Homeowners across the Greater Toronto Area are speaking out after falling victim to what appear to be fraudulent driveway paving operations, leaving behind poorly done work, incomplete jobs, and unreachable companies — along with deep frustration.
In Ajax, Paulet Blenman paid $6,000 to a group of paving workers who knocked on her door in late May, claiming they were already doing jobs in the area and could offer her a great deal. But her excitement quickly turned into disappointment.
“From a distance, it looks done, but up close, it’s lumpy and ants are digging through it,” said Blenman. “It was just a terrible, terrible job.” To make matters worse, the workers left a huge pile of asphalt at the end of her driveway and have since disappeared without a trace. Their contact information is invalid, and the company is unreachable by phone or email.
Just up the street, other neighbours reported similar issues, including water valves being paved over and construction debris left behind. CTV News was also unable to get a response from the company in question.
In another case in East York, homeowner Luigi Raffaele shared a similar story. A contractor who came knocking at his door offered to patch and seal his driveway and repair his front steps. After receiving $3,900 in advance, the workers only applied a thin coat of sealant to half the driveway and then vanished.
“They just didn’t come back. I thought they were nice guys,” Raffaele said regretfully. “I feel cheated, and that’s not nice.”
When CTV News tried to contact the contractor, the person hung up the moment they identified themselves as reporters.
These incidents follow a disturbing pattern of seasonal driveway scams, often involving door-to-door operators who offer fast, cheap paving jobs using leftover materials — only to deliver substandard work and disappear with the money.
Consumer Protection Advice:
To avoid falling victim to such scams, experts advise:
- Be cautious of unsolicited door-to-door offers
- Research companies online and check for real reviews
- Ensure the business has a verifiable physical address, not just a P.O. box
- Get multiple quotes and written contracts
- Never pay large amounts upfront
A low price may be tempting, but when it comes to driveway paving, the cheapest job often becomes the costliest regret.