[Summit] Driveway asphalt scammers in the neighborhood

[Sharon Lee Waldman]

Hi Everyone,

A guy wearing a fluorescent safety vest in a pick up truck knocked on our
door this morning claiming he had "extra asphalt" from a "water main break
around the corner", and asking if we wanted him to pave our driveway with
it. I had heard about this type of scam before and told him no thanks.

I wanted to warn other neighbors about it, and here's some more information
about this type of scam:

"Scam 2: Door-to-door “we have extra” salesmen
This may not be the most common, but it is the worst kind of asphalt scam.

How it works: An overly aggressive salesmen knocks on your door and uses a
border line fear tactic to get you to purchase the company’s “extra
asphalt” that’s about to go to waste in the dump truck around the corner.
First off, there is no such thing as “extra asphalt”. Asphalt is very
expensive and professional contractors will measure carefully. If there is
any extra, it will never be enough to come even close to completely
covering a driveway. What excess is left over is dumped back at the plant
and a simple cost of doing business as an asphalt contracting company.
Next, this “truck around the corner” also does not exist. This tactic is
used so that you cannot walk outside and physically see the truck. Since
the truck is actually standing by at the asphalt plant this is the best
story they can come up with. They will insist that they just finished a
project and there just so happens to be enough asphalt in the truck to
complete your driveway but it has to be done right away. They will show you
legitimate prices of other companies and give you a price well below half
these numbers. Here’s how they can charge half and still make a killing:
For starters, they will spend a tenth the time they should prepping the
subsurface. They are in a hurry and to make their scam work, they have to
be fast. The speed also helps sell the need for urgency which their scam is
based on. Without proper subsurface prep, the asphalt, even if laid thick,
will crack and pool.
They will then lay an extremely thin layer of asphalt. Likely just thick
enough to look great for a day and then begin to crack and crumble at the
weakest points the very next day. Asphalt, as previously mentioned is
expensive so this is a great place for the crooks to save on costs. This
extra thin layer will cool quickly which leaves almost no time for
compaction. Without proper compaction your driveway will have a very rough
and rocky surface."

Description of vehicle involved – Color: White, Type: pick-up truck, Other
details: Chase/Greaton area
Sharon Lee Waldman
Lighthouse Compliance LLC
Providence RI
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