target the elderly, young and inexperienced, or uninformed. For this reason, they may watch a house to see who lives there before knocking on the door.

Watch Out for Unmarked Vehicles

Beware of any asphalt company that has unmarked vehicles. Most scammers use unmarked vehicles because they’re not a reputable company. In comparison, A-1 Asphalt has an entire fleet of company trucks with our logo. This is because we are a legitimate company that’s proud of our brand and reputation.

Using an unmarked vehicle may also be a sign that the contractor isn’t licensed to do asphalt paving. As a result, their quality of work will be very poor. That’s assuming they even show up at the job site at all once they get your money.

Check Their License and Insurance

Always make sure that your asphalt contractor is licensed and insured. A scammer will typically not carry general liability or worker’s compensation insurance. If an uninsured contractor is hurt on the job, you could be held liable for their injuries.

A trustworthy contractor is always more than happy to share their license and insurance information because they have nothing to hide. A scammer will evade your questions and hope you forget to follow up.

Don’t Be Pressured to Pay Cash Upfront

It’s a major red flag when a door-to-door salesperson pressures you to pay cash upfront. They may even offer to drive you to the bank! They claim that the deep discount they’re offering is a limited time opportunity when in reality it’s just a scam.

Legitimate paving companies accept cash, credit cards, and checks. A scammer doesn’t want to accept a check because they know you’ll try to cancel it once you realize their game.

Call A-1 Asphalt for Your Free Estimate

Recognize any of the above red flags in an asphalt contractor? The best way to avoid a paving scam is to research an asphalt contractor before giving them your business.

Our Grand Rapids driveway pavers are more than happy to answer any of your questions so you can make the best decision for your paved surface and budget. To request your free estimate, call A-1 Asphalt at (800) 871-4401.

This blog post has been updated.