NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
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The door-to-door driveway contractor scam has been a scam that the Niagara Regional Police has seen historically. Due to the nice weather approaching, the Niagara Regional Police Service would like to remind the public about the scam in relation to "hiring" a contractor to complete work at their home and paying in advance prior to the work being done.
In the past, complaints have stemmed from contractors who are unsolicited by any consumer, travelling from door-to-door selling driveway paving and/or resurfacing services. In many of the cases the contractor will provide quotes for services that appear to be better than competitive prices. Once a deal is struck the contractor will request a large cash down payment. Initial work may start on the project, however based on police complaints the work will be sub-par and incomplete, after the initial work is done the consumer is often approached to complete payment for the project. Once final payment is received the "contractor" is usually never heard from again, phone calls will go unanswered thus leaving the consumer with driveway damage or a partially completed project.
These usually involve very aggressive and pushy contractors, eager to acquire the initial cash deposit from the consumer. Often a series of business cards, pamphlets and basic printed contracts accompany the door to door sales pitch. Central to the sales pitch is the anonymity of the contractor, workers and company, later research on the various companies yield a lack of any official presence online, any registration with local Chambers of Commerce, Better Business Bureau or otherwise. In many cases the phone number(s) initially provided to the consumer by the contractor may be answered for a short period of time to shore up the deal, afterwards the phone number is disconnected or goes unanswered, this is often the consumer's only link to the contractor.
In many cases consumer disputes may be resolved through civil remedy, however if you feel that you are a victim of a fraud please contact the Niagara Regional Police Service to file a report.
The Niagara Regional Police Service provides the following information to consumers to assist them when considering hiring a contractor for their home.
Consumer protection tips when hiring home contractors:
- Get recommendations from people you trust
- Prior to initiating work ensure the contractor is insured
- Get multiple written estimates
- If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is
- Check references of past jobs
- Avoid cash deals
- Be leery of unsolicited offers via the phone, or door-to-door
- Put it on paper
- Work requested and agreed upon
- Dates – start and finish
- Exact cost of the project
- Payment schedule – 10 per cent deposit at the start, final full amount upon satisfactory completion of agreed upon work
- Acquire a receipt
- Acquire guarantee/warranty information
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