You will find bad people in every industry and asphalt paving industry is no different. These lunatic people take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners and offer them a new driveway for what seems to them a reasonable price. The fraud asphalt companies in Birmingham AL often make false promises regarding the services they will provide and may offer no legal contract. Many times when their work is completed, it is of such poor quality that it must be removed and redone, leaving the homeowner to pay additional costs to fix the driveway properly.
Don't let this happen to you or someone you know. Here are three tips to avoid falling victim to these criminals.
Do Your Research
If you are truly interested in having work done, do it on your own terms. Be suspicious of someone who approaches you directly to do the repair work. If someone knocks on your front door and says, "We have a load of asphalt that was left over from paving nearby, and we can pave your driveway at a bargain rate if you’ll pay cash," don’t take them up on it. Asphalt that is "left over" from another job will be too cool to make a good pavement for your home.
It's a good idea to get at least two written estimates from local contractors before authorizing any work, and ask for the names of references to call. Checking references can save you money in the long run.
Legitimate Companies Readily Display Credibility
Many asphalt sealing contractors near me are very proud of the work they do and display the logo of their company on their trucks, equipment, crew and more. Be suspicious of advertisements that do not prominently feature the business name and local contact information. Don't be afraid to contact the Better Business agency and ask for a record of complaints filed against the company.
Also be sure to ask for a current certificate of insurance evidencing both liability and workers compensation insurance. Any reputable contractor will be happy to comply.
Get agreement in Writing
Before agreeing to have any services rendered, get a written contract that outlines the responsibilities of both the homeowner and the contractor.
Also know what quality of product is being used on your pavement. Ask the contractor for printed information on the types of professional-grade sealer they use on jobs. Preferably, this information should come directly from the manufacturer.
A customer who is well educated will be able to make informed decisions when these type of companies come knocking at their door. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Not only will you end up paying once for a service that ends up being unusable, you will also have to pay again to get it fixed.
If you encounter someone you suspect is trying to defraud you, tell them "no," close the door, inform the police department immediately.
