Door-to-Door Asphalt Paving Crews

With the start of fall bringing cooler weather, Wisconsin homeowners are faced with the last opportunity to finish outdoor home improvement projects before winter. But consumers should be cautious of door-to-door home improvement crews, who can sometimes be scammers.

DATCP has received recent reports of asphalt-paving crews visiting consumers at their homes and offering to pour new driveways for a low price. They sometimes claim they have leftover material in their pouring truck from another job, and will lose out on its value unless they pour it soon. This false urgency can convince consumers to make an immediate decision before they have all the facts or get a chance to do their own research.

Consumers who pay door-to-door crews for their services could encounter several problems. The crew might take the money and run, never completing the promised work and unable to be contacted or tracked down. The crew might pour some of the asphalt, then demand more money to finish the job. They could complete the promised work, but with a poor quality that requires it to be replaced. Or they might offer a “free inspection” that could give them access to a consumer’s home or cause damage to a consumer’s property.

If a consumer is visited by a door-to-door home improvement crew, they should:

· Resist high-pressure tactics and sales pitches.

· Never let them into the home.

· Document the make and model of their vehicle(s) and license plate numbers.

· Alert local law enforcement.

Consumers who need home improvement work completed before winter should:

· Get recommendations from friends, neighbors, or other trusted sources.

· Contact several local businesses to request an onsite visit and quote.

· Call DATCP’s Consumer Protection Hotline to check for complaints against a contractor.