During New Hampshire’s short paving season, Attorney General Kelly Ayotte once again warns consumers to be extremely cautious when selecting a contractor to pave a driveway or parking lot. Every year, transient pavers enter our State in order to scam unsuspecting homeowners and business people.

The ability to hit and run is the key to a successful asphalt paving scam. Crews usually wander from one community to another offering driveway paving service. The scam artists typically approach consumers in their yards, promising low estimates because of leftover materials from a completed job a few houses away or on a nearby highway project. Some of the asphalt paving scams warning signs are:

• Selling door-to-door.
• Claiming they have leftover asphalt from another job.
• Pushing consumers to make a quick decision.
• Not offering a written contract.
• Cash only sales.
• Deals that seem to be good to be true.
• Unmarked trucks.

Some tips to avoid home improvement fraud are:

• Obtain several estimates from different pavers.
• Be wary of requests for money up front without work being performed.
• Obtain a list of references.
• Get everything in writing.
• Do not be pressured into agreeing to anything you do not understand or do not want.
• Check with the Better Business Bureau and the Consumer Protection Bureau at the Attorney General's Office to see if complaints have been lodged about the pavers.

Scam artists often insist on cash payments. If checks are accepted at all, they are cashed immediately at the nearest bank. If paying by cash or check, you will have little recourse if there is a problem and the paving crew leaves town. If you’re asked to pay for services you did not agree to, call your local police department.

They may offer a lifetime guarantee, but often the quality of the material used and application is inferior, and you may soon have weeds growing through the new asphalt. Unfortunately, the paving crew is long gone by the time you discover you have a problem. It may cost you more to fix the driveway after the fresh look washes away with the next rain shower. Attorney General Ayotte stated: “While there are many reputable paving companies in our State, unfortunately, paving services continue to be an area where consumers are routinely defrauded. As such, it is important to remind consumers to be extremely careful.”

For more information, please call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 271-3641.