From: "Mike Dobony"
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.metalworking misc.consumers.house alt.home.repair misc.consumers.frugal-living
Subject: Re: My neighbor was scammed by driveway spraying scammers
Date: Sun, 13 May 2007 20:50:11 -0500
"Ignoramus6369" wrote in message
news:8oidnaJil-C2rtvbnZ2dnUVZ_t7inZ2d@giganews.com...
> On Sat, 12 May 2007 20:29:58 GMT, Mike Dobony
> wrote:
>>
>> "Ignoramus6369" wrote in message
>> news:j7KdnevMNrNPe9jbnZ2dnUVZ_oSnnZ2d@giganews.com...
>>> It happened yesterday. A truck cruised in our neighborhood and I saw
>>> them stop by our neighbor's house (we have a concrete driveway, his is
>>> asphalt) and they talked. Then I went to do something else, the next
>>> thing I know is that my neighbor's asphalt driveway was sprayed with
>>> some tar like substance. So I went to talk to see what happened.
>>>
>>> He said that he was scammed: they first agreed on a certain price
>>> ($175), they took the money, sprayed half of his driveway, then acted
>>> all surprised and said that "it takes a lot more coating than they
>>> expected" and demanded $50 more for finishing the work. I guess with
>>> the implication that if he did not pay, they would drive off with his
>>> driveway half sprayed looking really stupid. So, he said he paid extra
>>> $50 and they finished the work.
>>>
>>> So. I am aware that the general wisdom says do not give work to any
>>> "drive by" people. But I would like to know, let's say that due to
>>> poor judgment, it happened to me and these artists demand extra $50 to
>>> finish. What would be a sensible thing to do in these lousy
>>> circumstances?
>>>
>>> i
>>
>> Poor judgment in the first place. Second, having work done without a
>> signed
>> contract. Third, not taking their license number and calling the police.
>>
>>
>
> Would you think that the police would have any interest?
>
> i
It would get the attention of the scammers and get them registered.
Depending on the community, it might get them followed and they will head
out of town. All depends on the police department.
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