A very charming man knocked on our door one day and offered services to do our driveway. It's a project we've been putting off for quite some time because there are other things we needed to do for our house but our driveway was a priority because it was pitched toward our house and water was pooling in that area. He offered a decent although average price so we decided to do business with them. To be honest part of the reason I hired him was because he was so personable (Don't ever do that). He and his business partner were invited into our home to discuss and sign a contract where the services we were to pay $7,500 for included: Resurface, remove entire driveway, extend driveway where agreed, ALL AREAS OF DRIVEWAY TO BE GRADED TO SPECIFIED LEVELS, ALL WEEDS TO BE REMOVED, repave driveway using 3.5 inches of hot asphalt, machine roll to smooth & solid finish.
His crew "completed" the driveway and he came to collect payment. He said we agreed to pay cash and we hadn't, nor was that in the contract. we offered a check or cash in a few days since the money was coming out of our retirement accounts. He had us write a check - not to Alpha Paving & Masonry but to some guy's name rather and left with a $7,500 check. While he was here we pointed to the spot that's been a problem and told him it still looked like there was a dip in the pavement but he assured us it wasn't because they used lasers.
It rained a couple of days later and a puddle of water pooled in the same spot right against the foundation of my house. We immediately sent him a text with a picture of it. Also there was a giant pile of dirt & weeds left on our grass that we asked him to remove several times. The brand new, still in the box hose they needed was left in a heap covered in tar & mud as well. When he finally responded he said he couldn't get here right away. When he showed up two days later the puddle was still there even though the rain had stopped the day before. He told us they'd have to re-heat the pavement to pitch it toward the area agreed to and if that didn't work it would have to be patched in some way. So to be clear for $7,500 we may end up with a patched driveway. During the same conversation after sending multiple texts asking him to remove the pile of dirt & weeds, we asked him again.
Since then we've spent a week and a half
dealing with texts that either go unanswered for a full day only to be answered with vague commitments that he does not fulfill. We sat home all day because he said he was coming here and never showed or called until we texted him the next day. Two days ago we asked again that he fix this problem. No response. Today, on a Friday morning I asked him to come by Monday (that's 3 days from now) or I'm going to have to hire another asphalt company. His response was he can't get here on Monday because he's busy and will be here "some time next week." I responded back saying he should be here Monday but give me a solid date for next week.
I haven't heard from him since.
So here we are with a pile of dirt and weeds on now dead grass, a destroyed hose and a driveway that is still pitched toward my house. I just filled out a civil summons that I'm delivering to the Ansonia-Milford Judicial Branch. Hopefully a judge will consider the fact we are senior citizens & had to take money from our retirement account.
This company has been in business for a few generations. I'm pretty sure the grandfather that started it wouldn't be happy.
Pro Tip: Never hire a guy who's overly charming.
Also, anyone out there know of a good paving company? I need a new driveway. read more