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Consumer Protection : Advice from The Bucks County Consumer Advocates

April 2006

Every spring Bucks County consumers experience a rise in complaints against driveway sealing scams. A workman might come to your door asking if you would like to have your driveway done. They may say they were doing a job in the area and had some material left over, and can do your driveway for a low price. Later, after you pay them and they are gone, you start to notice problems. Either the coating starts to dry and you find out that the workers just wet the driveway down and really nothing was done, or they used some kind of oil product that you end up tracking into your home. Most of these businesses don’t give an address. Don’t let them con you! Be leery of businesses that show up at your door or catch you while you are working in your yard and try to sell you something, whether it’s a sealing job or a new roof. If you are interested in having work done, find companies on your own. Ask family, friends, or neighbors who they recommend. Get a couple of written estimates to compare prices. Contact our office at 1-800-942-2669 to see if the businesses that you are interested in have any complaints against them. We can also give you information on how to avoid contractor scams.

Q. I have a quick question. We will be ordering a home delivery of mulch soon. How to we figure out the quantity that is delivered? C.W., Souderton

A. Mulch is sold by volume and usually by the cubic yard. To determine how many yards you are getting, use the delivery truck bed dimensions to figure cubic feet. To do this measure the length, width and the height of the truck bed, then multiply them together. Divide the total by 27 to get the total cubic yards. Keep in mind that the mulch may settle in the truck and is usually mounded. Before they dump the load level it in the truck so you get an accurate measurement. Remember to inspect the mulch for quality. Look for painted wood, glass, nails and other debris that should not be there. If there is a lot of debris in the mulch call the business before having it dumped. Consumers should always get a receipt with there delivery. The receipt should have the seller’s name, address, phone number and the volume of the product. If an issue of short weight or volume exists and the business will not resolve it call the Bucks County Weights and Measures Department at 1-215-348-7442.