Driveway scam: local companies help Willow woman – KTUU.com

WILLOW, AK Two local companies are helping a woman in Willow who says she was duped out of $76,000 dollars for a driveway repair job that a local contractor says should have cost only around $20,000.

Marlin & Sons Construction and Emulsions Products donated labor and materials Friday to seal Robin Egdell's driveway, which was paved recently by a company called Edwards Asphalt.

"What I've seen is just a complete mess of a poor lady's driveway that got completely taken advantage of" said Curtis Marlin, owner of Marlin & Sons Construction.

Edgell says a few weeks ago, Edwards Asphalt arrived in the neighborhood and claimed its crew had left over asphalt they needed to get rid of. She says she thought they quoted her a price of $4,750, but later told her the actual price was $47,500.

Edgell claims the next day, when the job was finished, the company gave her an additional bill of nearly $25,000. In all, Edgell says she paid the company about $76,000.

Edgell says she was unaware at the time of how much paving work costs. "And at this age, I feel like a fool for being duped by somebody...that I should know better."

Tonya Burritt of Emulsion Products said "everyone in our company was just heartbroken over what happened to her."

Marlin says the material used by the company that did the original work was poor, as was the workmanship.

Channel 2 News called the toll-free number for Edwards Asphalt. A man, who refused to give his name, declined comment and rejected repeated invitations to do an interview.

The Alaska Attorney General's office said recently it's received at least 10 reports from Alaskans who were taken advantage by paving schemes. State officials say "the individuals claim that they are knocking because they have leftover materials and are able to pave driveways or sidewalks for a discounted rate. They cite a price that is attractive to homeowners without giving the required written notice that the homeowner has a right to cancel any written or verbal contract without penalty for five days."

According to the state's Consumer Protection Unit, the names of the questionable businesses cannot be released because the reports they receive are in the form of consumer complaints.

Although many of the people Channel 2 spoke with regarding Edwards Asphalt gave scathing reviews, we did speak with two people who had good things to say about their experience. True Value in Glennallen had its driveway paved in June, owner Ernie Christian says he was satisfied with the price and quality of their work. A homeowner in Seward echoed those feelings after her driveway was paved.

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Driveway scam: local companies help Willow woman - KTUU.com