‘Just to undo it would be $30k,’ cries woman who sank thousands into driveway job – and got ‘loose gravel and piles’

A WOMAN paid an independent contractor $18,000 to repave her asphalt driveway, and now they won't answer her calls.

Responding to a Facebook Ad proved an expensive mistake for a couple.

Joanna Howell and her husband contacted Texas Asphalt Chip and Seal last year to have their driveway repaired after buying their home in Belton, Texas.

Howell saw a Facebook Ad for the company and initiated a conversation with the company's owner, Martin McDonald.

McDonald arrived at Howell's home, inspected the driveway, and convinced Howell to hire his company to do the work.

"He measured the road, gave me a quote and I felt like I was getting a really good deal and they started to work right away," she told NBC affiliate KCEN-TV.

McDonald quoted the couple $18,000 for a quarter-mile driveway and decided to leave the contractors to do their job while they stayed elsewhere.

When they returned to their home after the job was reportedly done, nothing looked out of place.

"He was finished and we met him out at the property," Howell said.

However, she was keen to notice that their meeting was at the very beginning of the driveway, where the work appeared to be done to Howell's specifications.

Since nothing seemed strange, the couple paid him.

"He said he was in a rush and had to get to Austin, but we looked around and it looked fine so we gave him the check."

As the couple ventured further down the driveway towards their home, they discovered the clever ploy they'd fallen for.

"It was all loose gravel - piles and piles," she said.

"They didn't put enough tar down for the gravel to stick."

Howell quickly called McDonald, who assured her the tar would dry in two weeks.

After the tar dried, he would return to finish the job.

Howell hung up feeling more assured and went about her daily life.

A year and three months later, McDonald has not returned to finish the job.

To add insult to injury, the couple has lost all contact with him - the original phone number no longer works, and the Facebook page she used to contact him initially has been taken down.

Not even the couple's attorney could find McDonald.

Why do this? He had materials here, he had manpower here, machinery here, why not just do it right? To find out that he's done it to more people than just us is disappointing.

Joanna HowellNBC affiliate KCEN-TV

"We contacted him under the name Texas Asphalt Chip & Seal, the last person he did this to was under Central Texas Asphalt Chip & Seal," she said.

"So I know he's just out there changing the name to find more customers."

Feeling defeated, Howell had another asphalt and sealing company evaluate the driveway, who said McDonald's job was beyond repair.

"Just to undo what he's done would be $30,000; on top of the $18,000 we already paid for it," said Howell.

More than anything, Howell was confused about the facade put on by McDonald.

"Why do this?" she asked.

"He had materials here, he had manpower here, machinery here, why not just do it right? To find out that he's done it to more people than just us is disappointing."

For now, Howell, her husband, and their attorney are keeping their eyes peeled for McDonald to resurface.

"Once we get an address to find out where he is, we'll serve him with papers and pursue legal action," she promised.