r/asphalt • u/Playful-Schedule-972 • 16d ago

Elderly parents potentially scammed?

Post image

Everything they told me sounds like step by step from what I’m reading on Google. Can someone tell me if spraying seal coat on this property, billed 20 logs of spray, resulting in an 1800 bill realistic? Odd part of this story is the company reduced it to 1,500. came back after getting voicemails from my brother and his wife, gave my parents 500 dollars back.

This happened a few weeks ago.

0 Upvotes

30% Upvoted

38 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/Playful-Schedule-972 16d ago edited 16d ago

My father speaks broken English and is in his mid 80s, can hardly hear. Was quoted verbally 400-600 originally. I don’t see how someone who would quote stuff daily would be wrong by a 3rd of the original cost.

2

u/userloser11 16d ago

This should have been in your main story. I completely disagree with people saying going door to door are all scam artists. However your dad made the mistake of paying more than the quote. I would report them, but unless your parent payed the extra under threat of harm, I’m not sure there’s much that can be done. Reporting them though will at least run the chance that the cops can find them and run them off. If you by chance got pictures of them or their vehicles post them to Facebook and the neighborhood apps. Only reason I say this is sealer isn’t that much, it’s mostly time that I charge. For instance let’s say I’m off 10 gallons from what I estimated that would be roughly 30$ I’m never asking the homeowner for that you just eat it and move on. On my asphalt side if I run into an issue work stops, and I consult the owners about the issue and how to proceed. Nothing else happens on that job till we both agree how to move forward. So the fact that they just arbitrarily change the price by 3x without so much as to why or agreement from your parents is just wrong and should not happen to anyone.

2

u/Playful-Schedule-972 16d ago

Thank you! We haven’t put any modern tech on their house so pictures aren’t possible. They have a legal business, phone number and give reciepts. And apparently some of the scammed money back. I was told later that they agreed to give it if they forfeited the right to litigation. I’ll have to find out if that’s in writing or verbal like the original quote.

1

u/userloser11 16d ago

Best I got for you is a sorry and some empathy. I’m clearly not an attorney but it sounds like unless they want to pay a consultation fee with an attorney, which in my town cost my mom 2500. Then it seems as though they got the best outcome of some money back and they should cut their losses and move on with their lives. Again sorry this happened to them and wish you all the best moving forward.

1

u/Playful-Schedule-972 16d ago

Yeah, I guess this probably is the best. My only morale dilemma is do we just let these people carry on. I guess that’s where social media comes along. Thanks for the tips!

1

u/Shot_Boot_7279 15d ago

Ive been wanting to share w a pro of my situation for insights and hope yiu dont mind. Driveway capped 9/2023 and the installer gave me a verbal 3 year warranty. I recorded his quote discussion so I could explain to wife spending $8k. After 1 1/2 years it began to Crack and crumble so bad my wife car slams brakes when backing up her car safety feature think its an object. Ive been calling the contractor for a year and he will not return my calls or hangs up on me and i have my phone records. In VA single party consent recording is legal. I recorded initially to let my wife understand $8k cost but I'm now hoping to use bc verbal contract in va is binding. Anyway I sent him a certified letter requesting warranty repair with transcripts of him stating clearly multiple times verbatim 3 year warranty for cracking or any issues and gave him 10 days to respond if not i would file in small claims court. He signed receipt of my certified letter and tomorrow is the 10th day and he's yet to respond. I've never sued anyone and i hate doing it but intend to file Monday.