Sidewalk violation scam

Hi guys. A neighbor and I got flyers pushed through our mailboxes this week claiming we had sidewalk violations issued to us 45 days ago and that work would begin shortly to repair it. Neither of us received a violation notice — these flyers just showed up last week out of the blue. They weren’t mailed either, just put in our mailboxes. The logo on top says it’s from DDC but the phone number listed is for a concrete company. When my neighbor called the number the guy who answered said he could negotiate the price from $1600 to $1000\. As far as I can tell it’s DOT that handles the sidewalks not DDC and since neither of us got a violation notice, I’m wondering if this is a scam. There is a fairly small crack that runs in front of both our houses, but I’m suspicious. Coincidentally, we just had a violation cleared earlier this year from a previous owner and I wonder if that has anything to do with it. What do you think? Sarah

AnotherSarah

in About Brooklyn 11 years and 1 month ago

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resident2 | 11 years and 1 month ago

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The “City” does issue mysterious sidewalk notices. It is normally for an entire block. They are notices that seem to give you notice to get it fixed, if you do not get it fixed then they will do the work and charge you for it using their contractor. If you do not get it fixed, a violation will be issued. This happened on a block in Fort Greene a couple of years ago, that I have a building on. Some owners got their own contractors to do the work, but it was not deemed satisfactory and so then received sidewalk violations. Many of the owners used the contractors that the City stated that they should, but the price went up and most lost their original blue stone. And now have landmark violations. Take the notice to your local community board, they should at least know if it legitimately a “City” notice. 311 will just pass you on…and on….and on…

argylerd | 11 years and 1 month ago

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If they’e claiming to be a City Agency maybe the NYC DOI should be informed so that legal action can be taken.

BobMarvin | 11 years and 1 month ago

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Call 311 and have them connect you to DDC; tell them you have a letter on their letterhead which you suspect isn’t actually from them.

Arkady | 11 years and 1 month ago

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Sounds like a scam. Put your address in on NYC.gov, DOT &/or DDC – violations are listed. There has to be a discrepancy between pavers for a violation – I forget if it’s one or 2 inches.