Gypsy paving scam

[oldman]

Always wondered how they could continue to pull this off.

 

Called Metro's non emergency number and they told me to call the fraud department. No one ever answered the phone.

 

Next best thing. Let everyone you know they are in the area.

 

Young man came into our office out by the Grassmere Zoo. "He had a paving crew a couple of streets over."

 

We didn't get taken, he left to get me a business card and never returned.

 

Here are 7 asphalt paving warning signs:

1. Selling door-to-door: Reputable asphalt contractors will sometimes offer there services if they are doing a legitimate job in the immediate area. Always ask for references.
2. Claiming they have leftover asphalt from another job: Professional asphalt contractors will know, with great accuracy, how much paving material is needed to complete a project. Rarely will they have leftover material. Some of the reasons a contractor might have left over material are due to weather, equipment problems, cancellations and etc.
3. Push you to make a quick decision: Reputable contractors will provide a written estimate that will be valid for weeks or months. If the great deal they are offering you today is not available tomorrow or next week it may be a scam.
4. No contract offered: Insist upon a written contract specifying in detail, the work to be performed and the agreed upon price.
5. Cash only sales: Most reputable contractors take checks or credit cards and don’t require cash-only terms.
6. Deals that seem to be good to be true: If the quoted price seems very low, chances are the quality of the work will also be quite low.
7. Unmarked truck: Often the trucks they travel in are unmarked or they have an out of town address and phone number. A little research will reveal that they have no permanent address and the phone number is often an answering machine.

A professionally designed and properly constructed asphalt pavement will last for many years and most reputable contractors will stand behind their work. Know who you are doing business with. Consumers are safer dealing with a contractor who has roots in the community.

Edited September 18, 2013 by oldman

[Sam1]

Wow I haven't heard about this one in almost 20 years, had no clue it was still going on.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Though maybe details vary, do the asphalt scammers try to get your money in advance then never even show up with the truck? Or do they show up and do a suck job with inferior materials?

I have some ancient 4 to 6 foot asphalt mounds in my back woods from some time more than 35 years ago before we bought the property. Either city or private pavers who dumped a bunch of surplus in our woods before we owned em. That stuff to this day is so tough it is here to stay. When we were doing "minor landscaping" to cut a clear fence line-- The fence fella had to knock a trench thru one of the mounds and he about beat his brains out slamming his mini kat against that mound just to get a cut wide enough for the fence. That mini kat was knocking down trees and pushing dirt and rocks easy-peasy, and he took out an old shed out there like it was made of cardboard, so a big pile of dumped asphalt must be some tough stuff! Edited September 18, 2013 by Lester Weevils

[Joe357]

I can tell you many stories about the Irish gypsy scams. Had this happen a few months ago at my office as well. They had extra asphalt and would pave for $5.00 a foot. I offered $.50 since it was coming to harden, he went out to his truck to run the numbers and would be right back,I haven't seen them since. ;) Edited September 18, 2013 by joe45

[vontar]

This scam and one were they call and say they are from the electric company and you are past due.  They tell you a guy is coming over to disconnect you know or you can pay him X amount to avoid the discount.

[TripleDigitRide]

Are they actually paving, or possibly seal coating? I think Gypsies are more into seal coating. it's cheaper and easier, especially when they dilute the sealer with water. 

 

I had a neighbor who learned about Gypsies the hard way. He paid them (in advance) to paint his barn. When they left, it was "painted". Of course that was until it rained a few days later. I don't know exactly what they did, but it appeared that they likely watered down the paint. 

[billyscott]

Irish travelers. They've come by my house twice in the nine years I've been here. Wanting to seal my drive for $100 because they just finished a job and they got some left over. I think they ride around till they see somebody outside and they don't even get out of their truck. 

Both times I asked them where they just finished their job cause I wanted to look at it. Both times they just left.

If you want to have some fun search them out on the internet, it's hard to believe they do what they do. 

[TMF]

There was an article about this in the Leaf Chronicle about a month ago regarding recycled asphalt scams in the area. Guess it was just the gypsies passing through.

[Dustbuster]

Asphalt is an old one, using motor oil for sealer etc,most important do not let them or their kids in your home for any reason. They will case your house and come back later. They love safes and jewelry. Gypsies target elderly handicapped and have the gift of deceipt and theft ready to roll in moments notice. They also drive clean shiny vehicles they love red cars and trucks.gypsies use names like pops, Johnny's.dads and more. They can't write well as they're home schooled and have very poor education. They have balls and will come back again and again to get what they want. I could go on and on about gypsy fraud and theft but I believe most of you get the idea. Gypsies fear police involvement. If you have to get their lic plate info, never give them money, and watch to make sure they really leave. If something seems too good to be true it probably is. Avoid gypsies like the plague... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 of course it ate my spelling. Edited September 20, 2013 by Dustbuster

[Raoul]

One should never buy meat or get their driveway paved from a door to door salesman.

[TMF]

One should never buy meat or get their driveway paved from a door to door salesman.

Ugh, they actually got me with the meat thing when I was in NC. It wasn't a bad deal though. I got all the meat, which was fresh and cooked up great. It was all the restaurant meat, the exact kind you get at Chilis or Applebee's, to include those over marinated in the package steaks. When I figured out the price I did get a deal. I just probably didnt need a freezer full of meat. But hey, if I could get beef now for what I paid back then, I'd probably take the gypsies deal again.