Asphalt driveways can show considerable wear over time, so it’s very likely that yours will need repair at some point.

If fixing the driveway of your home or business is on your list of improvements this year, BBB reminds you that asphalt pavers who swindle money from their clients is one of our most common scams and cautions consumers to be on the lookout for dishonest asphalt paving companies.

Itinerant, or traveling asphalt paving crews are fairly common in East Texas. They typically move from county to county offering low-priced opportunities to give your asphalt driveway a quick facelift. If you’re presented with these or similar offers, a little bit of caution can help prevent serious problems.

Professionally designed and properly constructed asphalt pavement will last for many years, and reputable contractors will stand behind their work. You are safer dealing with a well-established contractor who carries a solid reputation, so make sure you check out a business’ track record by going to bbb.org before working with any company.

BBB offers these tips to help you steer clear of asphalt scams:

Beware of door-to-door sales. Reputable asphalt contractors seldom offer their services door-to-door, and they’ll do so only if they are doing a legitimate job in the immediate area. If you’re approached, always ask for references and proof of proper licensing.

Leftovers? Probably not. One of the most frequently used hooks that bogus companies use is offering “leftover asphalt” from their last job. Professional asphalt contractors will know, with great accuracy, how much paving material is needed to complete a project. Rarely will they have leftover material. Among the only reasons a contractor might have left over material are inclement weather, equipment problems or cancellations.

Don’t make hasty decisions. Reputable contractors will provide a written estimate which will be valid far beyond the day the estimate is given. If they use high pressure sales tactics and the great deal they are offering you today is not available tomorrow or next week, it may be a scam.

Get it in writing. Insist upon a professionally written contract which specifies, in detail, the work to be performed and the agreed-upon price.

Look out for cash-only sales. Most reputable contractors take checks or credit cards and don’t require cash-only terms. If the contractor only takes cash, use extreme caution.

Choose local. Traveling asphalt crews often operate out of unmarked trucks and have out-of-state license plates or contact information. Take into consideration that an out-of-town contractor will be more difficult to make arrangements with should further repairs be needed.

Verify. Remember to verify the phone number and physical location of the business before agreeing to any work. And just to be safe, it’s a good idea to jot down the license plate of the company vehicle.

For more information on how to be a savvy consumer, go to bbb.org. To report fraudulent activity or unscrupulous business practices call the BBB Hotline, or use BBB Scam Tracker: www.bbb.org/scam tracker/east-texas/.