Top 10 ways to spot traveling asphalt crews: AKA Gypsies, or Fly by Night Contractors

Traveling pavers roam the country trying to pull “bait and switch” tactics on property owners. Their classic line goes something like this, “We are paving a job a few blocks away and we have just enough extra material left to pave your driveway.” Never fall for this. Reputable contractors rarely try to beat doors for business. Gypsies never do what they say they will, and they will never come back and fix a shoddy job. There are a couple things you can do if approached by a suspected gypsy outfit:

1. Contact your local BBB to check their status as a known business.
2. Ask to see the person’s driver license.
3. Check to see if they have a website.  Investigate their website to see if there are any local references.
4. Simply look in your area Yellow Pages to see if the company has a listing.
5. Be very assertive with him by asking, “If you are such a good paving company, then why do you have so much material left over?” Conclude with, “An experienced contractor shouldn’t be over so much on material.”
6. Analyze the name on the trucks. Gypsies typically use names with terms such as: Statewide, Nationwide, Town and Country, Countryside, and Citywide. They do this to blend into large regions.
7. They will always want cash, or a check written to their personal name.
8. Look at the license plates on the trucks. They will usually be out of state.
9. Do they have a local phone number as a primary contact instead of an (800) number or foreign area code?
10. Always demand to have all agreements made in writing and in contract form.

We never want our potential clients or clients served badly. We are here to assist people to the best of our ability, whether we do the work or not. Be aware of the company you are dealing with. Make common sense conclusions about their offers.
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Below are some photos of work performed by traveling paving outfits.