CRIME TRACKER: Paving Scam?

Summer Scam or Bad Business?

It was back in February that the CBS 6 CRIMETRACKER team first heard of allegations against a Capital region blacktop paving company called Superior Paving and it's main contractor, Matthew Ward. Customers claim Ward is running a blacktop paving scam by preying on hardworking citizens just wanting an honest service. Since the first complaint, CRIMETRACKERS has heard from victims, all over the Captial region, claiming they either paid for a service and work was never done, or the job was rushed and done poorly. Now, hear what these alleged victims have to say about how they fell prey to Superior's tactics, and why some believe Matthew Ward belongs in jail.

 "If i had a choice, i would forgo the money just to see him locked up," says Clinton Freeman of Colonie.

 "These people are looking to take advantage of anybody. . .  young, old, rich, poor...they don't care, as long as they get the money in their pocket," says another victim who asked to remain anonymous.

 "I feel like somebody broke into my house and robbed me. That's how I feel. It's criminal", says John Reinhardt of Rexford.

  They may be different complaints, but they are all for the same company.

 "You can actually peel this back. this should not happen. . .Look at that,"says Reinhardt as he explains the poor quality job done by Superior Paving, "That is beyond poor quality work."

  During his time with CRIMETRACKERS, he even showed us blacktop that crumbled when picked up. Reinhardt first met with Superior Paving of Burnt Hills back in March at his Rexford home. For months, he's battled to have his driveway completed. In the end he shelled out 32-hundred dollars, for a driveway that's falling apart. 

"There's a four year warranty on this, you're lucky if you can get a hold of these guys after 4 days."

"It's a disaster," said another couple living in Schenectady, who asked that we hide their identity for fear of retaliation. Their story, no different.

"Overall, it's just been a train wreck. its horrible."

Work that hardly measure up to the company's claims, ". . . Of a driveway to complement your home."  Like the Reinhardt's, they paid roughly four thousand dollars. The end result: streaks, low spots, and a completely destroyed lawn.

"We wasted 4,000 dollars and this...and this is what we got for $4,000. I wouldn't have paid 100 dollars what we got.It's sad it really is and I hope it doesn't happen to anybody else."

 But, it did.

"We want it done, we want it done right because we want it to last, "says Linda Freeman.

 Last April, The Freeman's of Colonie hired Matthew Ward and Superior Paving to do their driveway.

"He was actually going to do the garage, the floor and dig up the concrete on the side of the house there," says Clinton Freeman.

The job never happened. Now over six months, a $1600 deposit, and one bounced check later, the Freemans still have their old driveway. The only difference here:  With the help of police they finally got their money back and what the company called an apology saying. . .

 "We do extend a large apology... We couldn't do their job because we were at some other customer's house."

 They did, however, extended an additional 20 percent discount to be used on future jobs.

"I could have given him business. me, my mother, my neighbor. so instead of ripping me off and my mother in law he could have gotten my money, my mother's money, my neighbors money and my brother who probably would have gotten his driveway done as well "says Clinton Freeman.

Teresa Priolo, CRIMETRACKER: It's the same story repeated time and again. I interviewed one Schenectady business owner who begged us not to use his story. He's scared the company wont finish the job they started months ago. They have already tacked on an additional 5 grand to his original estimate.

Here's what has been happening: Customers see an ad in a local paper.They do their homework, call around, get estimates, hire the company, sign a contract and pay half up front. Often times, they never hear from the company again. The persistent ones have gotten their money back, but not without outside help.

Albany County Comptroller Mike Connors has helped two customers recoup their losses. One is a family in Colonie. THe other, is a professor at St. Rose who is out $1110. After a lengthy back and forth between the Professor, Connors and Matthew Ward, Ward admitted not holding up his end of the deal and missing many appointments.  Things came to a head when Connors sent an e-mail to Matthew Ward saying " Mr. Ward you need to resolve this to avoid prosecution."

Ten days later, The Professor's check finally arrived.

"What I hope that you can do, and where CBS6 has done a valuable service, is there are probably dozens of other people, who were cheated by this same contractor who should come forward. And personally, I'm not an attorney but boy here's a guy who belongs in jail if he doesnt make good on these."

Other customers who feel slighted by Superior Paving have used collection agencies, their local police and even the Attorney General's Office to get their money back. In all fairness, there is another side to this story.

Stay tuned to CBS 6 News and www.cbs6albany .com for part two of our story, where you will hear from Matthew Ward and Superior Paving. Plus...we'll also tell you what, if anything, can be done to prevent this from happening again.