BY VICKI GILHULA
A Chelmsford couple say ?buyer beware.? They recently paid $2,700 to have their asphalt driveway repaired, and when they phoned the company to complain about the work, all they get is an answering machine.
Christine Armstrong says she and her husband were sitting in their front yard on a Monday morning a couple of weeks ago when a man drove by in a truck.
Noticing the Armstrongs? driveway needed repair work, the friendly man in his twenties stopped his truck. He was in the neighbourhood to pave a driveway a few streets away. Another customer had cancelled that morning, and ?he had material to pave another driveway and asked if we were interested,? says Christine Armstrong.
The Armstrongs had often talked about fixing their driveway and had got a few estimates. They knew it would cost as much as $10,000 to have the driveway completely rebuilt and paved.
The ?asphalt man? could ?top up? the drive for $2,700. The job would be good for another six or seven years, he said.
The couple decided to take advantage of the offer. A crew of four men showed up, as scheduled, about 2 pm and completed the job by about 5:15 pm.
The Armstrongs gave a cheque for $2,700 to the foreman. They did not sign a contract nor did they get anything in writing about a guarantee.
It rained overnight. By morning it was apparent the new asphalt wasn?t settling right.
Amstrong?s husband called the company and spoke to the young man they had met the day before.
?He promised to come back and look at it,? she says.
Everything seemed straightforward. The Armstrongs didn?t sense anything was wrong, so they did not think to put a stop payment on their cheque.
They waited. And waited. A week later, they called the company again. This time their phone calls were not returned.
Parts of the driveway have never hardened. The neighbour who had work done the same day as the Armstrongs is also unsatisfied, but has also been unable to contact the company, says Armstrong.
The Armstrongs suspect they are victims of a fly-by-night company.
The Armstrongs know they can?t do much about their situation. But they want other people to be aware of what happened to them.
They have called the Better Business Bureau and reported the incident to the police.
Sudbury Police Services says it has not received any other complaints.
Northern Life made numerous calls to the asphalt company using the toll-free number provided to the Armstrongs. Messages were left but the calls were not returned.
There is no company listed in the Sudbury telephone book under the name given on the Armstrongs? receipt.
The Ministry of Consumer and Business Affairs receives many complaints about door-to-door companies every year.
The ministry advises consumers to not sign contracts on the spot - reputable firms will wait for you to make up your mind.
Consumers should also get the name and address of the company; delivery dates; and details of the item/service being purchased. Details of the
cancellation rights should be in clear print on the front of the contract.
Other tips include:
- Don?t buy on impulse. Ask yourself if you really want the good or service before you buy.
- Compare prices and quality.
- If an offer sounds too good to be true, it is. Be wary of special low prices - often half or less of what others charge.
- Be careful when letting anyone into your house unless you?ve arranged the appointment, seen the seller?s identification and know the reputation of the company.
- It?s a good idea to invite a friend or neighbour to come over during sales presentations.
- Obtain three quotes before you buy, and remember that the lowest price may not be the best deal, and the highest price doesn?t always mean the highest quality.
- Ask for references and check them before you sign a contract.
The ministry also advises people to not be fooled by appearances or personal charm.
Consumers have 10 days to cancel any contract signed at their door worth more than $50.
