Driveway and Paving Cowboys: How to Get Your Money Back (UK)

"We've got leftover tarmac from a job down the road — we can do your drive cheap, today." It is one of the oldest doorstep scams, and it usually ends in a botched, overpriced driveway. Here is how to get your money back.

The doorstep selling trap

Because these deals are almost always agreed at your home, you have a 14-day cancellation right under the Consumer Contracts Regulations. If the trader did not tell you about that right (they never do), the period extends by up to 12 months — a powerful tool even after the work is done.

Your quality rights

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the work must be carried out with reasonable care and skill and be of satisfactory quality. Cowboy driveways typically fail fast — sinking, cracking, poor drainage, no proper sub-base — which is a clear breach entitling you to a fix, a price reduction, or a refund.

Pressure and overpricing

• Being pressured to decide immediately or to pay cash up front is a red flag and may be a banned aggressive practice.
• Prices that balloon once work starts ("the ground needed more material") are a common tactic.

How to act

1. Stop further payments and do not pay more under pressure.
2. Photograph the work and get an independent assessment and quote to put it right.
3. Write to the trader cancelling (if in time) and/or requiring repair or a refund.
4. Report aggressive doorstep traders to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice; use Section 75 if a card deposit over £100 was paid.

A letter template

Dear [Trader],

Re: Driveway/paving work at [address] on [date]

[I am cancelling this doorstep contract under the Consumer Contracts Regulations —
you did not inform me of my cancellation right.] The work is also defective:
[describe]. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 I require a [refund of £[amount] /
remedial work] and will not pay further sums.

Yours faithfully,
[Your name and contact details]

Never agree to surprise "leftover material" driveway deals. If you already did, you may still have a year to cancel — and the Consumer Rights Act covers the shoddy work either way.