Leftover tarmac and doorstep driveway scams: how to spot them
Treat anyone who knocks on the door offering cheap leftover tarmac as a warning sign. Trading Standards services across the UK report the same pattern: a low price at the door, a much higher bill later, and thin tarmac laid with no base.
What are the warning signs?
- An unsolicited caller with "leftover tarmac from a council job"
- Pressure to agree today, or to start straight away
- A price given per square foot or "per load" that grows once work starts
- Cash only, or a large payment up front
- No written quote, no full address and no landline
- High-visibility clothing used to suggest a council connection
What should a real quote include?
A written specification (dig depth, sub-base depth, binder and surface course thicknesses), edging and drainage, the total price with VAT, timescales, payment terms and the full name and address of the business. Our quote checker lists everything to look for.
What are my cancellation rights?
For most contracts agreed in your home, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 give you 14 days to cancel, and the trader must give you cancellation information in writing. If you ask for work to start within those 14 days, you may have to pay for what has been done. Some exceptions apply, including contracts of £42 or less.
How do I report a rogue trader?
In England and Wales contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133, which passes reports to Trading Standards. In Scotland use Advice Direct Scotland, and in Northern Ireland the Consumerline service. If you feel threatened, call 999.
How we work instead
We do not cold-call. Every job starts with a survey and a written, itemised quote, and you have time to compare it with others.
Questions
Is there really such a thing as leftover tarmac?
Hot asphalt is ordered by the tonne for each job and cools within hours, so genuine contractors plan loads to avoid waste. A stranger with a lorry of 'spare' tarmac is a common scam line.
Should I get more than one quote?
Yes. Trading Standards recommends at least three written quotes for home improvement work.
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Send a postcode and a rough size and we'll arrange a survey. Every quote lists the layers, edging, drainage and VAT.
- Surface courseDEPTH + MIX
- Binder courseDEPTH + MIX
- Sub-baseDEPTH + MATERIAL
- Edges, drainage, VATITEMISED