Be on the lookout for door-to-door driveway repair scammers.
That’s the message from the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority (FCAA) who said salespeople may come to your door offering to repair your driveway. However citizens may want to make sure they’re a legitimate business first.
The FCAA is warning the public that some of these businesses have been known for using leftover materials to produce a low quality product or may not be licensed.
Eric Greene, the director of the consumer protection division with FCAA, talked about why people are encouraged to refuse these services if they’re offered.
“The work is generally sub-standard, and because it costs upwards of $20,000 or more, there’s some amount of money at risk that they may not want to risk for this type of endeavour,” said Greene.
According to the FCAA, scammers will go door-to-door and offer “on the spot” driveway repair using leftover materials from other projects. While the completed project may look good at first, there’s a chance it may crumble or crack upon drying.
Sometimes homeowners are even pressured into buying the service or else they may lose out on the limited time deal.
In this scenario, Greene said one of the first things homeowners should ask to see from the workers is a license.
“In Saskatchewan, they need to have a direct seller’s license, and if they don’t have a license, then just end the conversation,” he explained. “They may want to contact the municipality because they often require business to be conducted.”
Greene said people can call the FCAA office or go online to FCAA 411. They then can look under the direct seller’s listing and see if they’re there.’
Other red flags people should be on the lookout for are if they ask you to write them a blank cheque and if the deal seems “too good to be true”.
Asking the group about liability and damage insurance is one of the many questions Greene suggested homeowners should ask before committing to this kind of work.
“You should ask for references, make sure the contract is in writing and that you agree to the expectations of the work, a price is set and there’s a time frame.”
FCAA officials haven’t received any reports of these scammers in the area yet, however they say this is the time of year when they start visiting communities along highways 1 and 16 in Saskatchewan.
