Cheap driveway paving scammers in area

The Brillion News

MADISON – The state’s Consumer Protection Hotline received a call last Friday about a possible door-to-door asphalt scam in the Black Creek/Seymour area. The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is asking people in the area to be on the lookout for these transient workers.

The caller reported that her mother paid $5,000 for services and that she was aware of two other consumers who were affected.  She claimed that the workers poured gravel and covered it with diesel fuel to “seal” it.

If you are contacted at your doorstep about asphalt paving and/or sealing services, you are advised to turn the workers away and contact local law enforcement.  Get a description of the workers’ vehicles and license plate numbers if possible.

About traveling asphalt scams:

1. The workers show up unannounced at Wisconsin homes and businesses, often claiming to have leftover product from a prior job and offering to sealcoat or blacktop a driveway for a cheap price. After a price is agreed upon and a payment is made by cash or check, the crew begins work. The job is quickly and poorly done and the consumer is overcharged for the quality of the project. In some cases, only a base coat is applied and the promised top coat is skipped despite the consumer being charged for it.

2. Because these crews are always on the go, there is little reason to suspect that they will remain in any particular area. These crews are known for arbitrarily increasing their prices as they work, and they come and go from an area without a trace, leaving consumers empty-handed and with no recourse for uncompleted work or property damage.

3. If a crew stops by your home offering an immediate resurfacing job, ask them to leave and contact local law enforcement. If you wish to have your driveway properly resurfaced, contact local, trusted contractors and gather multiple bids. Never pay the full price of a project upfront.

If you have been victimized by one of these transient teams, contact local law enforcement and report the crime to DATCP by filing a complaint on the DATCP website or by contacting the Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-422-7128 and requesting a complaint form. Your report will help to get the word out to your community about these scammers and assist law enforcement in the prosecution of these groups.