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STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DARRELL V. MCGRAW, JR. CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION 1-800-368-8808 or 304-558-8986 |
Press Release |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jill L. Miles Phone: 304-558-8986 |
Release Date: August 26, 2002 |
McGraw Warns WV Consumers About Suspicious Door-To-Door PaversAugust 26, 2002 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jill Miles 1-800-368-8808 1-304-558-89876 ATTORNEY GENERAL DARRELL V. MCGRAW, JR. WARNS CONSUMERS TO BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR UNSCRUPULOUS PAVERS GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR THROUGHOUT WEST VIRGINIA Attorney General McGraw’s Consumer Protection Division has received reports that traveling pavers have arrived in the Kanawha County area. Such scam artists often go door-to-door offering to pave consumers’ driveways with asphalt they claim has been left over from another job. Because the asphalt is left over, the con men tell the consumer he can offer a steep discount on the job. Once the work is done, the paving outfit demands large amounts of money, which were not part of the original deal. Part of the scheme may include the con men following the consumer to his bank to withdraw money or get a check cashed. "Consumers feel intimated, and generally pay whatever is demanded. In addition, the quality of the work is shoddy. Frequently, the asphalt crumbles or weeds grow through it within a week," said Attorney General McGraw. Tips to follow before hiring a contractor are: 1. Avoid door-to-door work crews, who often pose as contractors from another job with left over materials, like gravel or roofing supplies; 2. avoid a contractor who does not provide a written contract containing all of the terms of the work BEFORE work is started; 3. avoid a contractor that can only be reached by leaving a message on an answering machine; 4. avoid a contractor that drives an unmarked van or has an out of state license plate on his vehicle; 5. avoid a contractor that pressures you for an immediate decision; 6. avoid a contractor that offers you a discount for finding him other customers; 7. avoid a contractor that quotes a price that is too cheap; 8. pay by check or credit card, if possible, avoid on the spot cash payments. 9. do not take the contractor’s word that he has a valid contractor’s license. Rather, check with the West Virginia Contractor’s Licensing Board. The Contractor’s Licensing Board’s telephone number is (304) 558-7890. If you have been approached by one of these pavers, please report the matter as quickly as possible to your local police, the state police or Attorney General McGraw’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-368-8808 or 558-8986. | |
Thursday September 9, 2010
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