St. Albert RCMP is warning residents about a paving scam resurfacing in the community and across Alberta.
Out-of-town paving companies with different names and logos are going door-to-door in neighbourhoods, offering their services at low rates.
In a press release, the St. Albert RCMP said in most cases, people will pay for the services upfront and then receive substandard work in return. Residents may also be asked to pay more than the provided quote to complete the job. If the extra money is not provided, the job may not be completed, and the company often disappears before the resident realizes it was a scam.
Many fake companies will not provide residents with details about their identity, and their vehicles may or may not have commercial company logos. While some companies may have legitimate logos, they are often magnetic and can be easily removed or swapped for a different logo and company name.
The scammers often tell residents they have leftover asphalt, which is why the quote is lower. However, the material used is often cold, recycled asphalt or a mixture of oil and gravel with no lasting properties.
Some paving companies may also offer roof sealing services.
St. Albert RCMP said residents should be wary of any contractor who:
- Knocks on your door saying they are working in the area and offers you a deal on leftover asphalt;
- Has vehicles with no business name or logo;
- Pressures you into making a quick decision;
- Refusing to take “no” as an answer;
- Asks for a down payment to buy materials;
- Refuses to give you a written quote with their business name, physical address and services they will be providing before completing the work.
Before hiring any contractor, the St. Albert RCMP is reminding citizens to do their due diligence, including:
- Getting several quotes from different companies;
- Check with the Better Business Bureau of Alberta to see if said companies are legitimate;
- Researching companies with the Consumers Investigation Unit and other sites, including social media;
- Making sure to get a written quote from the contractor that includes the full business name, address, phone number, GST number and provincial and municipal licence numbers;
- Realizing that if one quote is considerably lower than others, it may be a scam.
If you have fallen victim to this scam or have noticed any individuals posing as contractors and are concerned they may be operating a scam, the St. Albert RCMP encourages residents to contact them.
