Don't Get Rolled Over By a Paving Scam
Local paving companies, desperate for easy money, are preying on East Pete & East Hempfield property owners.
Updated August 21, 2022
History of the Paving Scam in East Pete
Over the summer of 2021, several local property owners were illegally solicited by local paving companies. Many fell for scam, paying out thousands of dollars for shoddy driveway replacements that were installed without a permit and not up to borough code.
Check out how that played out last summer in our video!
It appears that the same thing is happening this year, just with a different company. Here's information on how the scam works and how you can protect your money and property.
Who Are The Companies Targeting Our Area?
WSH Paving
All Around Asphalt
Pot-Holes (Lee Harris)
WSH Paving has operated out of multiple addresses in the area. They are responsible for several illegally placed driveways on the west side of town in 2021.
This company shared a physical address of 1653 Lititz Pike with WSH Paving at one time. One resident reported a confrontation between All Around Asphalt and WSH Paving last year in front of their house. Who knew scammers had turf like gangs?
This company has a shady online presence and is based out of Mechanicsburg, PA. They have a history of poor reviews going back as far as 2015.
How The Scam Works
Here’s how all of these cold-calling driveway companies operate (click on the image or link for video details). Videos courtesy of allaboutdriveways.com.
Extra Asphalt
Materials Ripoff
Quality Issues
Extra asphalt rarely happens. Reputable contractors measure each job for its material needs to prevent costly waste, especially with current prices.
The contractor will use less asphalt than stated. They may promise 3″ of asphalt, but once compacted, you have a thinner driveway than expected.
The contractor will cheat you out of materials, leading to cracked or ruined driveways in a short time period.
Local Permit Issues
Not only are these companies illegally soliciting in the borough without a permit, they are putting YOU the property owner at risk of fines from the borough.
East Petersburg requires the property owner to obtain a permit for new driveways, driveway expansions, and resurfacing. It’s not to simply collect fees and create business for our contracted vendor, but to prevent shoddy work from being done in the borough that can create hazards. For example, a bad paving job by WSH can result in washout during subsequent rains, leading to debris and contaminants entering the waterways. This creates an MS4 violation that must be remedied. The permitting process helps to ensure that standards are followed and that the property isn’t expanding a surface that would take away ground that collects runoff.
The property owner who uses a fly-by-night company such as WSH Paving puts themselves at risk of paying DOUBLE if they are found out to have had driveway work completed without the appropriate permits. This fine doesn’t fall back on the contractor, this would fall onto the property owner.
Consumer Protection
Here’s a few ways to prevent getting taken by surprise with these outfits:
Get quotes from multiple sources. Find out who the legitimate companies are in the area. Reputable companies will provide measurements and price breakdowns, from the start of the contract to the end.
Find out information on the companies. Make sure their phone numbers work. Look for a website to ensure it is professional (if they have one). Is there a physical office location?
Get everything in writing. A verbal agreement means nothing in the court system. Reputable companies will provide a written contract prior to work.
Pay through legitimate means. Companies who deal in cash only are red flags. Paying with a credit card may be a better option for some consumer protection.
Never pay full price up front. A company should be able to provide its own materials and supplies. Many companies may require a percentage of the contract up front to ensure that they’ll get paid and not stuck with material. Giving the full amount, especially in cash only, provides no paper trail for you.
Identify if the company is allowed to solicit. If you ever want to know if a company is allowed to solicit you, go to the East Pete borough website. They provide an updated list of all approved solicitors within the borough.