Business owners step in to help elderly scam victim

NAPLES, Fla.- Local business owners are stepping up to help an 87-year-old woman who says she was ripped off and robbed by the contractors she hired.

Mary McCourt was told by United Water Restoration she had mold in her home and needed to leave. She paid the company $1,000 and spent ten days in a motel. When she came home, only part of the job was done and she discovered her diamond engagement ring and her late husband’s gold wedding band were gone.

“I’m thinking what if that was my mom and dad?” said Rick Hayse with Hayse Homes. “It just hit me and I had to call and see if there was anything I could do to help.”

Several calls and emails were received from people wanting to know how they can help but McCourt is unable to finish her home for the moment as a result of signing an exclusive contract with United Water Restoration.

On Friday, calls to United Water Restoration went unanswered.

WINK News uncovered the Better Business Bureau revoked United Water Restoration’s accreditation in January because of its affiliation with another company that has an F rating.

After a visit to the company’s office in Naples, attorney Larry Moskowitz sent a statement on behalf of the company saying it completed work and cleanup on McCourt’s house in 10 days which is “very responsive” by “industry standards.”

Moskowitz adds after removing mold from the home, the company could not rebuild the affected areas without getting approval from the insurance carrier first.

In response to McCourt’s claims of items stolen from her home, Moskowitz added “the theft is unconscionable and we are working with detectives to assist in the investigation.”