In spring and summer, there is an increased number of door-to-door salespeople knocking on your door. While there are many legitimate businesses out there, you may want to proceed with caution when a salesperson or contractor mentions a quick or inexpensive fix for your cracked driveway. 

How do they trick you?

A typical paving scam starts with a supposed contractor knocking on doors offering a cheap, quick fix for a damaged driveway. The contractor may ask for a large deposit up-front. Just a few days or weeks after the job is completed, the homeowner finds out that the driveway starts cracking, sometimes leaving it in a worse shape than before the “repair” job. When the resident complains about the quality of work, the business promises to return to fix the driveway but never turns up. Sometimes the business is fake and the phone number gets disconnected as the homeowner attempts to follow up.

Door-to-door scams vs. bad business practices

While there are rules when it comes to legitimate door-to-door sales, scammers going door to door have no intention of following them. If you think you’ve encountered a scam, report it to your local police/RCMP and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

If you think you’re dealing with a legitimate business with some questionable business practices, we have information on how to spot the bad operators too.

Signs that the person at your door is a scammer

  • You can’t find any information available about the business online. Or if you do, the site seems unprofessional, has spelling errors, and the contact information is missing.
  • They are requesting cash only. This is a major red flag, especially when they ask for cash up-front.
  • Pushy or aggressive sales practices. If you feel very pressured and uncomfortable, your gut may be telling you it’s a scam.

Did you like this? You might like these posts too!

Various topics related to door-to-door sales
What would you do? A guide to being a savvy consumer: home-repair
Contract deposits: are there limits?
Don’t buy into a home renovation scam!

About Consumer Protection BC

We are responsible for regulating specific industries and certain consumer transactions in British Columbia. If your concern is captured under the laws we enforce, we will use the tools at our disposal to assist you. If we can’t help you directly, we will be happy to provide you with as much information as possible. Depending on your concern, another organization may be the ones to speak to; other times, court or legal assistance may be the best option. Explore our website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.