Door-to-door asphalt contractors have hit Milwaukee and Racine Counties over the past couple of months, leaving behind upset consumers and poorly coated driveways, according to a consumer alert issued Thursday by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Approximately 20 victims in this area have given as much as $100,000 combined to these scammers.
The DATCP warns residents to be on the lookout for these operations and advises them to reject promises of quality work for cheap prices.
According to the consumer alert, here’s the way the scam unfolds:
The workers show up unannounced at Wisconsin homes and businesses, but tend to prey on elderly homeowners. They claim to have leftover asphalt from a prior job and offer to blacktop a driveway for a cheap price.
After a price is agreed upon and a payment is made upfront by cash or check, the crew begins working. 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 topcoat is skipped despite the consumer being charged for it.
Because these crews are always on the go, there is little reason to suspect that they will remain in any particular county or 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 any uncompleted work or property damage.
“If a crew stops by your home offering an immediate resurfacing job, ask them to leave and contact local law enforcement,” the alert advises. “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.”
Anyone who has been victimized by one of these door-to-door teams, is asked to report the crime to DATCP by filing a complaint on the DATCP website (http://datcp.wi.gov) or by contacting the Consumer Information Hotline at (800) 422-7128 and requesting a complaint form.
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