How to Avoid Asphalt Paving Scams

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If your driveway is beginning to show its age, you should be on the lookout for asphalt paving scams. Door-to-door scammers are more likely to target homes if their driveways are filled with potholes and cracks.

Unfortunately, most of these unscrupulous salespeople are looking to make a quick buck at the expense of unwitting homeowners.

“While reputable asphalt paving contractors can give you a durable, flawless driveway, the industry does have a lot of scammers,” said Doug Enright of Enright Asphalt, one of the top concrete contractors in Denver.

When they spot a potential target, scammers will usually try to entice the homeowner with unrealistic discounts. Sadly, they often have no intention of fulfilling their promises. Many times, they will start a job and then quit, leaving the homeowner with a damaged driveway, a lighter wallet and no contact information of any kind.

“Scammers gain a huge part of their business by offering deep discounts,” said Enright. “They will often pose as reputable paving contractors who claim to have leftover materials from another job. Unfortunately, it’s usually too good to be true. Many times, they will start the job and then inexplicably leave before it is finished. While they may pave a portion of your driveway, they’ll conveniently run out of materials and promise to return the next day. Unfortunately, in far too many instances, they never do.”

In addition to offering unrealistic discounts, scammers will often demand upfront cash payments. It’s always a big red flag when any type of door-to-door salesperson pressures you into paying cash up-front. Reputable asphalt paving contractors accept credit cards, checks and cash. Scammers don’t want to accept checks because they know you will cancel it once you realize they are running a con.

According to Enright, many times you can also identify a potential scammer just by looking at their license plates.

“A legitimate asphalt contractor will have spent years establishing a reputation in the local area,” said Enright. “For example, Enright Asphalt has been building trust and developing a loyal customer base since 1989. Our company is a reliable fixture in the area and is well-known throughout all the local communities. On the other hand, scammers will often move from town to town to prey on unsuspecting people and avoid getting caught. It’s a red flag if your asphalt contractor or their door-to-door salesperson has out-of-state plates. This usually means they don’t plan on staying in town after taking your money.”

Even if a company’s representative gives you what appears to be a local phone number, that’s no guarantee they’re actually from your area. These days, it’s not uncommon for scammers to provide people with local phone numbers linked to disposable phones. For this reason, it’s a good idea to always check the license plates of your asphalt contractor or their sales representatives.

“Many scammers will try to use local phone numbers to try to put a business or homeowner at ease,” said Enright. “Other times they will go to great lengths to conceal their contact information outright.”

According to Enright, it’s a bad sign whenever a company representative hesitates to provide contact information.

“Since salespeople work on commission, reputable individuals are usually eager to hand you their cards,” he said. “If a sales representative doesn’t seem to want to provide a card, it’s likely because they don’t want you to try to track them down when they leave town with your money. Before agreeing to anything, it’s important to find out who you’re working with and how you can get in touch with them if you have any questions or experience unexpected problems during the work or after the job is completed.”

This is why it’s important for businesses and homeowners to ask a lot of questions before hiring an asphalt paving contractor. You can avoid a lot of headaches by working with a reputable company that has a good, long-term reputation for providing quality work in the local area.

About Enright Asphalt

Founded in 1989, Enright Asphalt has earned a well-deserved reputation for being one of the most reliable concrete and asphalt contractors in the entire Denver area. For almost three decades, our skilled team has provided beautiful, durable asphalt surfaces for businesses and homeowners using only the best materials and most trusted installation methods.

With diverse capabilities and unrivaled experience, our concrete specialists can help you choose the most effective paving option based on your unique needs. We know the best way to create durable, attractive surfaces that meet your specific needs, stand the test of time and fit your individual budget.

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Contact Information:

Doug Enright

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