Politics & Government

Scam Alert: Cheap Driveway Paving, Too Good to be True

The county is warning residents of a door-to-door scam that could cost victims thousands.

Months after tree service contractors were , the Howard County Office of Consumer Affairs is warning people of a scam run by paving contractors peddling their services too.

After a number of citizens reported the incidents, the County Executive’s office issued a cautionary statement on Thursday.

“My best advice is to decline all offers from door-to-door salespeople," said Rebecca Bowman, administrator of the Office of Consumer Affairs, in a written statement.

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According to complaints, the paving company offers discounted, same-day paving service.

But, according to the Maryland Home Improvement Commission, once the company has completed the work, it inflates the price by thousands of dollars.

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“Before hiring or paying anyone to perform home repairs, such as paving or gutter repair, homeowners should...check the license status of the individual and company," said Bowman.

Check the Maryland Home Improvement website to see if a contractor is licensed.

In addition to having a contracting license, anyone who solicits business door-to-door in Howard County is first required to obtain a solicitor license from the Office of Consumer Affairs.

Contact the Office of Consumer Affairs at 410-313-6420 with questions regarding solicitors in general and other consumer issues. Additional information is available online at http://consumer.howardcountymd.gov.


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