2 weeks Ago By Steven Wilhelm
Elusive paving companies are slapping Calgary businesses with inflated prices for laying asphalt, victims say. The alleged scams were carried out under two company names, Eco Asphalt Ltd. and Phoenix Asphalt Ltd.
The websites for both were taken down shortly after a story was published by CTV News on the matter . North Star Ford in Calgary was promised a good deal by Eco Asphalt to fill cracks and potholes in its lot, only to be hit with a bill of over $130,000. Marty Giles, owner of North Star Auto Group, said a member of his staff wrote a cheque for the full amount, under pressure from the contractor on March 20.
“But they (the contractor) go to Money Mart, and they’re trying to cash it ...
so my controller goes four per cent on $130,000, what’s the hurry?” Giles told Postmedia on Friday. They halted the payment. On March 21, Giles said he received “heavy pressure” from Eco Asphalt over the phone — being told he had to pay immediately.
Hoping to resolve the situation Giles decided to pay the $15,000 that was originally agreed upon, but requested articles of incorporation, a GST number and a business license as a condition of payment. Giles said Eco Asphalt accepted, but did not take the payment — he has not heard from them since. “Because he obviously couldn’t produce all that,” said Giles.
Marvin Morrison, owner of Trackside Sales & Service in Olds, Alta. wasn’t quite as lucky, having received a similar offer to patch up holes from Eco Asphalt. “I got $14,000 worth of black gravel,” said Morrison, noting he had to negotiate for that price.
Phoenix Asphalt offered very similar patchwork to the owner of Bon Ton Meat Market in northwest Calgary, who is now out $30,000. “When it was done ..
. I said to him, ‘looks like it’s a little thick on there to me’,” said Bon Ton owner Greg Keller, adding the employee assured him it would be OK. When he went to clear snow out of the business’s parking lot last weekend, nine days after the asphalt was laid, every bit of it lifted up.
“All it is is piles of dirt with some oil or gravel,” said Keller. Springbank condo board president Cody Wilson experienced much the same as the other customers. “It was extremely uncomfortable, extremely weird, very high pressure,” Wilson said of his interactions with Phoenix Asphalt.
With a budget of about $2,000, Wilson was alarmed to see a tab of $23,500. “He’s like, well, here’s the square footage, and you got to pay me, otherwise we’re not leaving,” said Wilson. “He got a little bit aggressive with us.
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