Door-to-Door Asphalt Salesmen

Abington Police Department warns Residents to proceed cautiously with door-to-door asphalt salesmen.

If someone shows up at your home unannounced with a load of asphalt and a special price to pave your driveway, don’t let yourself be rolled over. “Asphalt paving scams are nothing new, but the summer months mean the scam is back in full swing,” according to the Better Business Bureau. “If you have a blacktop driveway or are in need of a repair, don’t be surprised if you receive a knock at your door offering you a too-good-to-be true deal on asphalt.”

“Reputable asphalt contractors will rarely — if ever — sell their product door-to-door,” the BBB said “They also know with great accuracy how much material they need to finish a job and don’t usually have any left over”.

Abington Township Police and Code Enforcement advise people to be wary of pavers who say they just happened to be in the neighborhood or have asphalt left over from another job. According to Deputy Chief of Police John Livingood possible poor workmanship or fly by night businesses can be the least of a resident’s worries. “Some of these companies target seniors with high pressure sales tactics then once the work is finished they try to charge them a higher price than originally quoted. Often there is no written contract and the resident ends up paying a lot more than the great deal they thought they were getting.”

“All contractors must be registered with the PA. State Attorney Generals office” say’s Abington Township’s Director of Code Enforcement Larry Matteo. “Residents should always make sure to check.” Residents are advised that if someone comes to their door offering paving service at a “discount” price they should check the business out before agreeing to any work. If you are unsure whether a company is legitimate or not you can contact Jim Salanik in Code enforcement at 267-536-1018.

Remember- It is illegal for businesses to solicit in Abington Township without a permit and residents should contact the police if this occurs or if they believe they are the victim of a scam.