For more than two years, Naomi Brown’s 11 children had watched as her home sat in foreclosure.

Theodis Jones: “With sleepless nights, it’s been rough on me. Depressed. It’s been hard.”

Hard because his mother left the house to Theodis, and he was the one who was losing it.

Theodis Jones: “My ex-girlfriend went behind my back and took two loans off of this house without my knowledge of it.”

Let’s back up to 2021, when Theodis’ ex, Adrienne McSweeney, went to a private lender to borrow $120,000 using Theodis’ house as collateral.

She was accused of pulling it off by stealing Theodis’ driver’s license and getting this guy to pretend to be Theodis.

Theodis Jones: “The picture didn’t match.”

A few months later, the lender began to foreclose on the house.

Theodis Jones: “It’s been a crime committed against me and the people trying to take my property.”

When Theodis contacted McSweeney and told her he was calling the police, she texted back, “All I ask is time to fix it. Less than eight weeks.”

Patrick Fraser: “So you’re going to lose your mama’s house?”

Theodis Jones: “I don’t want to lose it, not if you can help me.”

Mark Mastrarrigo then stepped in to represent Theodis.

He had the pictures from the closing, but most importantly, a handwriting expert.

This is the impostor’s signature. This is Theodis’.

Mark Mastrarrigo: “And she gave us her highest of highest variability. That is not Theodis’ signature.”

Mark had bank statements that showed McSweeney got the money. But the lender told me they were convinced Theodis and McSweeney worked together.

Another year passed. Then, after a deposition with Theodis, the attorney for the title insurance company was convinced Theodis was the victim. They paid the lender the $120,000 back, and the foreclosure against Theodis was dismissed.

Mark Mastrarrigo: “We won, but he won. His house was at stake.”

Mark handed the judge’s order to Theodis. His house was free and clear again.

Theodis Jones: “I can’t even imagine explaining how I feel right now. It’s a blessing.”

It was a long battle that took a good determined lawyer to save Theodis.

Patrick Fraser: “Theodis couldn’t have done this on its own, could he?”

Mark Mastrarrigo: “Absolutely not, and if you don’t have somebody on your side that knows what they’re doing, that’s going to do the right thing, chances are you’re going to get a bad result.”

The judge also ordered the title insurance company to pay Theodis’ legal fees. Another victory for him.

Theodis Jones: “I thank everybody — I thank you, I thank Howard, I thank my attorney Mark, my family. It’s been real rough, man, two years and four months.”

Speaking of winning, remember Karen Dematas, who hired a debt relief company?

Karen Dematas: “I’ve heard about debt relief companies, and I just thought that it was good.”

She had an $11,000 credit card bill. CDS debt relief told her they would get the debt wiped out if she paid them $199 a month. She did.

Karen Dematas: ‘And I would be debt free within a year, a year and a half. That’s what they told me.”

For six months, Karen paid them, then found out they didn’t get her debt lowered at all.

She asked us to get her $1,200 back. But we discovered the company closed one office in West Palm Beach, then another, and the registered owner didn’t return my dozen phone calls.

Patrick Fraser: “I tried. I could not get them to give the money back.”

Karen Dematas: “I understand, I understand. It’s sad, but I understand.”

Our story aired. And then…

Karen Dematas: “He sent three payments through Zelle: one $500, one $500 and then $200.”

The debt relief company returned Karen’s $1,200.

Karen Dematas: “Because Channel 7 showed and made the report on him, and I guess he felt guilty.”

A nice, unexpected surprise.

Karen Dematas: “I was really shocked. I was really shocked.”

A good shock, but Karen still has that big credit card debt and no way to pay it.

As for the woman accused of taking $120,000 in Theodis’ case, Miami-Dade Police are still investigating, but they haven’t charged her with anything.

Losing a battle that’s devastating you? Need someone you can trust? Air your story with us, to cheer you up and spread your good news.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Raul started working when he was 12. You can imagine how he felt about retiring.

Raul Rios: “It’s good. I have time to do things I never had time before.”

Good thing he has extra time for things like checking a phone that keeps ringing.

Calls coming in all the time.

Operator: “We’re calling you regarding a legal business matter attached to your name.”

Raul Rios: “No, this is not Dominic.”

All the callers are from collection agencies.

Operator: “I have an urgent business claim against your name that requires your immediate attention

Looking for a fellow named Dominic.

Raul Rios: “I tell them, ‘Please, my name is Raul. I am not Dominic. You’re calling the wrong person. You’ve been calling the wrong person.'”

For five, that’s right five years, the collection agencies, which like to call themselves mediation firms, have called looking for Dominic.

Raul has tried blocking them.

Raul Rios: “But they have so many numbers. Even though I block, I keep getting 833,844,305,786. I mean, the combinations are endless.”

He has tried to explain they have the wrong person.

Raul Rios: “I am an old retired person and I don’t owe anyone anything. I don’t have a mortgage. I don’t owe anybody.”

He did some research and thinks he found the Dominic they are looking for.

Raul Rios: “He’s in North Miami, and he has a very similar telephone number to mine, except two digits are backwards.”

But the debt collectors didn’t say thank you. They weren’t that polite.

Raul Rios: “And sometimes they get a little, threatening, and ‘It’s urgent and there’s going to be legal action’ and ‘Before we send the cops after you,’ and this and that.'”

Of course the cops don’t come and Raul is amazed at the bill collector’s incompetence. All of them chasing the wrong guy for years.

Raul Rios: “And the person you want is not getting any of these messages. You’re just wasting time and resources.”

But they don’t listen and don’t stop calling.

Operator: “Please press one to be connected.”

Raul Rios: “I cannot believe another call. It is a nuisance.”

Raul’s a smart guy who’s tried everything. So, Howard, legally, how can you stop debt collectors?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Whether you are the actual debtor or the wrong person like Raul, your rights are the same. Tell them not to call you. If they will give you an address, send them a letter, telling them to leave you alone. But a lot of these debt collectors do not follow the law. If that happens to you, file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.”

I contacted three of the debt collectors companies Raul said were calling him. Apex, Meridian Financial and Cornell and Associates. I explained they were calling the wrong person.

They all agreed to delete his number and stop calling. I asked for their address to send them a letter. They said they couldn’t release it for security reasons.

Raul Rios: “I hope now, with Patrick calling them, they will finally stop.”

Hopefully, when Raul’s phone rings now, it will be from family or friends after his quick call to Help Me Howard.

Raul Rios: “It’s absolutely great to have somebody that pursues the problems and really looks for a solution.”

You are right, Raul. It’s easy to point out the problem. At Help Me Howard, we try to solve it. As far as the debt collectors, there may be many more after that guy Dominic, so it may be a few days before Raul can notify them the rest of them to back off.

Also, the links Howard mentioned on tips to stop collectors or file a complaint against them are embedded and linked below.

Problems got your ears ringing? Don’t want to just phone it in? Let us collect some solutions so you won’t be indebted to anyone.

With this Help Me Howard, i’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

More Information:
How To Block Debt Collectors
Consumerfinance.Gov

File a Complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Flora Navarro came to America filled with two things: hope and determination.

Flora Navarro (translation of): “I have been in this country for 35 years, working very hard to achieve my dream of freedom, which I think I have achieved.”

And she has, owning two properties. This one, that she leases out.

Flora Navarro: “It is an assisted living facility, where we welcome elderly individuals.”

For 18 years, everything was fine. Then Flora got a call that the house was cited by fire inspectors because the windows were blocked.

Flora Navarro: “He put some panels with plants on my wall, blocking the windows.”

Her neighbor had put wooden trellises with plants right up against her windows. No view for the elderly residents and no way to get out of the window in an emergency.

Flora Navarro: “Because if there is a fire, and older people, the residents, they can get burned, and they can die of suffocation.”

Then the neighbor put up a fence all the way across the property attached to Flora’s house and blocking her from going into the yard.

Flora Navarro: “The fence is screwed to my wall. To my property walls.”

Her neighbor got a permit for the fence from Miami-Dade County based on his survey that showed he owned the land up to Flora’s house.

Her survey shows she owns the land

Flora Navarro: “I have seven and a half feet over there. He wants privacy, but he can’t have privacy by taking my land and blocking my windows.”

You might be thinking, “Tear these trellises down, Flora.” But she is afraid to.

Flora Navarro: “I can’t do anything because he is a cop, and he is going to get me arrested.”

Her neighbor is a Coral Gables Police officer.

When Flora’s husband tried to open the window and push the trellis back, the officer texted, “Contact me so we can discuss what you did. Otherwise, I will contact the police to file a report and press charges. Thank you.”

Flora Navarro: “I respect the police. But the police must also respect my rights.”

And like many neighbor disputes, it got ugly.

Flora Navarro: “When I reported him to the county, the county came after me and issued violations towards me and my property, not to him.”

Flora is clearing up her violation but wonders if her neighbor has to clear what she is convinced are trellis and fence violations.

Howard?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Even if it is the officers property, he cannot block a neighbor’s window. It’s a hazard, and those trellises have to come down. As for who owns what, the county needs to sort out the conflicting surveys. And one more thing: Flora’s neighbor attached his fence to her house with screws. That’s trespassing and a lawsuit because he put holes in her house.”

While we were at the property, the neighbor contacted us through his security camera.

Neighbor: “I am glad your cameraman is filming me, that’s perfectly fine.”

Our first question: why did he block the windows?

Neighbor: “Those windows are illegal. They are not supposed to have windows. They have a survey. It’s wrong.”

Turns out, the officer’s survey is wrong.

We contacted Miami-Dade. They wrote, “An error occurred in issuing the permit” for the fence. That Flora “owns the 7.5 feet” from her house, therefore, “the gate and trellis need to be removed.”

And they were.

Flora Navarro: “Thanks to you, to the work you and your team have done, who have helped me very much.”

But after her neighbor unblocked the windows and took down the fence, the officer went back and put pots on Flora’s property and a tarp in front of her window.

He said the county told him he could use her property. The county told us that’s not true.

Howard said the tarp is on Flora’s property and has to come down, in a neighbor dispute that won’t end.

Flora Navarro: “He is there to comply with the law, not to keep breaking it, and to leave me in peace.”

Obviously, we will keep an eye on this to see what happens next.

And by the way, even if the government makes a mistake and issues a permit, like in this case, they have to fix their mistake, like they are trying to do in this case. So don’t give up.

Blocked from solving a problem? Feel like they are copping an attitude? Let us view it, so we can open a window to a solution. In a neighborly way, of course.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

If you want to know what it’s like to dedicate your life to your country, meet Gary Cornelious.

Gary Cornelious: “I joined our forces in 1979. I was a field artillery. I’ve been to Germany, Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo. Nineteen months in Turkey.”

U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Cornelious spent 24 years in the Army and the past 20 years in the Defense Department.

Gary Cornelious: “It’s been great. I wouldn’t change for nothing in the world. It’s like a band of brothers.”

Gary always used his military ID to travel from one country to another. In 2014, he decided to get a U.S. passport. The trouble began.

Gary Cornelious: “I applied for my passport. I was denied, and they told me they need more information.”

Gary headed to the Miami passport office with everything from his birth certificate to his military documents.

Gary Cornelious: “And then I found out it was an interrogation instead of just information.”

Turns out some crooks from Somalia had gotten two passports using Gary’s name, and the State Department suspected Gary of trying to open a third passport to sell.

Gary Cornelious: “He told me that, people sell passports. They sell them for about $20,000, starting price, and he thought I sold my passport. And I’m like, ‘No, I wouldn’t do like that, for me or my country. I got more pride than that.'”

Gary left without his passport, blamed for what criminals had done to him, and about to find out the U.S. government was now after him.

Gary Cornelious: “I didn’t realize that they put a BOLO on me.”

What makes if even more outrageous is Gary’s security clearance.

Gary Cornelious: “It’s a NATO top secret clearance from when I was in Turkey, because we deal with nukes.”

Gary then took some ROTC students to a military base and found out about the BOLO.

Gary Cornelious: “They had me handcuffed at the post, at the front gate for three hours.”

Once the military discovered Sgt. Cornelious was a victim and not a criminal, they released him, but the BOLO remained in effect.

Gary Cornelious: “I said, ‘Why don’t you call in and clear it up?’ They said, ‘We can’t clear it up, because Miami passport issued it.'”

The result: at any minute, Gary can be picked up.

Can’t travel because TSA would arrest him if he tried to board a plane.

All this done by a country he’s served for 44 years.

Gary Cornelious: “Pretty sad because I got a Bronze Star. I got a top secret clearance, and I’m, like, being treated like this. It’s pretty sad. Excuse me.”

Clearly, Sgt. Cornelious is entitled to a passport. Isn’t he, Howard?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “You can deny an American a passport if they are a convicted drug dealer, owe child support, income taxes or are a threat to national security. Gary is none of these. This is a ridiculous mistake by the U.S. government, but fighting them is expensive and can take years. That’s why we ask people to call us.”

We started with the State Department.

They offered to set up an appointment for Gary to apply for a passport. But we didn’t want to wait for who knows how long it could take to get it.

We then contacted Sen. Marco Rubio’s office.

Gary Cornelious: “I just couldn’t believe it, because I’ve been trying for eight years.”

With the combined help of the State Department and Sen. Rubio’s office, Gary got his passport almost immediately.

It’s like he was set free.

Gary Cornelious: “Well, besides traveling, I can go to any military base, and I won’t get stopped at a military base. That’s the biggest relief.”

Everything worked out for Sgt. Gary Cornelious after his call to Help Me Howard.

Gary Cornelious: “It was like a dream come true. And it would never been done if it wasn’t for you, sir.”

Glad we could help, Gary.

And more good news. Gary says the BOLO on him has been lifted, finally.

If you qualify and can’t get a passport, contact your local congressman or congresswoman’s office or your U.S. senator. They can be helpful.

Feel like it would take an army to solve your problem? Don’t have the troops to succeed? Mobilize and call us. We’ll have a BOLO for your information, ’cause we are here to serve.

With this Help Me Howard, i’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Patrice Collier is a physical therapist who specializes in, well, just about everyone.

Patrice Collier: “I see young kids, I see athletes, I see senior citizens. The oldest person as of now is 103.”

One person brings her special joy to work with: her mother Mary.

Patrice Collier: “Good job.”

Mary: “Thank you, Lord.”

Patrice Collier: “We started doing this many years ago to try to give her the best quality of life.”

Patrice Collier (to Mary): “So you had a peaceful day, and you were able to say prayers today?”

Today, Mary, like many elderly people, needs assistance caring for herself. To help when Patrice can’t be there, she applied to get a home health care aide for her mother.

Patrice Collier: “Things such as stand up, sit down, brush your teeth, ‘how do you feel?'”

It took Patrice a year, weaving through five different departments, to get the aide approved.

The problem was clear on the first day.

Patrice Collier: “They could not find anyone who spoke English.”

Patrice asked the agency why they sent a Spanish-speaking person when her mother only understands English.

Patrice Collier: “And the primary reason provided was, ‘Well, you’re in Miami-Dade County. We can’t find any English-speaking home health aides.'”

The aide tried to work with Mary as she brushed her teeth.

Patrice Collier: “The way that it was expressed to her by one of the aides was SB. They’re asking you to spit. She didn’t understand any of it, so she’s standing and looking around and not knowing what to do.”

Patrice tried other agencies. Each said they didn’t have an English-speaking aide available. One even gave Patrice the breakdown.

Patrice Collier: “Her answer was ‘I have 90, nine-zero, 90 members I’m responsible for. Only four of them are English speaking.”

When Patrice complained, one manager told her to move to Broward, where they have English speakers. Another accused her of being prejudiced.

Patrice Collier: ‘”What does she want? Someone blond and blue-eyed also? Is that what she’s looking for?'”

Through her rehabilitation center, Patrice helps many elderly English-speaking patients who just give up letting the aide in their home because they can’t understand them.

Patrice Collier: “They’re not taking the medication properly when they’re supposed to. What happens to those people who don’t get the care they should?”

It’s certainly not good, especially, Patrice says, when the solution is so clear.

Patrice Collier: “You have to have English-speaking home health agencies and aides. You have to have that, period, point blank.”

Or legally, do you, Howard?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Yes. If you are entitled to a health care worker, you are entitled to one you can communicate with. If you cannot understand Spanish, they have to speak English. If they do not, complain to Medicare, Medicaid, the insurance company, whoever approved and pays your health care agency.”

We contacted ACHA, which oversees Florida’s Medicaid program.

They replied, “There are nearly 2,500 licensed home health agencies in Florida that must be able to communicate with the patient.”

A few days later, Mary got a new aide that spoke her language.

Patrice Collier: “They’re speaking English, but it’s a strong accent.”

Patrice got her mother the help she needed, but she says she knows of so many elderly people who are not getting what they need from a health care agency.

Patrice Collier: “Well, I would say, don’t do what so many have already told me they’ve done, which is given up. The bottom line is speak up. Don’t suffer in silence.”

And I heard from a person in Broward, who can’t find a health care aide that speaks English, so its not just a Dade problem.

The state of Florida said, if you think your rights are being violated by a health care agency, let them know.

To file a complaint with Agency for Health Care Administration (ACHA), call 1-888-419-3456 or complete the health care facility complaint form.

A problem sickening to you? Need aid? Contact us. We speak the language of solutions.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
To file a complaint with Agency for Health Care Administration (ACHA)
Call 1-888-419-3456
Or complete the health care facility complaint form

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Condos towering over South Florida. They have their upside and their downside.

Then there’s the view you get when you walk outside.

Rosalyn Friedman: “It is pretty out here.”

It is, Rosalyn.

Inside her condo, it’s also nice. Then there is her headache.

Rosalyn Friedman: “I was eventually given a gift that wasn’t suitable. I went to the store to return it, and I was given a regular plastic gift card at that time.”

The $255 gift card was from Intermix, a designer clothing store.

Rosalyn Friedman: “And they had a store in Bal Harbour Shops. On occasion, I would go in, and nothing appealed to me.”

Today, you can get gift cards for almost anything, from groceries to gas to amounts that would make a great gift for anyone.

And then Rosalyn found something she liked at Intermix and tried to use her gift card.

Rosalyn Friedman: “They told me that the company changed hands. They told me that as of March 2023, they no longer accept gift cards.”

Needless to say, Rosalyn was surprised.

Rosalyn Friedman: “Never was I notified that the gift card had an expiration date, that it was not valid after a specific date.”

Intermix’s new owners had closed several stores as they reorganized.

Rosalyn countered, their store in Brickell is still open, so why isn’t her gift card good there?

Rosalyn Friedman: “We all work hard for our money, and I’m not willing to just throw away $255.”

She contacted Intermix. They didn’t respond, and Rosalyn wonders if she’s the only one facing this battle.

Rosalyn Friedman: “That were holding gift cards that are going to be out the amount of that gift card, and I don’t think it’s right.”

Intermix is in business, but can give their customers the business, Howard, by not accepting the gift cards?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “In Florida, by law, gift cards are not allowed to expire. They last as long as the company exists. However, if a company goes out of business, or as in this case, Intermix sold their assets but not their debts, you are probably out of luck.”

We contacted Intermix. They responded, “Our management team would like to know why the customer is upset.”

I told them, and they didn’t respond to my emails anymore, but they did respond to Rosalyn.

In the final resolution they wrote, “We are giving you a new code for the same amount.”

In other words, Rosalyn got her gift card restored.

Rosalyn Friedman: “After I told them that I had contacted you, I got a response. I’m hoping one of my two nieces can purchase something that they can use and put this to rest.”

As we have learned after meeting Rosalyn, not only does she have a great view, she has a great attitude about dealing with a problem.

Rosalyn Friedman: “Well, you can’t just accept no for an answer. You have to be persistent.”

Glad it all worked out, Rosalyn.

And give Intermix credit. They could have continued to refuse to honor the gift card, because the only way Rosalyn could have won was to sue, and it’s not worth it for $255.

Now, if you have been given a gift card, use it before you lose it or the business goes under.

Got a problem you want to dress up? Let us enter the mix, ’cause it’s a gift to be able to help you.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

For some people, work is a foul four-letter word. For Paul Morales, that four-letter word is like.

Paul Morales: “I’m a hard worker, I work every day, I take passion in what I do and they know that.”

Paul owns Super Shine Car Wash and for six years, you could find him every day at the Market Plaza in Pembroke Pines.

Paul Morales: “I like things to be, you know, perfect, clean, calm, very. I clean from the inside and outside.”

The property owner let him park here, and then one day, he got a warning letter from the city regarding the mobile car wash.

Carlene Morales: “He received, a violation and they’re going to charge him $1,000 a day. They said that we need to show our local business license.”

Carlene went down to city hall and showed their license.

Carlene Morales: “So I gave it to her, she did everything. So I thought everything was OK.”

Paul Morales: “The lady in the place said I can go back to work. Good to go.”

Paul started cleaning cars again.

A month later, Pembroke Pines sent the landlord a new warning that the car wash had to be a part of the development plan of the plaza, which is nearly impossible.

Carlene Morales: “For us to be a part of development, that means it’s a new plaza.”

Pembroke Pines also sent out people to tell Paul to get out.

Paul Morales: “Oh, no, no, no, you guys have to move. Now, now, now, now, I’m going to call the police.”

Paul left with his work van and left confused.

Carlene Morales: “We’ve been in that plaza for six years. We’ve never had any issue. So why now? What is the problem?”

Carlene couldn’t get an answer, so she drew her own conclusion about why they had to go.

Carlene Morales: “They go after certain people and certain people they leave alone and I just feel like they are sabotaging us, particularly.”

No money is coming in to pay the bills. No idea why they were kicked out.

So, is it legal, Howard?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Yes, it is. This is an example of a city trying to balance regulating businesses while at the same time allowing people to make a living free of those regulations. In this case, the city is trying to control what type of businesses can operate and where. The problem for Paul, is his mobile car wash is in the same spot every day moving him into a different category and giving the city the right to regulate him.”

Pembroke Pines denied they were targeting Paul after six years at this location. That legally the city doesn’t consider them a mobile car wash because they are in the same spot every day.

Instead, Pembroke Pines calls them a manual car wash that is not allowed without a zoning variance, which can be expensive and difficult to get.

But manual car washes are only allowed at places like golf courses, car dealerships, and service stations. But Carlene says that didn’t work for them.

Carlene Morales: “And then when you go around that, it’s it’s a different story. They said it’s not allowed.”

Paul and Carlene are now giving up on Pembroke Pines and the hard-working couple are looking for a new location.

Carlene Morales: “Well, you know, if there’s anybody that would love to host us, I would love for them to give us a call.”

If you have a property and would like a reliable mobile car wash on it, Paul is ready. Let us know.

Feel soaked and washed out? Don’t want a watered-down way out? We are mobile and can come in to make a splash to leave you with a shiny solution.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

When Edison looks at an old newspaper, he sees stories about a young Edison.

Edison Wheeler: “I used to go out there and race, and the attendance was always better when I would come out.”

Edison was one of the first Black drag racers in a car he built and named Super Soul.

Edison Wheeler: “When I had the race car going, I had Super Soul jumpsuits.”

He also owns about half a block in Broward County with his mechanic shop and an apartment complex he built in the 1970s.

That was then.

Edison Wheeler: “Combining two and three apartments together.”

This is now.

Edison Wheeler: “I guess I didn’t get the right permits and everything when I was getting it built.”

Broward County declared his building unsafe. Rather than try to fix it up, Edison decided to hire someone to demolish it all.

Edison Wheeler: “The man’s name is Gambino, and he was going to tear it down for me.”

Stefano Marco Gambino runs GNG Moving & Storage.

Edison says he was told Gambino would demolish the building, but he was either misled or misunderstood, because Gambino doesn’t have a license for that and listed himself as a consultant on the contract.

Edison Wheeler: “I trusted him because he wasn’t trying to hide a duck and dodge me.”

Edison agreed to pay Gambino $31,950 and gave him an $11,182 deposit.

Edison Wheeler: “He claimed that the county would not give him permits to get it torn down.”

At the same time, Broward County started fining Edison for the unsafe property.

Edison Wheeler: “So far, they’ve charged me $30,800.”

Edison says Gambino told him he needed more money for asbestos removal, surveys and other things. Edison kept writing checks to him.

Edison Wheeler: “Twenty-eight thousand four hundred dollars. I have the checks.”

Gambino took out some windows, knocked down a few doors, but no demolition, as the money keeps pouring out of Edison’s bank account.

Edison Wheeler: “I want the building torn down.”

Legally, where does Edison stand? Howard?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Edison could have hired the demolition company himself or done what many people do: hire a consultant to do all the difficult permitting work. That drives up the cost. Also, there are many rules and regulations governing the demolition. That can cause delays and also add to the cost. So in this contract, everything appears to be legal, just frustrating for Edison.”

As we did our research, we discovered that the consultant, Marco Gambino, got $17,000 more than the money agreed to in the contract.

He said he used the money to pay for unexpected hurdles. That “everything” has been conducted in a “professional manner.”

We then spoke to the owner of Riteway Demolition, who told us he was waiting on a final permit.

We contacted the county. They issued it.

The work Edison wanted began .

Tony Stern, Riteway Demolition: “Yes, I’m very happy. My guys did a great job.”

Tony got the $32,000 agreed to in the contract for his demolition work, counting the $17,000 Gambino got.

Edison paid $49,000, and then he came to see what his money got him.

Edison Wheeler: “Done a lot of work here.”

To help Edison out, after the demolition, Riteway even did cleanup for free that wasn’t in the contract.

Edison Wheeler: “And thanks to Channel 7 and Help Me Howard. Oh, you guys are great.”

Edison says he probably will sell the property now, but he won’t use the money for himself.

Edison Wheeler: “The main thing I want to do now, I have five very beautiful grandchildren, great grands, and their education is my desire at this point. And then I’ll die like everybody else and go to heaven.”

You got a point, Edison.

Now, he had to pay more than he expected for the demolition work, but Edison says that doesn’t bother him because the work was done well.

As for the $30,000 in fines from Broward County, he hopes to get that lowered because he did what the county wanted. We will let you know what happens.

Got a problem you want to demolish? Need a free consultant? Let us bulldoze our way in to construct a solution.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

When we met Ellen she was studying for the bar exam to become a lawyer.

Ellen Torres: “Exhausted. Drained. But motivated because I just want to pass this exam.”

For a mental break, she sometimes takes a look at her wedding pictures.

Ellen Torres: “Amazing. The wedding was everything I ever wanted and could have dreamed of and hoped of.”

The photographer delivered beautiful pictures and the woman she hired to for the videos of her wedding?

Ellen Torres: “I wouldn’t be able to tell you.”

Ellen and her husband got married in December of 2022. She paid VMF Film $3,900 to record her great day.

Ellen Torres: “My wedding, my reception, my ceremony, and also edit these videos and give me a video for Instagram, a ceremony video and just like an eight minute video of the whole wedding itself.”

The videos were supposed to arrive four months later in April.

It’s now 14 months later.

Ellen Torres: “Hi, Victoria, this is Ellen. I have called you about a thousand times. I’ve called her. I’ve emailed her. I’ve texted her. Nothing. Not even a text message as a courtesy.”

Ellen in not alone. Go online and other brides who could not get their videos from VMF write “Do not hire this company and “ghosted” by the videographer. Ellen even thought the worst.

Ellen Torres: “Well, I looked at obituaries, too, just in case, I mean.”

But the woman’s website is still up and when Ellen thinks about her wonderful wedding, she’s beginning to fear she’ll never be able to watch it.

Ellen Torres: “My first dance with my husband. My father-daughter dance. My husband stands with his mom. Everything is in there.”

Well, if someone doesn’t deliver a stove or a bicycle, you can get another one. But wedding videos are irreplaceable.

So Legally, Howard, where does Ellen stand?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “A wedding video is unique but the law is limited. A judge cannot force a videographer or photographer to finish the work. But a judge can order them to turn over the raw video or film and pay the cost to finish the job. If they lost the materials, you are out of luck and all you get is your money back, which no bride wants. That’s why I said the law is limited.”

I called and emailed Victoria Fregoso who runs VMF. She didn’t respond to me, but 10 minutes later, told Ellen she would have her videos in two weeks.

And she did.

Ellen Torres: “Yes, I got my wedding video.”

Victoria then sent me an email explaining she had “Unfortunate mix of extreme loss and grief, declining physical health issues, personal setbacks.”

She added, “I emphasize I am taking full responsibility for my mistakes and poor handling of my situation.”

Also, she’s no longer in the wedding business.

As for the video.

Ellen Torres: “It captured the day perfectly. From the ceremony to the speeches to the dances. Everything came out just beautiful.”

Now, as Ellen waits for the results of her Bar exam, she can watch her wedding videos that she got after her call to Help Me Howard.

Ellen Torres: “Mr. Fraser was very, very helpful. And once he contacted her and got involved, that’s when she was very responsive immediately, so I’m very, very grateful for Mr. Fraser and Help Me Howard.”

Mr? It’s Patrick, Ellen.

Howard is the older one. We call him Mr. Finkelstein.

Seriously though, Victoria was not a good business person but her video for Ellen was spectacular. I was impressed and glad Ellen was also.

Had a problem so long you feel like you are married to it? Want something to celebrate? Contact us. See if we can wed you to a solution.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Damian doesn’t just play one instrument, or two. He plays 13.

Damian Sanchez: “The flute, the saxophone, the clarinet, the bassoon and all the other woodwinds that accompany it, especially the saxophone.”

He is also a singer.

And then Damian crossed paths with a man who is a pastor, who wanted to be a politician.

Woman in ad: “Pastor Dixon is running for Commissioner.”

Heniy Dixon was running for the council in Florida City and wanted Damian’s group to perform at a campaign rally.

Damian Sanchez: “Which was our target to be a social event for the young, for the elderly, try to connect those groups,and plug in his campaign.”

Damian’s band, called The TRAD305, gave the candidate a big break.

Damian Sanchez: “I went from $5,000 to $1,200. That’s how much of a discount I gave this man.”

They performed for three hours, and the political candidate did what he had promised to do.

Damian Sanchez: “On the day of the event, at its close, I will receive the sum of $1,200. That did happen.”

However…

Damian Sanchez: “However, there was no funds in the checking account that was given to me.”

The check said, “NSF,” non sufficient funds.

Damian Sanchez: “In my 30 years of playing music, I’ve never had anyone give me a check that was insufficient funds.”

Damian contacted the political candidate.

Damian Sanchez: “‘I will be a man of my word. I will verify those amounts, and we will go from there. No problem.'”

But Pastor Dixon did not pay the $1,200 dollars, and on election day, he lost badly.

Damian Sanchez: “He was the last place for the city commission of all the candidates there.”

That gave Damian no satisfaction. What he wants is his money.

Damian Sanchez: “I’m still hurting from that. It’s not fair.”

Well, Howard, if a political candidate or anyone writes you a bad check, what can you do?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Writing a bad check is a crime, but the reality, it’s hard to get state attorneys to prosecute, because on a list of crimes, it’s at the bottom. To get your money, send a letter demanding payment in full within 30 days. If they don’t pay, sue in small claims court, and a judge will order them to pay you triple the original amount of the check.”

We contacted Pastor Heniy Dixon.

He said people he expected to donate money to cover his campaign expenses did not. He said he would pay Damian half of what he owed, plus fees for the returned checks.

First he gave Damian $700 in money orders. A few days later, he gave him a $700 check to pay off his debt.

The curtain has fallen on this battle for Damian. Now he can enjoy his music career, after his call to Help Me Howard.

Damian Sanchez: “I am super happy. I cannot thank you enough for all your help.”

Glad we could help you, Damian.

Now, Howard mentioned if someone gives you a bad check you can get triple the amount by suing them in small claims court. It’s easy to do, and the law giving you the right to do that is under this Help Me Howard story.

Also, if you want to hire Damian and his band, we have included their contact information below.

Singing the blues after getting bounced around? Feel like you are preaching to the choir trying to solve it? Check with us. We will band together to help you.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

Damian Sanchez’s band Information:
305-771-3286
damianjproject@gmail.com

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

When we walked into the condo, Higgins barked at us.

Cheryl Gudowitz: “Yes, he’s a barker. He barks if somebody walks by our door, noises outside the door, he just barks.”

As we petted him, he sniffed us, took a toy, wagged his tail and barked.

When he goes to the beach, he barks at the water.

Cheryl Gudowitz: “He’s friendly, he’s sweet, he’s loving. He’s just a barker.”

For eight years, it was never a problem. Then one day, as Cheryl put the leash on Higgins and opened the door, a boy walked by her condo.

Cheryl Gudowitz: “And the son walked past fast and we were walking out at the same time, and the dog barked at the child.

The boys father, Willy Aragon, was 30 feet ahead.

He called police, claiming Higgins jumped on his 8-year-old son, scratching his leg. The Sunny Isles Police officer checked the boy’s leg and wrote there appeared to be no scratch marks.

Cheryl Gudowitz: “There was no scratch. There was certainly no bite and there was certainly no attack.”

The boys father then called animal services.

When they showed up six days later, he now had pictures that he said showed the scratch and bruises on his son’s leg that the officer said weren’t there six days earlier, and the father also claimed the dog had attacked another child.

Martin Gudowitz: “I thought I was being pranked. To be perfectly honest, I thought it was a joke because there was nothing that happened. Nothing.”

Animal services said there was no evidence of Higgins attacking another person but the animal services investigator still took the word of the boy’s father that Higgins approached his son aggressively, jumped on him and scratched him, even though Cheryl said that was not true and the police officer said there was no scratch.

Higgins was then declared a dangerous dog.

Cheryl Gudowitz: “He didn’t attack. It wasn’t menacing. He barked.”

Martin Gudowitz: “This is crazy.”

After animal services slapped Higgins with the dangerous dog label, and fined Cheryl $515, she appealed before a county hearing officer where they finally heard from the boy’s father.

Willy Aragon: “And the dog attacked him and jumped on my son and my son got scared and started crying.”

The hearing officer then asked Aragon for the name of the other person he claimed Higgins had attacked.

Willy Aragon: “I don’t know her name. I don’t know.”

By now, Martin heard enough about Higgins being dangerous.”

Martin Gudowitz: “I want to know if you take into consideration the credibility of the witness who, a blatant lie, stated.”

Charles Everett, Miami-Dade hearing officer: “Stop, stop,stop, stop there.”

The hearing officer sided with the father and animal services investigator, agreeing that the beagle pug mix is a dangerous dog because he allegedly approached the boy aggressively.

Charles Everett, Miami-Dade hearing officer: “It is not required that he, the dog, actually bite or cause injury under that code. Simply, approaching, unprovoked, in a menacing manner and I do find that, that occurred in this case.”

Cheryl and Martin are fuming that Miami-Dade County considers a dog, who allegedly barks aggressively, is dangerous.

Martin Gudowitz: “What are you doing with the dog? Shooting it because he barks at a kid?”

Howard, right or wrong decision?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Legally, there are major problems here. First of all, the law is unconstitutional because it’s vague and doesn’t define what menacing means. Secondly, in this case, the hearing officer is paid by the county to rule on a county case, an obvious case conflict and third, the law says if a witness is not telling the truth in one matter, like saying there was a prior attack, you can, and this case, should disregard the rest their testimony. That didn’t happen here.”

Higgins is now confined to the apartment. If he goes outside, he has to wear a muzzle. He can no longer play in the dog park.

Cheryl Gudowitz: “Well, this is just shocking and disturbing in so many ways. Because he barks? Shame on Miami-Dade County Animal Services. I’m just speechless. This is just unbelievable.”

Cheryl would love to appeal but that requires a lawyer. Maybe someone will offer to help.

Be careful. If you have a dog on a leash and they are barking at someone, Miami-Dade County can declare them dangerous.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

There is no good way for a life to end. But Magdalena’s 97-year-old mother was not passing until her daughter made it to her hospital bedside.

Magdalena Louis: “I said, ‘Mom, I’m here,’ touching her, and then I just heard, ‘beep, beep, beep, beep.’ She was just waiting for me to come, and she just gone.”

Merci had left this world the way she wanted.

As Magdalena began to grieve, she at least knew she wouldn’t have to worry about the funeral arrangements because she pre-paid that for her mother.

Magdalena Louis: “Everything covered. You just have to bring the clothes. So I purchased the package: $8,000 plus.”

As she left her mother’s side, Magdalena called the funeral home.

Magdalena Louis: “And they put my name in. They said they couldn’t find my account. I said, ‘That’s weird.'”

Magdalena couldn’t find the paperwork that proved the $8,000 paid for a crypt for herself, and a crypt and funeral services for her mother.

And now she had a new problem, Merci told her: bury her quickly.

Magdalena Louis: “Because she always said, ‘When I pass away, don’t let me stay on the ice.’ So I was just try to please, even she passed, her request.”

Magdalena borrowed $9,300 from friends, paid for the funeral and had the services for Merci.

Magdalena Louis: “Thank God I have a good friends around. Collect money to pay, thinking, ‘I’m going to get that money back and return it.'”

Then, months later, Magdalena found the old paperwork.

Magdalena Louis: “The account’s been paid in full.”

Magdalena contacted the funeral home and was told the original contract paid for the crypts in full, but not the funeral.

Magdalena Louis: “That makes me so sad, because I chose them, saying this is what’s covered, and now they told me something else. I do not feel happy about it.”

It’s confusing. So, Howard, straighten it out: Did Magdalena pay twice for her mothers funeral or not?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “She thought she did, but she doesn’t have any paperwork to prove it. And the key in pre-paid funerals and burials, because it may be decades before you die: keep a copy of the documents for yourself and give one to your next of kin to make sure you get what you paid for.”

We contacted SCI, the parent company of Caballero Rivero. They said Magdalena was confused.

Cemetery contracts and funeral contracts are separate. She did not have a funeral pre-need contract for her mother, just the cemetery.

The company also charged for opening the crypts.

As we went through the paperwork, we discovered they had charged Magdalena another $2,145 for the crypt charges.

The company rep disputed that, but said they would reimburse her for a portion of the contract “as a symbol of good faith – that’s all.”

Magdalena Louis: “And I feel so grateful, and I thank Channel 7.”

Magdalena got her check, showed it to her mother at her crypt, and she has something else: advice for anyone pre-paying for a burial.

Magdalena Louis: “You have to make sure everything that they tell you to do, put them in paper and writing, so you can come up with your document. That was, again, my mistake.”

It’s understandable the paperwork is hard to keep up with, because hopefully you won’t need the funeral for decades.

Now, cemeteries and funeral homes are highly regulated by the state. To know your rights or to file a complaint, we have links under this Help Me Howard story. Check it out.

Buried by a big problem? Feel like you don’t have a prayer of solving it? Let us document it, to be of service to you.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

FUNERAL CEMETERY AND CONSUMER SERVICES
myfloridacfo.com/division/funeralcemetery/consumer-help

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Marlowe has cerebral palsy

Marlowe Wallace: “Difficult. Have a good day and have bad days.”

The disease slows him down. But it certainly doesn’t stop him.

Marlowe Wallace: “I’m a concession stand work at a loanDepot park. I get to interact with, the customers and friends.”

Then in early February, Marlowe and a co-worker were driving home from work.

Marlowe Wallace: “Caught a flat tire coming from home. Half way home. Barely made it home on the flat tire.”

Two co-workers say they saw Marlowe pull into Lake Shore Apartments.

Marlowe Wallace: “We came in, both at the same time at night, and that’s it.”

Marlowe can’t change a tire.

Marlowe Wallace: “Because of my cerebral palsy is too difficult for me to to lift.”

A little over five hours later, at 6:30 a.m., Marlowe says he called AAA to come change his tire. But when he went downstairs to meet them, his car was gone.

The property manager had it towed .

Marlowe Wallace: “Oh, you had a flat tire for three straight days. That’s why your car was towed and my car was not with a flat tire for three straight days. It was only five hours.”

As Marlowe started arguing with the property manager over the phone, a neighbor was taping the conversation. We will stop it because Marlowe had what he calls a small seizure.

Marlowe Wallace: “When I get to stress and they build up a whole lot of stress, worrying about, trying to figure out what the next step for me to take. It triggered a small seizure.”

Marlow didn’t have the $190 to get his car from ASAP towing.

His neighbors, who are very close to him and nicknamed his car his legs, are fuming at what was been done to him.

Thalia Armbrister: “I want to do what’s right. And I’m standing up with him because it’s only right.”

Jeffrey Singletery: “But this is crazy. What you are going through.”

With the storage fees now added to the towing, it’s $1,100 to get his car from the lot.

Marlowe is desperate.

Marlowe Wallace: “I feel like, I’m being taken advantage of. I feel like I’m being discriminated for my disability.”

Well, Howard, was this tow illegal?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Yes. Their lease says they can tow an inoperable vehicle. But you can drive a car with a flat tire so it is operable. Also, the landlord is obligated to enforce rules in good faith. It’s not good faith to tow someone’s car before the crack of dawn, meaning they have to return his car at no cost.”

We contacted Strategic Properties, which manages Lake Shore Apartments.

I asked them to return Marlowe’s car without any fees.

A rep wrote, “We were unaware that it was his car and followed the standard procedure outlined in the lease agreement.”

As you heard, Howard doesn’t think they did.

The company rep added they would look into the towing internally.

Strategic Properties then did the right thing and Marlowe’s Avenger was returned.

Marlowe Wallace: “We all was surprised to see it back. You always come through for people.”

Marlowe got what they call, his legs, back and was not charged the $1,100 fee. But his tire was still flat.

Between our photographer Johnnie Uzarek and myself, we changed the tire and jumped started the car since the battery was dead.

Marlowe had a smile again.

Marlowe Wallace: “Thank you very much for all your help. You truly are the blessing because I couldn’t have done this on my own.”

We got his car back and Johnnie and I got to change his tire for him. Not a bad day for all of us.

And I don’t know if it means anything, but the apartment complex signs show they have a new towing company.

Towing around a problem you cant resolve? Don’t store the problem and let headaches pile up and let us haul it away.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Darren is an actor. Commercials, reality shows, bad guy in a TV show — he can do it all.

Darren Anselmo: “It’s actually really cool, and it’s very exciting. I could be a doctor, a lawyer, whatever they have me do.”

Recently an agent called to see if he wanted to dress up as a character from Sesame Street.

Darren Anselmo: “I’m going to be playing Elmo, in the day care.”

Darren said yes. Excited because it wasn’t going to be taped; it was live.

Darren Anselmo: “So everything is filmed as they go. So it’s like totally livestream. That’s what they call live streamers.”

It was actually two shows.

In one, Darren acted like he was kidnapped without the costume. In the other, he played with kids, as Elmo, at a day care.

Darren Anselmo: “I was like, ‘Hey, you know what? I’m up for anything.'”

The creators of the livestream had written “free candy” on the side of the van. They planned to drive to meet parents to see what their children would say when they got candy with Elmo tied up in the van.

Darren Anselmo: “I’m in the Elmo costume, and I’m tied like this, and I’m laying like this in the back of the U-haul van.”

As they head to the location, you can see Elmo is in the back, and the live camera, which never goes off, shows what happened five minutes into the drive.

Darren Anselmo: “So I could hear them saying, ‘Oh, my God, there’s cops coming. There’s cops coming.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, this is – it’s part of the skit.'”

As you can see and hear, the people in Broward Sheriff’s Office uniforms were not part of the skit.

But in the back of the van, Darren still thought they were actors doing a great job.

Darren Anselmo: “Like, I’m like, ‘Oh, this is really – they really got it going good now. Like, they set up cops and everything.’ I thought it was all staged.”

Then the doors of the van opened.

Darren Anselmo: “And I see this cop there, like with his gun there like that. Took my Elmo head off. He unties me, and then he says, ‘Get on the ground now.'”

And Darren realized this was not a skit. It was real.

Darren Anselmo: “They had helicopters, helicopters flying. They had – they said, ‘Massive ground patrol.'”

Elmo, aka Darren, was arrested along with the three people in the front of the U-Haul.

Darren tried to explain he didn’t set this show up.

Darren Anselmo: “And I said, ‘Look, I’m a paid actor. I’m not part of the production or anything like that. My agency sent me here.'”

Didn’t matter to the deputies.

Darren got out of his Elmo costume and was taken to jail.

Darren Anselmo: “So now I’m in a cell with all these wacky people. One guy’s, like, going to eat us, he says, and is freaking out.”

A few hours later, Darren was released and called his wife to tell her where he had been.

Darren Anselmo: “She’s like, ‘You were doing your job and you got arrested,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, and as an Elmo.'”

You wanna laugh, but Darren says the disorderly conduct charge has stopped some production companies from hiring him.

Darren Anselmo: “I was a paid actor to be Elmo. I don’t think I did anything wrong. I literally went to a job.”

Well, Howard, did Darren dressed as Elmo commit a crime?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “No, he didn’t. The police responded as they should have to a kidnapping case. But now, two months later, after the facts have become clear, the state attorney should see there is no crime and drop the charges against Darren in his role as Elmo.”

BSO and the Broward State Attorney would not comment on an open case.

The police officer’s report said the skit put law enforcement officers in danger and that a 911 caller said they looked in the van and saw a juvenile with his hands tied.

Darren says the video shows he was the only person in the back of the van.

And then Eric Schwartzreich agreed to defend Darren in his Elmo case.

Eric Schwartzreich: “To charge him with a breach of the peace. It makes no sense, and again, I’ll get a lot of cheesy analogies here. Perhaps they weren’t tickled by this, but it should never have been a crime, and it’s certainly not a breach of the peace.”

Darren is facing 60 days in jail. Eric says Darren will plead not guilty and ask that the charges be dismissed.

Darren Anselmo: “I just feel it’s wrong. I shouldn’t be in this predicament in the first place.”

Eric Schwartzreich: “So, it is our intention and our hope that this case doesn’t go any further, doesn’t see any more light of the day, and that we are going to free Elmo.”

What about the three people who were in front of the van producing the skit? They face the same charges as Darren. We will be in court as Eric and Darren try to end this Elmo saga.

Come across a bad character? Ready to give it a rest? Bring us on stage to deliver an Elmomentary solution.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

For kids, Christmas is the best time of the year. For adults getting a tax refund, this is the season.

Robert Stuart: “I can take a vacation. Yeah, I can put some in the bank, you know, but I’m happy I receive it.”

For eight years in a row, it was simple for Robert. Same accountant, same bank account and a nice refund.

Robert Stuart: “I was waiting for the date that it was supposed to hit my account. Unfortunately, it didn’t.”

Around this time a year ago, Robert was expecting a nice $5,000 refund. When it didn’t come, he contacted his accountant who showed him the bank account the money went into.

Robert Stuart: “Totally different. I have no idea where that number came from.”

It wasn’t one misplaced number. As you can see, the money went into an account totally different than Robert’s.

Robert hadn’t checked when he signed the tax return because he trusted his accountant.

Robert Stuart: “And usually the question he asked me ‘Is the account, is the account the same?’ and I always say, ‘Yes, the account is the same.”

Robert says the accountant accused him of giving the wrong numbers.

Not true says Robert. So he contacted the IRS.

Robert Stuart: “They told me they was going to investigate it, and they sent a letter to me.”

The IRS letter showed not only had his refund gone to the wrong account, it was the wrong bank. So Robert asked his accountant to return his $5,000 since Robert blamed him for the mistake.

Robert Stuart: “He told me, you know, mistakes happen.”

That’s true. But is it true the accountant isn’t responsible if your refund goes into someone else’s account?

Howard?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “The accountant is responsible and here is why. Robert has been using him for eight years and the account number has always been the same. But on this return, the accountant placed a totally different account number on the return. It makes him negligent and he has to pay.”

We contacted the accountant. He wasn’t happy to hear from us claiming Robert gave him the wrong account number and to talk to his lawyer.

We did, and Robert agreed to accept $4,000.

Robert Stuart: “I’m happy I receive it. I’m really happy.”

Howard Finkelstein: “Examine your tax return carefully. Most incorrect information can be fixed on an amended return. But if you send the money to the wrong bank account, in most cases, it’s gone.”

Robert got his money and will get something new this tax season: another accountant.

Robert Stuart: “And I have to say thank you, Help Me Howard, I appreciate the help that they gave me cause they started working on the issue immediately.”

Now, Robert got $4,000 instead of the $5,000 cause the accountant said that’s all he had. Robert thought four was better than nothing. He’s right.

And as Howard said, check your bank account information before you sign the return. Robert is proof the problems the wrong number can cause.

A problem taxing you? Can’t get into the form to fix it? File it with us. So we can deduct it from your life. Couldn’t find a way to put W-2 in there.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser. 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Enid is a Realtor, who of course sells real estate and makes videos about real estate. Even writes books to help you sell your own piece of real estate.

Enid Bavard: “How to purchase properties, and how the selling and buying process goes.”

Now, if you are a Realtor, showing someone how to sell their house on their own would seem to cut Enid out of the deal.

Enid Bavard: “If you think that way, could be possible, but I think they will appreciate my advice, and they will always come back to me.”

More proof Enid loves to prepare: back in 1997, when her son was young, she bought this CD to help pay for his college education.

Enid Bavard: “I bought a CD of $10,000 from Barnett Bank, and I packed it away, and I lost it.”

Recently, Enid was going through an old box of documents and finally found the $10,000 CD.

Enid Bavard: “I was so excited. I couldn’t believe when I found it.”

Enid couldn’t wait to cash in the CD. With interest over the past 27 years, it would be worth just over $39,000.

Enid Bavard: “I went to Bank of America, which purchased Barnett Bank, and they told me that they had no records of it.”

The CD was purchased at Barnett Bank in 1997, which was bought out by NationsBank that same year, which merged with Bank of America in 1998.

And now, in 2024, the records of the CD have disappeared.

Enid Bavard: “You trusted them with your money, and at the end, the money magically disappears?”

Enid argued she has the CD.

She says a bank rep told her you can cash the CD without showing the CD.

Patrick Fraser: “Is it possible the CD was cashed?”

Enid Bavard: “I don’t think so.”

But the bank had no record of anyone cashing it in. So Enid then checked with the Florida Unclaimed Funds Account in case one of the banks turned it over to the state.

It wasn’t there, either, leading Enid to her one and only conclusion about the CD.

Enid Bavard: “It is in the bank.”

Well, Howard, with bank mergers and acquisitions, can a bank say they can’t find your CD?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “They can say it, but in a court of law, they have to prove it. If they have no record of the CD, they can’t prove anything, so if Enid sued, she should win.”

We contacted Bank of America about the missing Certificate of Deposit.

A spokesperson wrote to us, “We conducted a comprehensive search of our available records. We were unable to find any record confirming that Bank of America has or had the CD.”

In a letter to Enid, they said, “They keep records for seven years,” and it was likely the “account was closed more than seven years ago.”

Enid Bavard: “I think it’s totally unprofessional and totally unfair. This could happen to anybody.”

But Enid is not going to give up.

Enid Bavard: “I’m thinking of suing the bank. Absolutely. “

You can’t give up. With interest, it’s nearly $40,000.

And, if you have a CD in the bank, stay on top of it. Make sure the bank still has it, and when it comes time to renew, check to see if you can get higher interest rates in another bank.

Also, we mentioned unclaimed properties. To see if you have any money in Florida or any state, the links are below this story. You never know what you or a relative forgot about.

Someone deposited a problem with you? Have no interest in keeping it? Let us try to cash you out. We may not be money in the bank, but we’ll do our best to withdraw the headache from your life.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

FOR MORE INFO:
Check with Florida Unclaimed Property
fltreasurehunt

National Search for Unclaimed Property
unclaimed

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

When it comes to relationships, you don’t hear the word perfect very often. But Annie says when it came to her husband, Bryant, it was appropriate.

Annie Saunders: “Perfect. We get along with each other. We loved doing the same stuff, he’s really Godsent.”

For 10 years they were together, and for 10 years, Bryant lived with a difficult disease.

Annie Saunders: “He had sickle cell disease. It’s a terrible disease. You know, it damages your organs.”

In December, Bryant lost his battle with the disease.

Annie Saunders: “He died December 16th, 2023. That day was a horrible day for me.”

At that time, Annie needed support, help, and after Bryant’s death, went to the rental office to let them know he passed.

Their words shocked her.

Annie Saunders: “I’m not on the lease. So she said to me, ‘OK, well, you can’t stay here. You have to leave by February the 3rd.'”

Annie’s reply.

Annie Saunders: “I say, ‘That’s so quick because I haven’t buried my husband yet. I’m still mourning.'”

Annie was told when they moved into the complex, only Bryant’s name was on the lease, meaning, Annie had no lease.

Annie Saunders: “Is there option can I go on a lease? She said, ‘No, you can’t go on the lease.'”

When Annie came back home, she put Bryant’s ring around her neck.

Annie Saunders: “Oh this is my husband’s wedding ring. I wear it, you know, just to feel that he’s close to me.”

And as she sat in their apartment, looking through their wedding album, she came up with an idea.

Annie Saunders: “The lease expires in August, and I see already, I should have the right to live out the lease. She said, ‘No. He’s passed away.'”

The apartment she and Bryant shared is for low income families and she can’t afford the cost to move out.

Annie Saunders: “Everything now that’s available is like almost $2,000 and up, which is very expensive for me alone.”

Annie is alone. Her comfort: Their photo album. And she wonders what she is going to do now.

Annie Saunders: “It’s tough by myself, I’m trying to find somewhere and mourning my husband. Sorry.”

Well, if your spouse passes away and your name is not on the lease, can you stay til the lease expires?

Howard?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “In most case you can. A lease does not expire because the tenant dies, meaning family members can live there if they pay the rent until the lease expires. Here comes the bad, however. Annie lives in what’s known as low-income housing and leases are not transferred to family members. The owners can evict Annie, but if she qualifies, they can also let her stay if they want.”

We spoke to the management company who told us because it’s considered an “affordable” site, residents have to “income qualify to occupy a unit.”

Then what we wanted to hear.

They wrote, “If Ms. Saunders applies and qualifies, we would love to keep her on in the same unit Mr. Saunders leased.”

Annie Saunders: “Right now, I can relax more.”

Annie qualified and signed the lease to stay in the apartment in her name.

Annie Saunders: “It was so happy and now it’s like a one burden gone.”

It happened after her call to Help Me Howard.

She’s grateful for that and knows how Bryant would feel about her.

Annie Saunders: “He would be very proud of me fighting. ‘Babe, don’t give up. You have to fight.'”

That’s nice, Annie. Bless you.

Now, when you sign a lease, make sure you put the names of everyone living with you on that lease, even the children. That way, there won’t be any problems if you pass away or they try to evict you for having unauthorized occupants. If their names are on the lease, they are not unauthorized.

Housing a problem that’s upsetting your dwelling? Ready to evict it from your life? Sign up with us. To give you a new lease on life.

With this Help Me Howard, i’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

You probably know his name and have almost certainly heard his music.

Phil Collins and his fame spreads to his friends, family and exes.

Cindy Eisen: “Orianne Collins. She is the ex-wife of Phil Collins. I was like, ‘Oh, that’s pretty cool.'”

Before we get to Orianne Collins, let’s get to Cindy, who arranges silent auctions.

Cindy Eisen: “Well, I like to raise money for nonprofits. I’m very attached to kids and elderly, and homeless and hungry.”

Then Cindy was contacted by a friend who said Orianne Collins was moving and wanted to auction off some belongings to raise money for her charity.

Cindy Eisen: “Designer bags. We’re talking top of the line. You know, high-end designer jewelry.”

Cindy went to meet with Orianne.

Cindy Eisen: “Beautiful house. She was very nice to me.”

The silent auction was only two weeks away.

Cindy Eisen: “And I spent a few hours getting an idea what she wanted, and I had already written up a contract, and she signed it.”

Cindy said she went to the house several times to try to finalize which items would be auctioned off.

Cindy Eisen: “A little bit hectic, and I literally stood in the closet with her, and it ended up being more than 60 items.”

Forty people Collins had invited showed up for the silent auction last August.

Cindy doesn’t know how much money it raised, but she knows how much she got for her work: zero.

Cindy Eisen: “I believe I texted and said, ‘Hey, it’s been a week. What’s up?’ Then they asked me for the invoice yet again, and then two weeks later, a month later, third invoice, no response.”

Cindy was owed $1,762. She says finally she got an answer from Collins.

Cindy Eisen: “‘They froze my account. My lawyer doesn’t want to pay you,’ and I was like, ‘What does that mean?’ And she never responded.”

That was six months ago. Cindy thought she had a binding contract with Orianne Collins.

Cindy Eisen: “She hired me to do something. She signed a contract. I did the work, and then she didn’t pay. It’s just – it’s just wrong.”

Well, Howard. First of all, is the contract binding? And if so, what do you do if someone won’t honor the contract?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Yes, the contract is binding, and Collins has to pay. How do you make that happen? Be persistent, use social media, and if that fails, file in small claims court. A judge will definitely slap a judgment against Collins.”

We contacted Orianne Collins, and it couldn’t have been easier.

After a couple of email exchanges, she wrote, “Sorry, but I am in the middle of a move, so my assistant will surely take care of it on my behalf. Thank you for your patience.”

Cindy Eisen: “I got a text from her assistant asking how much I owed her, and I got paid Friday afternoon.”

One thousand seven hundred sixty-two dollars for her auction work, and she is not silent about Help Me Howard.

Cindy Eisen: “I am so happy I called Help Me Howard. I don’t think I would ever have gotten paid. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Help Me Howard.”

That makes us smile. You’re welcome, Cindy.

Now, if you sign a contract with someone, Cindy says she’s learned her lesson. Make sure the other person reads the contract and get some money up front and collect as you go. Howard couldn’t have said it better.

Need someone to buy in to help with your problem? Don’t be silent. Donate it to us, ’cause you don’t have to sell us on helping you.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

South Florida’s waters are filled with boats.

Little boats and big boats. Then there are yachts and really big yachts.

David Wiest: “This is the Odessa. Yes, we sold it a couple of years ago. 160 foot. It has six staterooms.”

David Wiest is a yacht broker. A nice way to make a living, especially when you get to meet the people who can pay $20 million for a vessel like this.

David Wiest: “They are all super intelligent. They all have great stories on how they got to where they are and that’s probably one of the best parts of our business.”

To be a broker, David has to have a license from the City of Fort Lauderdale, and that created his problem.

David Wiest: “They never sent any invoices or notices of the tax due out since 2020.”

The business tax is only $52.50.

After no bill for three years, in January, the city sent out the renewal notices.

David Wiest: “We will pay the three years that were delinquent, its $52.50 times three years, it’s $157.50.”

And then there is the but.

David Wiest: “The but is the penalties that they are charging.”

The city is charging David and two other brokers in his office delinquent fees of around $271 each for not paying for their license for the past three years, even though they didn’t get a renewal notice from the city for the past three years.

David Wiest: “If i don’t get an electric bill at the end of the month, chances are I wont pay it ’cause I don’t have a bill.”

The city’s own website does say they will notify you when the bill is due.

David Wiest: “It says a renewal notice will be sent annually.”

When David contacted Fort Lauderdale, a city official wrote ‘We are not responsible nor required by state law to send the notices out’, adding David had to pay the $271 penalty.

David Wiest: “I think it’s wrong. We are all happy to pay our tax. What we are not happy to do is pay for an oversight in the billing and then pay penalties and so forth.”

Do you have to pay delinquent fees for not paying a bill you did not get? Confused yet, Howard?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “No and no you don’t not have to pay the delinquent fee. Under Florida and the city’s own law, they do not have to send a renewal notice but do have to notify the taxpayer if they are going to charge a penalty. David says he never got that notice and therefore the delinquent fee should be wiped out.”

I contacted Fort Lauderdale and they were very helpful.

Their spokesperson, Arelene Borenstein, told me they did wipe out the delinquent fees for David’s two co-workers because when the city switched from mail to email notices, they did not have email address for those two brokers.

But David’s penalty fees remained because they sent renewal emails to his office manager.

David said they checked their computers and did not receive the emails.

After we told Fort Lauderdale, they looked at David’s case again and wrote: “The outcome of the review was inconclusive. We removed the fee due to our interest in providing Mr. Wiest with a positive outcome.”

David Wiest: “I’m glad we got it wiped out and I’m glad that I called you and Help Me Howard.”

David got what he wanted and when he told us it wasn’t about the money, he meant it.

David Wiest: “No, not about the money. Just principle. Because why pay a tax that’s shouldn’t be, you know, paid in the first place?”

Glad it worked out David! And there’s nothing wrong with the government using email addresses to bill people. But they have to make sure they have the right email address or the person even has an email address.

In David’s case, they now have his correct address.

Feel like your ship has sailed? Tired of feeling sunk? Dock with us and hopefully we will have you cruising along.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Sean calls his mother independent and pretty healthy, except for her legs.

Susan Gibson: “Eighty-two. I’ll be 83 in 15 days.”

Sean Gibson: “Three months ago, she was having problems with her legs, and she needed to get treatment.”

Then, Susan heard about a chiropractor and went to see what he could do about her neuropathy.

Susan says their words scared her.

Susan Gibson: “And just said, ‘You could lose your legs, you could be in a wheelchair if you don’t get this treatment.'”

The tactics worked.

Susan Gibson: “I said, ‘I’m not ready for that yet. I have a lot of things to do in my life, and I better do this.'”

Their plan included 24 therapy sessions, some supplements and a device for her legs.

Sean went with her to sign the contract.

Sean Gibson: “It’s like when you go buy a car or rent an apartment. They put forms out. Nobody has enough time to read all that stuff.”

But one thing they both read: the cost of the treatment.

Sean Gibson: “She’s being billed for $13,656.”

Susan didn’t have that much cash, but included in the paperwork was a credit card application that would cover the $13,000-plus charge. Susan would then pay it back at 29% interest.

Sean Gibson: “I have to honor my mom. It’s her money. I can’t tell her not to spend it.”

Then, Susan got home and started looking at the supplements and vitamins she was supposed to take.

Susan Gibson: “Thought about it, and I thought, ‘What did I do?'”

The Gibsons started researching the supplements Susan had paid for.

This was for the stomach. This is for an energy boost. Some things Sean said he found online for $30 or $40.

Sean Gibson: “Bodybuilders use this stuff. My mom’s 82 years old and is not a bodybuilder.”

After speaking to an attorney and being told Susan had three days to cancel, Sean went back to the chiropractor to get out of the $13,000-plus contract and was told no.

Sean Gibson: “‘We don’t believe in that three-day law that you can cancel this contract, and we’re going to hold your mother to this contract.'”

Well, can Susan cancel that expensive chiropractor bill?

You’re up, Howard.

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Yes, and for a couple of reasons. Because this contract is for future services, Florida law allows cancellation within three days, and that notice has to be in the contract. It was not in Susan’s contract. Also, chiropractors are prohibited from charging more than $1,500 for future work. It’s clear Susan gets out of the contract, and that credit card debt has to be wiped out.”

We contacted the chiropractor’s office. They told us this was a misunderstanding, that Susan could have cancelled.

Sean says that’s not what they told him.

Susan then returned the device and the supplements, and he credit card debt was wiped out by the chiropractor’s office.

Sean Gibson: “Once Helped Me Howard got involved, the same day, they were willing to change their mind.”

Getting rid of that bill instantly made Susan feel a little better.

Susan Gibson: “My nerves were shot when this all went on, and now I can relax.”

Relax and get the medical care her insurance will cover to help her with her pain.

Sean Gibson: “I told her to go to a doctor who treats neuropathy. So she has an appointment now at the end of May.”

You hear that a lot. Waiting months for a doctor’s appointment.

As for cancelling contracts, you can cancel home improvement and gym contracts, plus several other contracts, within three days. But you don’t have three days to cancel a car purchase.

To see your rights regarding contracts, we have some information at the end of this Help me Howard story. Take a look at it.

Contracted a headache? Ready to see it cancelled? Let us doctor up a solution to ease your pain.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

Contracts you can and cannot cancel:

Florida Attorney General
Myfloridalegal.com

Federal Trade Commission
consumer.ftc.gov

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

His name is Dutch. Not the fellow bringing in the mail, the little guy at the door waiting for him.

Patrick Fraser: “And why did you name him Dutch?”

Carel Rijper: “Because I am from the Netherlands and that’s the language of my country, Dutch.”

A great name for a wonderful dog. And speaking of names, when Carel brings in that mail, it’s not always in his name.

Carel Rijper: “Let me just, uh, put on the letter. Person doesn’t live here and return to sender, and usually that’s the end of it.”

For the past six months, mail has come for Tairiq Elijah Stubbs and for his alias Tairiq Stubbs-McBee.

And not love letters. It’s from the Miami-Dade Clerk’s office.

Carel Rijper: “Um, apparently he’s done, uh, some things. Uh, that’s against the law.”

The clerk’s office is trying to notify Tairiq he has court hearings. With several arrests over the years, he’s used to the notices, and in December, was charged with two more crimes.

A felony for burglary and a misdemeanor for giving a false name. And a false address was also listed.

Carel Rijper: “And maybe Tariq needs to go there and he doesn’t get these letters, and then he’s in more trouble than he already is.”

Carel was right.

In January, Tairiq had his bond revoked, apparently for not showing up in court, which brought more stacks of letters from lawyers offering to defend Tairiq for a fee.

Carel Rijper: “I called lawyers offices, and they told me, like, ‘we get this information from the clerk’s office.'”

When return to sender didn’t work, Carel asked the clerk’s office to stop sending Tairiq’s mail to his house.

Carel Rijper: “They told me that Tariq himself needed to correct this and not me as the owner of the house.”

The letters keep coming in, and with Tairiqs bond revoked, the police could be looking for him. Guess whose house they’d go to?

Carel Rijper: “What if they do knocked down my door for some reason because apparently they have his address in the system. It could be very scary situation, uh, to just be woken up by police storming your house.”

Every day Dutch waits while Carel walks in with the mail.

For Tairiq.

Carel Rijper: “I wanted the clerk’s office to just correct this. So, uh, the letters would go to him, or at least not to my house.”

Legally, Howard, who has to fix this?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Everyone involved in these kind of cases has a reason to straighten things out. But you have to get in touch with the right person. I would contact the prosecutor and defense attorney, and if that doesn’t work, call the judges office. They can get the address mess fixed immediately.”

The response from the Miami-Dade Clerk’s office was very impressive.

After I contacted them, I was told the clerk of the courts, Juan Fernandez-Barquin, personally reached out to the Miami-Dade Public Defender Carlos Martinez to resolve this issue.

They did. The court record now shows the address was changed.

Tairiq is now listed as homeless. Carel will not get his mail anymore.

Carel Rijper: “Now, if I hear a knock at night, I know it’s not the police.”

Now when he goes out with Dutch waiting, Carel only gets his mail after that email to Help me Howard.

Carel Rijper: “So Help Me Howard was able to do it very fast, so I’m, I’m very happy.”

Glad we could help out. And if you get someones else’s mail, you can’t just throw it in the garbage. The Feds call that a crime. Best thing to do, tell you mail carrier or right return to sender. That will solve the problem in most cases.

Courting a solution to a problem? Can’t get anything delivered? Don’t mail it in. Put it on our docket so we can stamp it case closed.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Being a police officer is dangerous. Being a motorman would seem to be even riskier, except to Rafael Cubela.

Rafael Cubela: “Oh, it’s a great feeling. You get on the motorcycle, and it’s like a stress reliever.”

But as anyone who has ever been in a car in South Florida knows, traffic can also be stressful, and one driver nearly killed Rafael while he was on patrol.

Rafael Cubela: “I got hit, and I’m very fortunate to be here. I was basically found dead on the road, because I was not breathing, I was blue to the lips. We had a doctor that jumped out of his vehicle and was able to help me out.”

Rafael has had several surgeries, and after a recent one, he was resting at home.

Rafael Cubela: “I usually turn on Amazon Prime Video, and I can watch a movie.”

That day, the screen went black, and then…

Rafael Cubela: “TV popped up a QR code, requested that I take my phone and take a picture of it and then they gave me a phone number to call, so I called.”

The rep, who said he was from Amazon, knew everything about Rafael, beginning with his birthday.

Rafael Cubela: “He knew my Social Security, the last four numbers, he knew the banks that I used, that were on my phone.”

By then it was probably too late.

The rep said he fixed the problem, and the movie reappeared. Rafael then noticed his phone was receiving notifications.

Rafael Cubela: “I opened up my application on my phone, and then all of a sudden, I observed a large amount from one of my accounts.”

The crook had hacked into Rafael’s TV, and when he scanned the QR code on the screen, that gave the scammer access to all the information on his phone, like his bank app.

Rafael Cubela: “They took $5,000 out of my account.”

Rafael immediately called the bank and went to the branch in person to let them know he had been scammed. He immediately felt they were not gonna help him get his money back.

Rafael Cubela: “They found that the money was already transferred. It cannot be retrieved. I was in shock.”

Shocked and fuming that the $5,000 he had worked so hard for was gone.

Rafael Cubela: “I don’t believe that’s right, because I caught it right away.”

Well, legally, does the bank have to return Rafael’s money if he notified them within minutes of the fraud?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Probably. In 2021, a new view of the law covering this type of fraud said the customer is covered and should get their money back. But a court needs to finalize that opinion, which would force the bank to reimburse their customer who was ripped off. But sadly, it could take years for a court to confirm, and that won’t help Rafael today.”

We tried to get the money back from the bank. They wouldn’t return it.

They did provide tips on how to avoid scammers, but wouldn’t discuss why they refused to return Rafael’s money.

Rafael Cubela: “For them to say that they’re not going to be held responsible for this, to me, it’s sad.”

He sat down to watch TV. He followed the instructions on the screen, which most of us would do. The scummy scammers got another good person, but Rafael is not giving up.

Rafael Cubela: “I’m going to go file for a small claims court, but I’m going to have to wait, because I’m still recovering from the surgeries that I’ve had.”

Feel better, Rafael, and if he sues in small claims court, we’ll be there to let you know if he beats the bank.

And who would have thought scanning a QR code on your TV would doom you? Be careful of that. Heck, you are asked to scan QR codes all the time. They could be hacked.

Now, for some tips to protect yourself, given to us by Amazon, and advice from federal agencies, click on the links at the end of his Help Me Howard. It might save you thousands to read them.

Been scammed? Ready to take it to prime time? Contact us. You can bank on us to hack away at a solution.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

Avoiding scams and scammers:
FDIC.Gov
Consumerfinance.Gov

How to detect attempted Amazon scammers:
Amazon.com

Amazon goes after impersonators:
Aboutamazon.com

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

When Eileen saw this house at the end of the street, she thought the location was perfect.

Eileen: “There was a quiet, dead end street. The kids could ride bike there. They’re safe. It was fantastic.”

Fantastic for 11 years, then, three years ago, a part of the fence at a park next to her house was removed and a gate installed, closing the peaceful era of living here.

Eileen: “And nobody else has to go through this issue.”

Next to Eileen is South Miami Park, where there is plenty of parking inside the facility, but when the city installed this gate at the far end of the park right, many drivers decided to park there.

Eileen: “They’re blocking my driveway when I come in and out of my home.”

Eileen has the proof. Boy does she have the proof.

Many cars pulling up to drop off people and driving away, but far too often, the drivers park and go inside, blocking her driveway.

Both her driveways. Sometimes she can’t get out.

Sometimes she can’t get in.

Here, Eileen blows her horn in frustration, day after day.

Eileen: “I have so many. I have like over thousands of pictures and because I’ve just been documenting, documenting.”

If Eileen was not home, some drivers just pulled in like they owned her house.

Eileen: “There were parking in my driveway.”

Patrick Fraser: “That’s got to be infuriating to come home and see that.”

Eileen: “Yes, that is.”

Eileen now rolls pots into the driveway to stop drivers from making themselves at home. But she can’t do anything about the people who walk to the side of her house to do you-know-what.”

Eileen: “They’re coming onto my property and using my property as a bathroom.”

The homes surrounding South Miami Park are in Miami-Dade County.

The park is owned by the City of South Miami.

Eileen has gone to city meetings to ask them to fix the problem.

Eileen: “Well, the simple solution would be like, I wish they would close the gate. I mean.”

South Miami told Eileen they would not lock the gate and suggested she ask Miami-Dade to do something about the cars on the county road. They put up no parking on pavement and no stopping on the pavement signs.

The drivers just parked next to those signs, so Eileen tried calling the police.

Eileen: “It’s not an emergency call. So they’re going to answer that call whenever they can and it’s usually an hour later.”

Eileen has confronted some drivers, unsuccessfully.

Eileen: “They tell me this is a public street, that they can use it.”

Imagine coming home and your driveway is blocked, every single day.

Eileen: “It’s a nuisance. It’s every day. I get home and it’s just like if it’s I-95 at 5:00 in the afternoon, it’s a constant cars.”

Well, Howard, can a city refuse to solve a county residents problem?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Yes because the city gets to decide where they put a gate in their park. And the county gets to decide how they allocate resources and whether or not to ticket or tow illegally parked cars. Unfortunately, it’s clear Eileen’s concerns are trumped by the desire to make it convenient for the people coming to the park.”

I spoke to Chip Iglesis, south Miami’s City Manager.

He said it’s a parking issue on the county side. That he has asked South Miami Police to go over there and warn drivers.

When I said why not just close the gate, he said many people walk through the gate from the neighborhood and locking that gate would take away the benefit for those people who come from the neighborhood.

Eileen: “I don’t think they seem to think that it’s like a big issue.”

The city put in the gate for the convenience for some people, just not Eileen.

Eileen: “I want to be able to come outside of my house or come home one day and not have people constantly blocking me.”

You might be thinking, “Lock the gate, Eileen.”

She can’t. It’s not on her property.

Why not call a tow truck if they are parked in front of your house? She can’t. Only the county can do that.

There’s only one solution and the city won’t close the gate.

A problem parked in your lap? Feeling fenced in? Lock in on us to see if we can find the gateway to a solution.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

When Shamar’s life began, it was tough for him.

Mittylyn Holness: “He was born sick. Congenital heart defects. So his first surgery, he was like a month.”

As he grew, Mittylyn says, her son’s heart problems continued.

Mittylyn Holness: “At 5 years old, they decided to do another surgery to clear the valve. At 13 years old, a total replacement, mechanical valve.”

Five heart surgeries over the years. Listen to Shamar’s artificial valve beating to show he’s doing well.

Shamar: “You can hear it? I feel better, feel way better, just living day by day.”

Along with the heart issues, Shamar has developed asthma and the problems that come with that.

Mittylyn Holness: “He started having breathing problems maybe after his second surgery, and he couldn’t breathe. I had to call the paramedics sometimes twice a week.”

To help Shamar, Mittylyn was told to clean the air ducts.

When that didn’t work, she had to replace them and install a new air conditioning system. It was not cheap.

Mittylyn Holness: “And they gave me an estimate for almost $20,000.”

Mittylyn got a second job, and her husband came out of retirement to work to pay for the new system. The company Jack Rabbit, did the work. Almost.

Mittylyn Holness: “The straps in the AC wasn’t the right straps.”

Patrick Fraser: “So they didn’t close?

Mittylyn Holness: “No. And then I would be in trouble because the work had been done, like, I didn’t have a permit.”

The permit expired, and Mittylyn says Jack Rabbit didn’t do the duct work properly, either, because Shamar’s room is hot and won’t cool.

Mittylyn Holness: “His room is so warm, he can’t sleep in there. He’s a heart patient. He’s got to have the place cool enough for him to breathe. Sleep is so important to a heart patient.”

For months, Mittylyn tried to get Jack Rabbit to finish the job. Then she got the news: they had gone out of business.

Mittylyn Holness: “And for them to just close their company and leave me hanging in the air? I think that’s the meanest thing you could do to somebody.”

A new company had bought Jack Rabbit’s assets but said they weren’t responsible for the unfinished work.

But like her son that never gives up, Mittylyn wasn’t about to take a beating on this AC deal.

Mittylyn Holness: “And I send the email, and I say, ‘Oh, my God, I hope Howard reads this e-mail or Patrick. I just know that they would help me.'”

We’ll try! So, Howard, what can Mittylyn do if the company folds up?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Almost nothing. When a small company goes out of business, you are generally out of luck. That’s why you pay as you go, so you can use whatever money you did not spend to hire a new company to finish the job, or hope the company who bought their name and assets will make good on the old company’s obligations.”

And that’s what happened here.

Even though Air Pros didn’t have to do the work Jack Rabbit failed to do, they did it.

After we talked to Air Pros, they pulled a new permit for Mittylyn, finished the job and even paid the $700 for the permit. The city then approved everything.

Mittylyn Holness: “I’m overjoyed. I am so happy.”

Air Pros then did the duct work in Shamar’s room. Way more than anyone could have asked.

Mittylyn Holness: “Thank you so much, Help Me Howard, for helping me through this. And thank you, Air Pro, for coming out to finish and helping me for my inspection.”

Nice that it all worked out, and Mittylyn did her homework. She heard good things when she researched the AC company that went out of business. Sometimes you do things right and still get ripped off, but Air Pros saved her.

Dealing with someone who is heartless? Tired of taking a beating? Chill and let us handle it, so we can cool things off for you.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

When Samaroo starts to put his music videos together, he can’t wait to dance.

Samaroo Bhawan: “It’s called chutney music. We do, um, Bollywood remakes, uh, classical songs. It’s a wide variety. I love it. I love music more than myself.”

Something else that made Samaroo smile was a conservation he had with his wife.

Samaroo Bhawan: “We was just ‘I would like to have a pool.’ I’m like, ‘OK, let’s go forward with it.'”

They hired a pool company and made the payments as the work progressed.

Samaroo Bhawan: “At the time of excavation was $22,545.

Patrick Fraser: Cash?

Samaroo Bhawan: “I paid him cash.”

At Help Me Howard, we often hear from people who can’t get a contractor to finish the job.

Samaroo says in his case, he was persistent.

Samaroo Bhawan: “I kept nagging them almost every day. I’m on the phone, I’m texting, I’m e-mailing.”

After a year, he got his pool.

Patrick Fraser: Now, the pool looks beautiful.

Samaroo Bhawan: Yes, it does.

Samaroo expected a final bill of about $1,500 and then the envelope came from the pool company.

Samaroo Bhawan: “Then got in the mail in December. We got a lien on the property.”

FM Pools had placed this lien on Samaroo’s house demanding he pay them $17,178. Samaroo was stunned.

Samaroo Bhawan: “It really hit me hard. You know, you’ve got the money. What are you trying to do?'”

Samaroo did his math again to be sure he was right. Put together the date of the eight payments totally $94,602 and contacted the owner of the pool company.

Samaroo Bhawan: “Frank, saying I’m owing $19,000. Lenny saying $11,000. Then he comes back again. $7,000. They’re just pulling numbers out of the hat.”

For nearly a year, the lien was attached to his house. No move by the pool company to go to court to let a judge decide if Samaroo owed $17,000, and Samaroo thinks he knows why.

Patrick Fraser: “And you think he’s trying to aggravate you because you aggravated him?”

Samaroo Bhawan: “Yes. I truly believe that. Because of that, I nagging and being on them and nagging and being on them.

But the lien troubles Samaroo and aggravates him. So what can you do if a contractor slaps a lien on your property?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Don’t panic. the lien is simply a notice that the contractor feels they are owed money. If you disagree and have proof you paid, you can file a notice you are contesting the lien. They then have to sue you within 60 days and prove to a judge you owe the money. Another option is ignore the lien. After a year it expires, unless they bring you to court.”

I started contacting FM Pools every week or so. The owners wouldn’t return my calls, and during that time, the lien expired.

Finally, one owner, Lenny Cipolla spoke to me. I asked him for a list of the payments they received to compare to Samaroo’s list to find the confusion.

I didn’t get it but I got an email from Cipolla saying there is actually a few thousand dollars that is still owed. We have no problem to forgive the lien and the amount as long as they remove any reviews that they may have left or plan to leave.

Samaroo’s response.

Samaroo Bhawan: “I am not going to accept the offer. This has got to go all the way to the courts.”

Samaroo says by removing his posts about the company, he is admitting he owes the $17,000 and he says he does not.

Samaroo Bhawan: “I’m an old school guy. You know, if I’m wrong, I’ll stand and say I’m wrong, but I’m right. I’m going to stand up against them like a giant.”

And if Samaroo shows the judge his receipts, the case is probably over. That’s assuming the pool company even sues him. If they don’t, its already over.

Tired of being left high and dry? Don’t want a watered down solution? Make a splash with us so we can pool our resources to help you out.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

For 11 years, Tzivia has pushed for the solution.

Tzivia Goodman: “They just have to put out the speed bumps.”

The reason Tzivia wants them: Sabal Palm Elementary School is across the street from her house.

Tzivia Goodman: “And then there are little kids on that block.”

Obviously, little kids and speeding cars don’t mix.

Tzivia Goodman: “They speed. They don’t stop for stop signs. Sort of like a speeding zone, like, you know, ‘Let’s have fun.’ Zoom right by all the time.”

Then, when she was walking her dog, it happened.

Tzivia Goodman: “She was great.”

Tzivia believes Lassie proved it when a car came racing down the road. We will stop the video because we can’t bear to watch it, but another camera shows the car racing by.

Tzivia Goodman: “And before I knew it, Lassie jumped out, and I think we sort of just — because she wanted to protect me — my dog was hit.”

Parts of the cars bumper were left on the road, and Tzivia was left to pick up the pieces after Lassie was killed.

Tzivia Goodman: “And she was part of my family. To me, it’s a family member that was killed.”

Tzivia got another dog, and now is even more adamant the speeding cars racing by the school had to be slowed down.

Tzivia Goodman: “And when I said to the police officer, I said, ‘What are you waiting for? A kid to be killed?'”

But again, Tzivia couldn’t get anyone to listen.

Tzivia Goodman: “We’ve got to push for justice, we’ve got to push for what’s right. We’ve got to push for is there to protect our children.”

Tzivia saw her dog hit by a car and doesn’t want a child to be next. But legally, does a homeowner have a right to slow traffic down for safety reasons? Howard?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “No, the homeowner does not have the right to a traffic light, a speed bump or an officer writing tickets, and if a child gets hit in the future, the government is not liable. But cities and counties have to determine how best to spend taxpayer money. To get that money for speed bumps, you have to get their attention. Become the squeaky wheel.”

We got to the right people and got lucky.

Miami-Dade’s Department of Transportation and Public Works wrote they reviewed all the data from the past three years and concluded all traffic controls signage and pavement markings are appropriate and in good condition.

Their spokesman, Juan Mendiata, wrote, however, “to enhance pedestrian safety, the installation of a raised pedestrian crosswalk is recommended.” Therefore, “staff will start the fund allocation process.”

Tzivia Goodman: “When I see those speed bumps, I’ll be happy.”

And recently, police got more help to slow speeders in school zones.

Howard Finkelstein: “The Legislature just gave cities and counties another weapon to slow speeders. They can now install traffic cameras to ticket speeding motorists in a school zone.”

Tzivia will get her speed bump to slow cars. Now, she is focused on the driver who hit Lassie.

Tzivia Goodman: “I want them to go after the guy who killed my dog.”

And Miami-Dade Police told us they are now investigating the case. Tzivia says she told them who the driver was, so it should be wrapped up quickly.

Now, if you have a traffic problem, Howard mentioned being the squeaky wheel. That means contact the council member who represents you — the mayor, the city or county manager — and keep contacting them till you get what you need.

Hit a bump in the road trying to fix a problem? Need someone to speed in to solve it? Contact us, ’cause we traffic in solutions.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

In a house of artists, Ramon is the painter

Karen Dematas: “Yes, every piece has a meaning. He does it with feelings. This photo here is in memory of all the Cubans who have lost their lives trying to come here.”

Karen loves to use resin to create pieces.

Karen Dematas: “Epoxy resin. I do coasters. I do trays.”

Two artists. It reminds me of the line about starving artists because they don’t make a lot of money.

Karen Dematas: “No, it’s just a hobby. It doesn’t really. It doesn’t pay the bills. It doesn’t.”

After she retired, Karen used her credit cards to pay unexpected bills. When the total reached 11,000 dollars, she needed help.

Karen Dematas: “I’ve heard about debt relief companies, and I just thought that it was good.”

Karen spoke to CDS debt relief who said ‘Stop paying your credit card bills’ and pay them 199 dollars a month.

Karen Dematas: “They would bring down what I owed and I would be debt-free within a year and a year and a half. That’s what they told me.”

Karen says she was told the debt relief company would get the $11,000 credit card bill reduced and then use her $199 a month to pay off that smaller amount. She agreed then her credit card companies started calling.

Karen Dematas: “We haven’t received any payment. Same as a credit card. You’re behind your payments.”

For 6 months Karen paid the debt relief company 199 dollars a month and each month she would call to find out what was going on.

Karen Dematas: “Every time I would call it was ‘We’re still working on getting your card amounts lowered.'”

Finally, after 6 months she gave up. Tried to cancel her contract and get back the nearly $1,200 she had paid the debt relief company.

Karen Dematas: “Oh, leave a message. We return your call. Never happen.”

She still owes the credit card bill plus interest and she lost her $1,200 she paid the debt relief company. All because she trusted them.

Karen Dematas: “That has got me in a lot of trouble”

Patrick Fraser: Trusting?

Karen Dematas: “Yes, yes, yes, that’s right, it has”

Well Howard, is Karen entitled to get the money back that she paid plus the credit card interest that has accumulated?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “No they are not responsible for the credit card interest but they have to return her $1,200 because they didn’t do anything. But here is the problem with these debt relief companies—many go out of business and change the name—if you sue and win you can’t collect. Finally, if you can’t pay your credit card bill you can do the same thing a debt relief company can do on your own.”

Trying to get anywhere with the debt relief company was like trying to grab a handful of smoke. A dozen times they told me the owner Kevin Lugo would call me back and never did. We went to their West Palm Beach office. CDs debt relief has gone out of business. A second company registered to Lugo is closed. A third debt relief office has a disability center sign outside

At the Better Business Bureaus website the companies get an F with nearly two dozen people saying the debt relief people did the same thing to them that they did to Karen: took their money and didn’t pay off any debt.

Patrick Fraser: “I tried. I couldn’t get them to give the money back.”

Karen Dematas: “It’s sad, but I have understand.”

Karen has no idea what she is going to do about her credit card debt but if the debt relief company people had the guts to face her, she has some words for them.

Karen Dematas: “Karma’s a bitch. Excuse the expression, but it will come back to you some time. It’ll come back.”

They take advantage of the people who need help the most. Now Howard mentioned reducing the debt yourself. Talk to the credit card companies to try and get the interest and penalties reduced. If you can pay a portion, offer them that. Some cards will forgive a good percentage of the bill to get that lump sum.

It’s worth a try.

Trusting and being trashed. Need relief? Contact us. You won’t be indebted to us cause we are truly free. With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

When you open the doors to the Gertlers’ home, there’s a reason it resembles a museum.

Leona Gertle: “Whenever we travel, we go to every museum that we can.”

As they traveled the world, Leona and Bob bought one or two pieces from each place to put in their home.

Leona Gertle: “It’s a clock within a clock, and it plays beautiful symphony music.”

With Bob in his 90s and Leona in her 80s, they decided to start getting rid of some of their collection.

Their children didn’t want them.

Leona Gertle: “I bought it in Hong Kong.”

Then Leona saw this full color ad in a newspaper from Elite Auctioneers.

She called the owner. He came to their home.

Leona Gertle: “He was very friendly.”

They picked up 14 pieces to sell. Leona estimates they should have brought at least $15,000.

Leona Gertle: “They were marble and bronze and malachite. They were nice.”

That was in June. In August, the auctioneer said he sold eight pieces and sent Leona a check for $3,000.

Leona Gertle: “He got like pittance for certain things.”

After that, the auctioneer, still holding six pieces of Leona’s art, disappeared.

Leona Gertle: “We we did call him many times, but he never returned the call.”

Leona went to his Palm Beach County shop.

Leona Gertle: “And it was a walk-in store that was empty. Closed.”

Their six pieces of art are gone. It’s not about the money, Leona says. It’s the thought the art was taken from her.

Leona Gertle: “I could donate it to a charity, and I feel better than just throwing them away.”

Legally, what rights do you have when you turn something over to an auctioneer, which is basically a consignment shop. Howard?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “The only rights you have are what is in the contract, and in this case, there is nothing in the contract, meaning, the auctioneer can sell those pieces for whatever he can get. However, he has to return the unsold pieces of art. If he doesn’t, it’s a crime. He can go to jail, and he could his lose license to operate.”

The biggest problem: finding the art.

The auctioneer, Chris Hayes, said he didn’t know about Leona’s art. To call his wife.

Tracy told us to come get the art, then quit communicating with us.

We asked the Aventura Police to get involved. Maybe it was just a coincidence, but that day, Tracy Hayes said, “Come get the art.”

We went to a Palm Beach County house. It was in a storage shed out back.

Tracy Hayes (counting): “It’s this, this, this and this.”

We drove straight to Leona’s to bring the four pieces back to her.

Leona Gertle: “Wow. This is from Italy. You are like guardian angels.”

Two pieces are still missing. The auctioneers told us they were sold, and a check would be sent to Leona in late January.

Leona Gertle: “They are beautiful carvings. I mean, you wouldn’t know that they are wood.”

And Leona and Bob won’t have this problem again. They have a better plan for the dozens, maybe hundreds of pieces of their art.

Leona Gertle: “I have been giving out little things here and there, if I know somebody likes it or would appreciate it. So, when we are gone, they will remember crazy Leona and Bob.”

Leona, you’re just a wonderful personality.

Now, before you hire an auctioneer or a consignment shop, get all the details about things like minimum price and their commission in writing. And, of course, a deadline for when they have to return your items if they can’t sell them.

Had a problem so long it feels like it should be in a museum? Tired of getting carved up? Contact us. There’s an art to what we do. Just kidding. No one ever called us a masterpiece, but we try hard.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

In life if you hit potholes, you move on. Patricia can’t. She lives with them.

Patricia Perez: “We love this neighborhood, except for the potholes.”

Right in front of her assigned parking space. Deep potholes.

Patricia Perez: “The size of me. I could go swimming in that pothole. This is an ongoing issue for two years now. It’s becoming a nightmare.”

An unexpected nightmare since Southern Pointe Villas was just built in 2021. But the potholes began appearing right after the ink on Patricia’s contract dried.

Patricia Perez: “I don’t even know if I could say they were ever small potholes because they’re big and they’re only getting bigger.”

Patricia contacted the developer right away.

Patricia Perez: “They filled the potholes at that time, but then, like a few weeks later, they reappeared.”

The builder then turned the property over to the association making the potholes their problem as they continued to pop up.

Patrick Fraser: “Have you counted the number of potholes?”

Patricia Perez: “No. Only these here.”

We counted. Twenty-six potholes in the road circling the small complex.

Sadly for Patricia, she wins the contest for the biggest ones.

Patricia Perez: “So you have to drive through here in and out through the potholes. Not good because it’s damaging your vehicle. I’ve had to replace two tires on my cars.”

More roadblocks. The management company in charge of getting the holes filled, left. Board members then had to go door to door to get the 88 owners to pay the $10,000 repair bill.

And the wait continued.

Patricia Perez: “I don’t even know if it’s going to be done. When it’s going to be done. We have nothing, no communication.”

Patricia thought buying in a new complex would eliminate wear and tear problems.

Nope.

Patricia Perez: “It’s frustrating for me, especially ’cause it’s right outside. I have to see it every day. This is a brand new community. We should not have this type of issue with our roads so early on.”

Well, Howard, potholes. Who has to repair them and who has to pay if they damage your car?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “In a case like this, where the association has taken control of the road, they are responsible for repairing it and might be responsible for any damage the pothole causes. As for a pothole on a city, county or state road, it’s similar. The government has to fix them, and if they are told about it and don’t repair them, they also might have to pay for any damages the pothole causes.”

I contacted the new property manager.

Orlando Gonzalez said he just took over after the prior management company dropped the ball. He said the board had approved the repair job. He was meeting with a contractor the next day and wanted to get the work done ASAP.

As you can see, two years after they started appearing, Patricia was able to watch the 26 potholes get paved over.

Patricia Perez: “I am going to be happy to be able to drive in and out of my parking space without having to run over potholes.”

She waited patiently then said ‘forget it’ and called Help Me Howard.

Patricia Perez: “And I am glad that I called Help Me Howard. I know for a fact without your guys help, this wouldn’t have been possible. Thank you, Patrick. Thank you Help Me Howard.”

You’re welcome, Patricia.

Now, clearly the developer and his road crew did a bad job and the association could go after them to get reimbursed for the $10,000 to repair the faulty road, but it would probably cost more than to win the case.

A hole lotta problems sinking you? Ready to steer around them? Let us pave the way for a smooth getaway.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

This is how we hope every Help Me Howard ends

Denise Toupin: “Thank you so much. I’m going to kiss you, I think.”

If you’re happy, we’re happy that we got what you needed.

Maudell Smith: “If anybody needs any help, you gotta call Help Me Howard.”

The only thing better than solving your problem is helping you avoid the problem.

Patrick Fraser: “Hello, everybody, I’m Patrick Fraser.”

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “And I’m Howard Finkelstein to give you a few suggestions on how to fix common problems before they turn into major problems.”

Patrick Fraser: :Let’s begin with associations, condo or homeowners. Lately, they seem to be even bigger bullies than before. From stranding a wheelchair-bound man without an elevator, to trying to take a woman’s mobile home, how can you beat a board, Howard?

Howard Finkelstein: “Know the association rules. Stay aware of what is happening with your board and property manager. In any dispute, keep everything in writing, preferably emails, to have proof of what transpired and what they said. Finally, get on the board or get a friend elected to the board.”

Patrick Fraser: “Something that has exploded: online scammers, tricking you or hacking into your bank accounts. No easy answer, but what’s the best one?”

Howard Finkelstein: “Be suspicious and on guard. Don’t respond to emails or phone calls from any email or number. If you think your bank is calling, call your local branch, not the number the caller gave you. Of course, never give anyone your account or private information, and for any account, do two-step verification. It’s more work for you, but it’s a roadblock for hackers.”

Patrick Fraser: “Rent is sky-high, and landlord-tenant problems seem to be increasing along with the rent. What’s the best way for a renter to handle a bad landlord?”

Howard Finkelstein: “Get away from them, and the way to do that for a major problem like no hot water, doors that don’t lock, send them a letter giving them seven days to correct the problem, and let them know you will move out and you get your security deposit back when you do.”

Patrick Fraser: “Let’s do some quick ones. You’re buying a used car.”

Howard Finkelstein: “Read the contract, and don’t buy as is without your mechanic checking out the vehicle.”

Patrick Fraser: “You’re bogged down battling the government bureaucracy.”

Howard Finkelstein: “Talk to their boss. Go up the chain of command, and if that fails, contact your local politician.”

Patrick Fraser: “How do you win a fight with a business?

Howard Finkelstein: “Always pay with a credit card, and if you get ripped off, file a dispute with your credit card company. Also, give the business a bad online review.”

Patrick Fraser: “Speaking of businesses, I’ve never seen so many complaints about contractors. A lot of them are taking the money and disappearing. If you hired a contractor, what would you do?

Howard Finkelstein: “Talk to other people who have used the contractor. Check with the state’s department of business and professional regulation to make sure the license they show you is in their name and active. And finally, pay only for the work after each piece of the work is done.”

Patrick Fraser: “And of course, if you do your best and still get double-crossed, give us a call, where our goals are these words.”

Anneli Liebig: “If it wasn’t for Help Me Howard, I would have never gotten this boat out of here.”

Alexandria Crossman (hugging Patrick): “Thank you so much.”

David Prince: “Thank you so much, Help Me Howard.”

Patrick Fraser: “We’re starting our 26th year of Help Me Howard.”

Howard Finkelstein: “We have been so lucky to be able to help thousands of you.”

Patrick Fraser: “And of course, if you need help in 2024, we aren’t going anywhere. You’re staying with me, aren’t you?”

Howard Finkelstein: “I am, Patrick.”

With Mr. Finkelstein, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

I will never forget Tina’s words to us: Please help me get my foot amputated.

Tina Bakr: “Its a very destructive tumor.”

When Tina developed cancer in her foot, her boss fired her. For some unknown reason, her insurance company then refused to pay for the surgery to remove the foot.

Months passed, the cancer spread.

Tina Bakr: “The tumor has latched itself around my ankle. So now its too late for a foot removal. Now, I have to have a partial leg removal as well because of the waiting time.”

Afraid she was going to die, Tina asked us to fight her insurance company and AHCA, the state agency that administers medicaid. We pushed, they gave in. Tina got her foot and part of her leg removed.

Tina Bakr: “How have you guys been?”

Patrick Fraser: “Forget us, how have you been?

Tina Bakr: “I’m alright. I’m hanging in there.”

Tina is now waiting for her prosthesis. She is ready to walk again.

Tina Bakr: “And now thanks to you guys, the wheels were put in motion.”

Racquel contacted us months after mother’s funeral.

Racquel Pitt: “I think its heartless and inconsiderate.”

So did Bernard.

Neither could get alliance monument, owned by Sandy Barany to deliver the monuments they had paid for.

Sandy Barany: “If it’s my fault, I’ll fall on the sword and say my follow up skills are bad.”

It took months of pushing but we got Barany to create the bench for Raquel’s mother and install the headstone Bernard bought for his brother.

Bernard Manuel: “And I want to say that you to Patrick Fraser to help me out with that.”

But after our story aired, Barany closed his business and disappeared. We heard from a dozen other people who claimed he never delivered their headstones. Reminding us of his last words to us.

Sandy Barany: “I am embarrassed. I am embarrassed.”

It takes a lot shock us, but the outcome in Keith’s case did — in a good way.

Keith Smith: “I’m still numb from the side all the way down to my toe, to my feet.”

Keith needed monthly disability payments to carry him through the surgeries to correct his back so he can go back to work.

Robert Smith (Keith’s father): “And he’s a perfect example of a person born here that needs it and they are turning him down.

When Keith couldn’t get the disability he called us. It can take months, even years to get disability, but we were lucky.

The people we talked to at the Social Security Administration were able to make it happen in just six weeks.

Keith Smith: “I am just happy Help Me Howard got on the case and I wanted to thank you so much for helping me.”

Precious needed help from several people to avoid being killed.

Scott Davis: “This child is like a dog to me. I’ve had her for a decade.”

One afternoon precious bit a boy on the leg. Scott was told to quarantine her. He did. But then a hearing was held that Scott was not told about. A hearing filled with false information that the judge used to sign an order to seize Precious and kill her.

Lauren Peffer (Animal Right Attorney): “Then going and taking someones property without due process, without their side of the story. That should freak you out.”

Lauren appealed and a judge ruled Miami-Dade County had to return Precious. The county appealed again. The judge again ordered the county to return the dog. The county appealed again. Then called Lauren and said tell them to come get the dog.

Scott Davis: “Vindicated. Totally vindicated.”

Lauren Peffer: “When we got off camera, I dropped a tear.”

120 days after she was seized, Precious put her paws on Louise’s arm and would not let go. Scott and Louise had their dog back..

Scott Davis: “That’s right. You aren’t going anywhere. I love you too. You are home.”

Precious is home but the county is still appealing the judge’s order to release her. Even if win they wont be able to have Precious killed. She is safe.

A happy ending and hopefully if you have a problem, we can be a part of a happy ending for you as well.

A problem dogging you? Going is ruff? Unleash us to help you out.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

You saw her on Help Me Howard. Now, see what you did to change her life.

In a life filled with tragedies, Shorty never expected this great news.

Patrick Fraser: “Surprise you?”

Jerita Shorty Collins: “Definitely. If that don’t give me a heart attack, nothing will.”

Let’s go back to 1970 when Shorty walked into Jimmy’s Eastside Diner to get a job as a waitress.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “I love it. I wish I could be there right now working.”

She was a single mom with three little boys, fleeing an ex in Alabama who tried to kill her. For 53 years, the restaurant was her home.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “My customers give me the strength from Jimmy’s and they were always there for me.”

I was one of her customers for decades and saw how she needed encouragement to endure her agony.

After one son died at 18 from cancer, then another died of cancer, and at 43, her third son died of cancer.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “And then six months after my last son, I found my first bout with cancer.”

Shorty beat cancer but her horrible luck continued.

She developed heart and lung problems.

While in the hospital, lightning struck her condo, destroyed her air conditioner. Pipes burst. Her home was soaked.

She didn’t have the money to fix it and mold grew everywhere.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “I don’t want anybody to feel sorry for me. They didn’t do it to me. I didn’t do it to me.”

Her bad luck continued. Her car was stolen. Police recovered it. It was repaired.

Five days later after she got it back, she went outside.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “And my car is gone again. Same thing happened. They broke the glass again.”

Unable to work, Shorty was living on a small social security check. She didn’t have the money to fix her moldy apartment or repair her car.

When she called me, it’s the first time in all the years I have known her, she sounded defeated.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “I feel like I’m the worst person in the world.”

Patrick Fraser: “What do you mean by that?”

Jerita Shorty Collins: “Because I have such rotten luck.”

And then our Help Me Howard story aired. A Gofundme page was set up to help her fix her car and condo. I showed her the total raised .

Patrick Fraser: “1,200 people donated to you.”

Jerita Shorty Collins: “Oh, my God.”

Patrick Fraser: “That surprise you?”

Jerita Shorty Collins: “It’s unbelievable.”

The money was unbelievable. The notes left Shorty overwhelmed.

Patrick Fraser: “Len wrote, ‘Shorty brought tears to my eyes when she said she feels like such a bad person. Nothing that has happened to her was her fault. What a sweet lady.’ Here’s what Patricia said, ‘Shorty, we love you.'”

And the help continued. A general contractor, Scotty Mac, offered to remove the mold, clear out her wet furniture, clean the walls and repaint and on and on.

Scotty Mac: “It’s just something that’s close to my heart to help people. Me and my team. I’ve met a lot of people in my career, and I got to tell you, she is the most humble, down to earth, deserving person I’ve ever met.”

It’s nice now. And her enthusiasm has returned.

Remember how despondent she was before South Floridians came to her rescue?

Her smile is back. Seeing the donations let her breathless and she joked about the time it would take to get her breath back.

Patrick Fraser: “How long is it going to take? Five minutes?

Jerita Shorty Collins: “We might as well go ahead, because sometimes, sometimes it takes an hour.”

Shorty can now afford furniture to replace her moldy things thanks to caring South Floridians.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “It’s remarkable and I want to thank them so much. I’m trying to be brave and not cry but I can’t help it.”

And Shorty is going to do something she hasn’t been able to afford to do.

She put the ashes of all three sons in the ocean. She wants to go out on a charter boat where she sprinkled their remains.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “I need to talk to my sons. I just close my eyes and I hear them.”

Shorty has another goal; Get healthier and go back to work at Jimmy’s.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “I have to show people that I have as much faith in them as they have in me.”

Keep going. To see the people who not only changed her life but maybe saved it.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “My God. It’s so unbelievable. And I would tell every one of you, I wish I could give you a big hug and a kiss and tell you how much I love you, and how much I appreciate you.”

I always knew Shorty was unique. Now, South Florida knows.

The money from her Gofundme page is now safe in the bank. First thing she’s going to do, buy a new bed and furniture to replace her moldy mess, all thanks to you, South Florida. Bless you.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Nelson loved living in New Jersey. But he loved something more.

Nelson Sobrino: “It was my dream to move to Florida. It was my dream to live in a farm.”

His dream came true after Nelson and his wife Zoila bought a farm down in South Dade with 32 different fruit trees, two horses and several beehives.

Nelson Sobrino: “They produce a lot of honey, and we sell that. And it’s 100% pure honey.”

That’s sweet. What’s sour is his mail.

Nelson Sobrino: “So now you can get access to any boxes that you want, because they are open.”

In some rural areas of South Dade, mail is not delivered to your home. It’s to cluster boxes where people like Nelson come pick it up.

Instead, crooks ripped the boxes open and stole everything.

Nelson Sobrino: “They took medicines. They took letters. They took credit cards.”

The mailboxes were a half mile away from his farm. Since there is no delivery here anymore, Zoila or Nelson and hundreds of other people have to drive to the nearest post office to get their mail.

Nelson Sobrino: “We have to travel 26 miles round trip every single day to pick up whatever it was supposed to be there.”

Nelson contacted the postal service to get the cluster boxes repaired or replaced.

Nelson Sobrino: “Refused to do it because they said, ‘This is the fourth time,’ and they said, ‘If we fix it, it’s going to be broken again.'”

Nelson’s solution? Just pick up the mail once or twice a week to avoid the 26-mile round trip. Not a good idea, he was told.

Nelson Sobrino: “‘If you don’t come to pick up the mail in three days, we’re going to send them back.’ I said, ‘What? What did you say? You’re going to send my mail back because you cannot deliver it to me?'”

For four months, the mail hasn’t been delivered to these boxes. Nelson can’t get it fixed and can’t believe it.

Nelson Sobrino: “We are not third-class citizens. You know, I pay my taxes like everybody else, and I believe we deserve the same service as everybody else does.”

Well, Howard, legally, are you entitled to mail delivery service?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Yes, you are. Some cluster boxes are maintained by condo or homeowner associations, and some are maintained by the post office, like in this case. If it’s broken, they have to fix it or replace it. If they won’t or move too slowly, contact your congressperson or U.S. senator.”

We contacted the U.S. Postal Service, and they were great.

Debra Fetterly told us they have ordered new cluster boxes and are putting them in a safer, well-lit location within the general area.

In the meantime, they repaired the cluster boxes so Nelson and his neighbors don’t have to drive to the post office.

Nelson Sobrino: “Nothing was done for four months, so I decided to call Help Me Howard. And in a week, the job was done.”

Nelson is relieved, really relieved.

Nelson Sobrino: “You have no idea. I’m going to show you how happy we are.”

Nelson wanted his hundreds of neighbors to know how their problem was solved. Something we’ve never seen before.

Nelson Sobrino: “We will make a sign that we’re going to put over there for everybody to know who got it done. We are very happy. Everybody’s very happy around here.”

Thanks for the sign, Nelson. And messing with the mail is not the best way for a criminal to make a living. It’s a federal crime, and you don’t want to have the Feds tracking you down.

If you believe someone has stolen your mail or messed with your mail, the link to contact the postal service to notify them is under this Help Me Howard story.

A problem got you licked? Ready to mail it in? No. Deliver it to us, so we can stamp it “solved.”

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
If you mail is stolen or mailbox was vandalized contact the postal service.
USPIS.gov
1-877-876-2455

It’s why he turned to Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser.

When you see a landlord with a couple of properties, you might wonder how they were able to afford it.

Takes years, Miguel says.

Miguel Marrero: “And you have to stop yourself from going to vacation to save that money to become a landlord.”

And when you become a landlord you get something else. Headaches.

Miguel Marrero: “They should punish the person that is responsible for it, not me.”

After a tenant left Miguel’s rental property, his son went to the Hialeah Water Department to put the account in his name and was told, “Your father has a past due bill.”

Miguel Marrero: “That property had a debt of $2,136 under the name of a renter person that was there before.”

Miguel was told his renter didn’t pay her Hialeah water bill from 2018 to 2020, so Miguel had to pay it.

Miguel Marrero: It’s totally unfair for me as a landlord.”

So many other things aggravated Miguel. First, for three years, the city didn’t tell him about the water bill.

Miguel Marrero: “I was never notified. I was never contacted.”

That let interest and penalties grow. And Miguel also wonders why the water department let a renter go for two years without paying their bill.

Miguel Marrero: “They didn’t do their job, and now they punish me and they punish the person that is not responsible for it.”

Miguel says he doesn’t have to the $2,100 to pay the bill. To force him to pay, Hialeah turned the water off at the house and sent a not so nice letter.

Miguel Marrero: “Threatening me that they were going to put a lien on my property unless I paid that debt.”

Miguel came to America to work hard to save his money. Not to give it to Hialeah to pay someone else’s $2,100 water bill.

Miguel Marrero: “Right away thought about, you know, asking for help from Patrick and Howard.”

We’ll try Miguel.

So, Howard, does he have to pay a tenant’s old water bill?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “The law says the Hialeah Water Department is wrong. And it’s an old law. In 1985, the legislature said cities cannot demand that an owner pay for a water bill that was in a tenant’s name. Now there are exceptions, but they are very few and Hialeah does not qualify for an exception. Meaning, they have to turn the water back on and drop the threat of a lien.”

We asked Hialeah why they let the renter go years without paying the water bill and not notifying Miguel it was past due.

They didn’t answer those questions. But after we sent them the law that blocked them from billing Miguel, they did what we wanted.

They wiped out the water bill, the threat of a lien and changed a policy telling us, “The City of Hialeah will be placing additional measures in place to ensure that the registered property owner is notified immediately when water and sewer services are disconnected for non-payment.

Miguel Marrero: “I feel so happy.”

The water is on. The battle is over after Miguel’s call to Help Me Howard.

Miguel Marrero: “Thanks a million to the whole team, to the Channel Seven, to Help Me Howard.”

It was nice to find that law to help you out, Miguel. I cant believe the city was violating the 1985 state law, which means if you are a property owner in Hialeah and you paid for a tenants water bill, try to get the money back from the city.

Also, the renter still owe the $2,100 water bill if Hialeah wants to track her down.

A problem left you tapped out? Don’t want a watered down solution? Let us get into the flow and make a splash for you.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

She walked into the restaurant back in 1970 after fleeing a horrible life in Alabama.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “I put my kids on the Greyhound bus to get away from an abusive ex-husband, to keep him from killing them and me.”

When Shorty arrived at Jimmy’s Eastside Diner 53 years ago, she was a single mom raising three little boys.

She was hired as a waitress that day. She had found a home.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “I love it. I wish I could be there right now working.”

I have been one of Shorty’s customers for decades and saw how she needed encouragement to endure her agony after one son died from cancer at 18.

The next son died of cancer at 32 and her remaining son died of cancer at 43.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “And then, six months after my last son, I found my first bout with cancer.”

Her brother died of cancer. Everyone in her family is dead. But not her family from Jimmy’s.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “My customers give me the strength, from Jimmy’s, and they were always there for me.”

And as reliable as her customer’s support, is how cursed Shorty’s luck has been. After beating cancer and going back to work, her heart and kidneys started failing.

While in the hospital, lightning struck.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “My apartment had a leak. The lightning had struck the air conditioner on the roof, so my apartment was soaking wet.”

Unable to work, the bills piled up, and the bad luck continued.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “Early in the morning, on a Sunday morning, and it’s gone. Glass out there on the street.”

Her Hyundai Elantra was stolen. Shorty said it was a group of teenagers.

North Miami Police have arrested some kids who steal cars like Shorty’s.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “So they found it, and I got it fixed, got everything done, got it back.”

She brought it home. Five days later, she walked outside.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “Come out, and my car is gone again. Same thing happened: they broke the glass again.”

When Shorty called me to tell me her car had been stolen again, it’s the first time in all the years I’ve known her that she sounded defeated.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “I feel horrible. I feel like I’m the worst person in the world.”

Patrick Fraser: “What do you mean by that?”

Jerita Shorty Collins: “Because I have such rotten luck.”

Shorty is struggling in so many ways. When her last son got cancer, she mortgaged her condo to pay for his medicine. She spent her savings to replace the air conditioner and busted pipes.

She needs help, but Shorty hates to ask for help.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “But I’m embarrassed. because I know people need to help themselves.”

Well, Howard, when you are struggling in so many ways, legally is there any help?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “It’s referred to as the safety net to rescue low-income people or families who are down on their luck. Unfortunately, Florida is among the worst states in the country to help people in need. It’s why you have to turn to family, but Shorty doesn’t have any family left.”

But Shorty has friends. When we took her over to Jimmy’s, it’s clear why she spent 53 years here.

It’s her home, it’s her family. It made her smile.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “One of my busboys, I love, I call him my son. He is the best in the world.”

Shorty’s car was found in Broward County. It was ripped apart.

North Miami Police told me they were donating an anti-lock device to Shorty to hopefully prevent more bad luck.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “I don’t want anybody to feel sorry for me. They didn’t do it to me. I didn’t do it to me.”

If Shorty can get her car repaired, she doesn’t have to say what all her customers know. She wants to get healthy to go back to Jimmy’s.

Jerita Shorty Collins: “I’m tired, but I want to keep going. I miss my customers and a lot of the people I work with.”

And I have no doubt, if you walk into the restaurant in the next few weeks or months, Shorty will be back working again. One determined, remarkable lady.

But she needs money to fix her car, her condo. If you can chip in a little bit, a GoFundMe page has been created to help her. The link is at the end of this Help Me Howard story.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Shorty’s GoFundMe Page

When Meline walked into the townhouse, it was for sale. But in her mind, it was about to be sold.

Meline Wareham: “It looked beautiful. When I came to see it, I was in love immediately.”

Loves the view of the lake, loves living here.

Then, the City of Plantation sent her a letter telling her she was violating city codes.

Meline Wareham: “Not having a license to run a business, which is no shock to me because I don’t run a business here.”

Meline was accused of not having a license to operate a rental property because her home was listed on Vrbo, the site where you rent your house for days.

Meline Wareham: “What I have is a case of a fraudulent listing. I’ve lived here every day since I made the purchase.”

The pictures on Vrbo were of her house that came from the listing when it was for sale. For example, the bedroom then and now.

Meline Wareham: “With my address. Pictures of my home.”

Meline contacted Plantation to try to get the violations removed.

Meline Wareham: “All they needed was proof that the listing was taken down. So I thought, ‘OK, well, that shouldn’t be hard.”

Should have been easy, but Vrbo made it hard.

Meline Wareham: “And when I told them I needed the listing removed, I was told we can’t do that. And I said, ‘Why not?’ And she said, ‘Because you’re not the person who made the listing.'”

The website wouldn’t tell Meline who listed her home, in effect, protecting the crook who was trying to rent her house for $700 a night.

Meline Wareham: “I’m very fortunate that no one has showed up at my door, you know? ‘Hi. Are you the host?’ Like, you know. ‘I’m the resident.'”

Meline’s problems mounted. She was told that if that listing didn’t disappear from Vrbo, Plantation’s fines will begin.

Meline Wareham: “$250 a day per violation. So that’s $500 a day since the end of September. It’d be a really hefty fine. Thousands.”

Meline likes her house. So does a scammer who is trying to rip off potential renters.

Meline Wareham: I’m shocked. I really am. And I’m a little, kind of angry.”

Well, Howard. If a crook lists your home for sale or rent, legally can the website block you from removing the listing?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Legally, they have to remove it, but getting past a customer rep who doesn’t understand the law is tough as Meline found out. And it makes no sense that they don’t train their employees better because if someone who got scammed showed up at the house and took it out on the innocent homeowner, the listing company could be on the hook for the damages to the owner.”

We got in touch with the people at Vrbo. Within a few days, we got this email from Vrbo that said, “Hi, Patrick, thank you for bringing this to our attention. The listing is no longer available on Vrbo.”

They also wrote Meline saying, “We have determined that listing is not authorized to advertise the property and have terminated their listing.”

Meline Wareham: “That’s simple? Get Help Me Howard involved and that’s it? Like three days. Boom. There is the email.”

Meline says Plantation told her she is now in compliance and her it’s not a rental headache is gone.

Meline Wareham: “I’m so happy I called Help Me Howard, and exactly who you see on camera is who you get in real life and so personable, and just so helpful. It’s amazing.”

We’ve been called helpful but never personable. Thank you, Meline.

And who posted the listing? Since Vrbo doesn’t have to tell Meline, she will never know. Although, if it was a scammer, they won’t use their real name anyway.

Housing a problem you want to throw out? Don’t have a list of solutions? Post it with us. We won’t rent it from you. We’ll own it and hopefully solve it.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

When Marlene looks at the pictures on her wall, including her two adult children, she feels like a lucky lady.

Marlene Campbell: “I’m blessed. Yeah, I’m blessed, I’m blessed.”

And she wanted to be lucky in another way, after she read about people winning the lottery.

Marlene Campbell: “I was just curious and said, ‘Hey, let me see if today’s my lucky day.'”

She bought a scratch-off ticket. She scratched. She screamed.

Marlene Campbell: “I was so shocked when I scratched off and saw the amount I won: $1,000.”

She headed to the Miami Lakes lottery office, filled out the form to collect her cash … and her lucky streak ended.

Marlene Campbell: “The lady called me, and she told me I won’t be able to get that money because I filed for unemployment.”

The state of Florida was seizing her $1,000 because, they said, she had collected too much unemployment.

Marlene’s response?

Marlene Campbell: “I’ve been working with the state of Florida for like 28 years, and I never, ever filed for unemployment check.”

Marlene then discovered someone stole her Social Security number and was getting an unemployment check in Marlene’s name.

Marlene Campbell: “I feel really horrible to know that somebody can use all of my information, and they’re using my information to apply for unemployment check.”

Marlene notified the state unemployment office and got nowhere.

Marlene Campbell: “I called every day and they said, ‘No, we’re not doing anything yet.'”

And the days went by. August turned into September. Halloween passed. Thanksgiving went by, and Marlene’s hopes of getting her lottery money faded.

Marlene Campbell: “So, one morning I said, ‘I’m going to call Help Me Howard, to help me.”

This is the perfect example of a bureaucratic mess. Legally, Howard, how does Marlene get out of it?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “If you win more than $600, the law allows the state to seize lottery winnings if you owe child support, owe the IRS or were overpaid collecting unemployment. If your name is on the list by mistake, there is an administrative process to fix the problem. If the state won’t do their job, you have to go to court.”

We contacted the unemployment office, called the Florida Reemployment Assistance Service. They were no help at all.

We then spoke to the agency that oversees them, the Florida Department of Commerce, and they straightened it out. Marlene got her $1,000 lottery winnings.

Marlene Campbell: “And I could get my funds to go enjoy myself.”

Marlene got her money after her call to Help Me Howard, and with the money in her pocket, her next call will be to make an airline reservation.

Marlene Campbell: “I want to go see my son, because I miss him really bad. I don’t want to cry. I miss my son.”

Enjoy the trip, Marlene. Now, some people who owe unemployment money or child support try to outsmart the state by having a friend collect the lottery money for them so they don’t have to pay their debt … but that’s a crime and you can go to jail, so don’t try that.

Gambling you can solve a problem? Wanna make sure you’re in the money? Cash in with us, so we can scratch off that headache from your list.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Chickens in the backyard. Pigs in the next yard. Welcome to the neighborhood.

Sumintra Ahyee: “I wouldn’t got there. I think the smell is horrible.”

Adele Marquez: And at five in the morning, 5:30 in the morning, the rooster starts singing or whatever they do.”

Lets start with Adele in Miami where she lives in a beautiful house her father left her.

Adele Marquez: “I’m very proud of my home and I like taking care of it.”

She likes her property. About 15 chickens love it..

Adele Marquez: “I have tried to catch them and then I’m outside with a broom, shushing them away. But they come back. They do not leave me.”

They wont leave her yard, but they do leave chicken manure everywhere.

Adele Marquez: “So, I, in the morning, I’m washing everything down outside the garage.”

Every day, the brood of chicks is scratching, pecking and pooping, and creating baby chicks, which Adele would never hurt.

Adele Marquez: “I’m very sensitive to them. I want somebody to pick them up and take them someplace.”

Adele has tried everything. Called everybody and laid an egg trying to get them removed.

Adele Marquez: “What can I do? And all of a sudden it it just hit me. I said, ‘Help Me Howard.'”

Before we step in, Adele, lets head down to Sumintra’s South-Dade neighborhood, where she loves to garden and relax in her backyard.

Sumintra Ahyee: “I like to be outside. I like to plant stuff. I enjoy that immensely.”

Then, her neighbor got two pigs. The smell of pig manure forced Sumintra and her husband inside, where the poop odor followed.

Sumintra Ahyee: “He says he smells it, even when inside. It’s all in his nostrils and I am beginning to do the same thing, too.”

Well, Howard, are pigs and chickens legal in cities and neighborhoods?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “It’s actually a little complicated. It depends on the city and the animal. Some allow pet pigs. Some don’t allow them. Some let you have domesticated chickens, but when it comes to feral chickens, the government has nothing to do with them. They are wild, and if you want to get rid of them, you have to pay to remove the chickens.”

We contacted Miami-Dade County. Since the pigs were in a residential area, the owner was told to move the porkers. He did and it cleared the air.

Sumintra Ahyee: “I’m just happy to see you guys. I can enjoy my outside.”

The chickens were tougher. Since the City of Miami doesn’t remove them and Adele couldn’t afford to pay trappers, we spoke to Derek Perez from Dade Animal Removal who agreed to do it for free.

Derek Perez: “I like to already help people as it is, but to help your segment, to be able to contribute to that, it’s actually, it’s an honor.”

Derek traps everything from iguanas to possums. The chickens were clever. It took several days to catch them all.

Derek Perez: “We’ve brought plenty of feed, plenty of goodies for them, and it’s like fishing. We hope for the best.”

We were all concerned about the hen and her chicks. Derek caught them and kept them together.

Derek Perez: “And we can’t just release them anywhere. So we need private properties that’ll accept them.”

The chicks and their mother were released on a farm, along with all the other fowl, thanks to Derek.

Derek Perez: “Once they’re there and they know they’re being fed, they will stay there.”

The chickens are safe. Derek is satisfied.

Adele Marquez: “He’s just been really great with what he’s done.”

Leaving Adele to crow about all the help she got.

Adele Marquez: “I’m very happy. I’m thanking Channel Seven, Help me Howard, his whole staff. And now I can fix up my yard again.”

Did you see those big bird watching the arrival of the chickens? You don’t see that every day.

Now, if you have wild animals and you want them removed humanely, Derek says give him a call.

A problem come home to roost? Your mother hen instincts not working out? Let us egg you on to give you a solution to crow about.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

More Information:
Dade Animal Removal Services
Derrick Perez
305-558-6500

You never want to see what Talib saw.

Talib Nashid: “Yeah, I was sitting on the couch, and then all of a sudden, I seen the smoke coming from the vent.”

Talib started trying to find the fire and saw his son’s computer on his bed.

Talib Nashid: “I came in here looking for the smoke was at. The mattress just engulfed, caught on fire.”

His first thought: put it out.

Talib Nashid: “And you could see the wall was like breathing, so I grabbed the water hose.”

It was too late. Talib hollered to his sons.

Talib Nashid: “‘Come on, get out, get out, get out the house!’ Everybody ran.”

Ran outside.

Talib Nashid: “Everything else was destroyed. Everything is destroyed.”

And Talib was helpless to stop it.

Talib Nashid: “Oh, my God. I wouldn’t want that agony on anyone. You know, I was beating on my car, and my neighbor came and put my shoulder on, and he’s telling me, ‘It’s going to be alright, it’s going to be alright.'”

But it wasn’t.

The insurance company agreed to pay $200,000 to rebuild the house and sent the first installment: a $63,000 check made out to Talib and the general contractor.

Talib Nashid: “You know, we was like, ‘Thank God. Now we’re moving forward.'”

The contractor started tearing out the burnt wood.

A week later, Talib got burned by his bank.

Talib Nashid: “They told us the checking account had been closed because of suspicion of fraud.”

The reconstruction stopped, as Talib battled with the bank to find out why they suspected the insurance company’s check was fraudulent.

Talib Nashid: “Then I got about five different stories. The first story was that they sent the check back to the insurer, the person that issued the check.”

The insurance company said they didn’t get the check.

The bank then said there was no fraud, but after a few more excuses, the fifth one made it clear: Talib wasn’t getting his insurance money from the bank.

Talib Nashid: “Carla, she gave me another message telling me it’s nothing she could do. ‘But you got my check.'”

Imagine being in Talib’s spot. No repairs have been made on the house for three months because the bank won’t release Talib’s insurance money.

And when his kids ask when they can move home, Talib has no idea what to tell them.

Talib Nashid: “‘What’s going on with the house, Dad?’ What could I tell him?”

Well, Howard, what can you tell them? Is this legal for a bank to do?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “It is legal to hold the money while they investigate the check to make sure it is legit, but it is outrageous to hold it for three months. This should have taken the bank days to resolve, and they should release that money now.”

We contacted Chase. They would not disclose why they refused to release the money but wrote, “Glad we were able to work with the issuer of the check to send a new check and resolve this issue for our customer.”

Talib Nashid: “In two hours, they called me and they told me, they said, ‘Listen, we was able to locate the money.’ I was like, ‘Wow.”

Two hours after we contacted Chase, the problem was solved, and Talib finally learned what happened.

Talib Nashid: “The last excuse was that I wasn’t supposed to deposit the check in my personal account. It was supposed to go into the contractor’s account.”

Now it’s in the right account, at a different bank, deposited there after Talib’s call to Help Me Howard.

Talib Nashid: “I really appreciate what Help Me Howard has done for me and my family. Thank you so much. Thank you.”

You are welcome, sir, and now the reconstruction can begin.

By the way, the family had insurance on the house, but not on the contents, and they lost everything. If you would like to help them try to buy some furniture and clothes, the link to their GoFundMe page is at the end of this Help Me Howard story.

Burned by a problem? Ready to fire back? Contact us and let us blaze a trail for you.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

More Information:
GoFundMe page to help Talib and his family

Talk about loving to work. Deborah has a full time job.

Deborah Knight: “And I work a 40 hour a week job.”

She also has a second job, running her online clothing store.

Deborah Knight: “I like dealing with people.”

And when the weekend rolls around, she has a third job; cooking and catering

Deborah Knight: “I have a construction site, I have a nursing home, and I sell them food on weekends.”

Obviously, she doesn’t have much spare time, especially for an apartment complex that has some of her money.

Deborah Knight: “A two bedroom became available at the end of September.”

Deborah was looking for a new rental so she filled out the application, paid the $300 fee and sent in bank statements that they required.

Deborah Knight: “She called me back and she said those were not submitted in the correct format.”

That baffled Deborah.

Deborah Knight: “I asked her what is the correct format because those were uploaded directly from my bank.”

Deborah was asked to send the documents through her iPhone. She did, and she was told that worked on one statement but not the others.

Deborah Knight: “She said, ‘Well, it comes out as a PDF,’ and I said, ‘I have no control over the way that my bank uploads the bank statements.'”

Then the apartment rep had an idea.

Deborah Knight: “So her next solution was to give her my bank credentials, my username and password, so that she can sign into my account, which I refused. I refuse to give you my information.”

Deborah has better things to do with her time than battle an apartment manager.

Deborah Knight: “I asked her for the money back, and she said no under any circumstances. She wasn’t giving back the money.”

The landlords employed didn’t realize she was talking to a woman who works three jobs and is not about to walk away from her hard earned money.

Deborah Knight: “I just need to have my money back and they need to stop treating people this way.”

Well, if a manager doesn’t like the format you submit to rent an apartment, can they keep your money, Howard?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “If they tell you upfront how they want the documents have to be sent, they can keep your money if you don’t do it that way. But otherwise, sending the documents in a PDF file, is a legally recognized and common method to submit information, therefore Deborah gets her money back.”

I spoke to the ppperty manager. She said Deborah’s pay stubs downloaded improperly.

The manager told me, in her opinion, she could keep Deborah’s money, but she did what we wanted.

Deborah Knight: “Help me Howard happened. I called you guys, you got to work, I got my money.”

Got her $300 and found a new apartment. Everything worked out after that call to Help Me Howard.

Deborah Knight: “No mishaps, no money keeping, no nothing. Just everything went smooth. So I’m very happy. I’m a happy camper.”

Help Me Howard happened. I like that line, Deborah.

Now, sometimes a deposit is not refundable if you change your mind or you breach the agreement. But if the landlord’s rep does, like in Deborah’s case, you get your money back.

It’s tricky so read what you are signing.

Someone deposited a problem in your lap? No need to fill out an application to remove it. Let us work it ’cause it’s our one and only job.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

His name is Kenneth Whitmier. His middle name could be “Remarkable.”

Tammy Whitmier: “He was a very generous, giving, loving man.”

Tammy’s father, Sgt. Maj. Whitmier, served 27 amazing years in the U.S Army.

Gary Booze: Two tours in Vietnam, purple hearts, two Bronze Stars, one with valor. It just goes on and on, and on.”

Ask Mr. Whitmier about his achievements and Gary says you would learn another fact. He was humble.

Gary Booze: “I said, ‘What was the Bronze Star for?’ He said, ‘Being stupid?’ and that was the end of the conversation.”

Then in June, Mr. Whitmier passed away.

Gary Booze: “Lost the best member of our family and just trying to do something to remember him, and and carry on his wishes.”

This is one of those wishes Tammy’s father would want to see.

The VA had just given him this nice electric wheelchair.

Gary Booze: “It’s brand new. It’s never been used. The only place that’s ever gone around is right here in this living room.”

Gary tried to give it back to the Veterans Administration.

Gary Booze: “I actually went to the VA down the street. There’s no mechanism in the U.S government for taking back any of this equipment that I can find.”

But Gary and Tammy were determined to do what they knew the late Army veteran would want.

Gary Booze: “Ideally, dad would have like this to have gone to another veteran.”

So they asked Help Me Howard to find a needy veteran.

I contacted Joanna Pardo, the owner of Total Mobility. She is very familiar with people who need wheelchairs and found a veteran who didn’t have a chair.

With the help of Luis and Abdel from Channel 7, we loaded Mr. Whitmier’s two wheelchairs and walker in the truck and headed to meet Eugene Leonard.

Eugene Leonard: “I want the wheelchair. I can’t walk far, you know.”

Eugene badly needed a wheelchair.

Tammy and Gary were about to make it happen.

Gary Booze: “Brother. Thank you for your service.”

Eugene Leonard: “Thank you, thank you. Thank you.”

Eugene thought he was just getting a standard chair he’d have to wheel. He didn’t know it was an very nice, brand new electric chair that could also raise his seat up.

Eugene Leonard: “Oh, man. I appreciate what you’re doing for me. Given me the wheelchair and the chair.”

Gary Booze: “We didn’t do anything for you. Tammy’s dad, Master Sgt. Kenneth Whitmire, did this for you.”

While Eugene was thrilled by the chair, he was just as impressed by the rank of the man it belonged to.

Eugene Leonard: “I tip my hat off to him. As a sergeant major, that’s the highest you can get as an enlisted man.”

Then it was time for Eugene to try out his new toy.

Gary Booze: “When you press that, it turns on some headlights.”

Eugene Leonard: “OK. I’m gonna ride my little scooter for awhile.”

Tammy and Gary were as happy as Eugene, to accomplish what Tammy’s father would have wanted.

Gary Booze: “It’s a relief, you know, that we really got to see something good come out of this.”

A man who struggled to get around in a walker was free to go.

Eugene Leonard: “Oh, oh oh. I got this here.”

Eugene said he always wanted an electric wheelchair

Eugene Leonard: “Oh, you know, I’m not going to cry now, you know.”

He was just sorry another veteran had to pass away so he can get it.

Eugene Leonard: “And you got a good man with it to ’cause I will take care of this here and I will remember sergeant major. that helped me get this here.”

Two army veterans are now linked together in a unique way. Two thoughtful people made it happen.

Eugene Leonard: Thank you all so much for giving me this here. I’m on top of the world now. Whoo, thank you.”

You’re welcome, Eugene. And thank you Gary and Tammy for letting us be a part of your kind gesture.

Fighting a problem and can’t soldier on? Ready to get on a roll? Enlist with us ’cause it’s a gift for us to be able to help you.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Dianellys’ mobile home was a gift. Literally.

Dianellys Molina (translation): “The trailer was initially purchased by my children’s grandfather. Then he put it in my name.”

This is the only home Dianellys’ two children know. A place they love.

Dianellys Molina: “It’s been practically my whole life here with the children.”

Twenty years after moving in, it all changed when she was walking her dog and her bosses’ dog, who she was pet sitting.

The property manager came out.

Dianellys Molina: “I was walking, she passed me by, and she told me, ‘You know that you can’t have two dogs here,’ and I said, ‘OK, I didn’t know that, but hey, that’s fine. In a little while, this dog is leaving.'”

Dianellys was fined for allowing a visitor’s dog on the property. She paid the fine and thought that was it.

Eleven months later, she got this letter.

Dianellys Molina: “That letter says that I have 30 days to get out of here for having a second dog. That’s just basically what it says.”

Dianellys was accused of walking her bosses’ dog again. Not true, she said.

Dianellys Molina: “I know that I can’t have two dogs, after all that happened last year.”

While Dianellys owns her trailer, she rents the space it sits on, and now she feared losing the home.

Dianellys Molina: “She won’t accept the rent because that’s usually what she’s done in the past. Then, after she doesn’t accept the rent, she takes you to court like you are not paying, to evict you.”

Dianellys was stunned that she had 30 days before she will be evicted. Enough time to pack up, but not enough time to sell her home.

Dianellys Molina: “She wants me to go, and leave my trailer for her to sell and keep my money.”

Dianellys was left in tears. Her home is worth money. Now, she about to lose all that.

Dianellys Molina: “I need you to help me so she doesn’t kick me out of here, because it’s unfair.”

Doesn’t seem fair, but is it legal to evict someone from their home and then sell that mobile home? Howard?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “This is not fair, but yes, it’s legal. If the landowner has the right to evict you, you have three choices: move the trailer, sell it or abandon it. Giving someone 30 days to sell it is also not fair. The best solution: delay the eviction so you can sell it, but you need to hire a lawyer, and many people who live in mobile homes do not have the money to do that.”

We tried to contact the property manager at Haven Lake Estates. She wouldn’t talk to us.

Our solution: we spoke to Broward Legal Aid.

They took a simple step, but it worked. They got Haven Lake to give Dianellys 45 days to sell her mobile home, and she did, after that call to Help Me Howard.

Dianellys Molina: “Very grateful for you guys. Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”

Dianellys then used the money from the sale of the trailer to buy a house. A pool in the back, lots of room and lots of smiles.

Dianellys Molina: “I’m able to have a cat, a dog, doing barbecue, parking on the grass, a lot of freedom, thank God. Yes, I’m very grateful.”

And in the end, everything worked out for the best for Dianellys, and I was surprised the mobile home park could end up owning Dianellys’ trailer if she didn’t sell it or move it, but in the eyes of the law, it’s abandoned on their property, and they can keep it. However, in this case, Dianellys beat them by selling it.

Not mobile enough to escape a problem? Need a double wide list of solutions? Hitch up with us to house your problem.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

When Stephanie was a teenager, she met who she thought would be the love of her life.

Stephanie Velez: “He was really nice to me at first, and, you know, he was very, like, treating me like a princess.”

Stephanie and her partner had two beautiful children. What people may not know, their father was abusing their mother.

Stephanie Velez: “He was for like almost five years and I thought he was going to change, but it just eventually, progressively got worse.”

You may have noticed Stephanie doesn’t even have a picture of her with her ex, Rashaad Jenkins. Understandable after the last attack.

Stephanie Velez: “He choked me and I woke up under my work desk and I was unconscious for like almost a minute.”

When she became conscious, Jenkins is accused of being even more brutal.

Stephanie Velez: “He threw me on the bed and he has a firearm and he cocked it back and he was putting it on the back of my neck and he hit me in the back of my head up here.”

Stephanie’s head was busted and bleeding from being hit by the gun. A neighbor heard her screaming and called the police. When they got there, Jenkins had blood on his shirt and told an officer “Yes, it’s my girlfriend’s blood.” They confiscated the loaded weapon he allegedly hit Stephanie with. She went to the hospital. He went to jail and Stephanie made a decision—it was time to get away from him.

Stephanie Velez: “I can’t keep getting abused for so long, especially in the presence of the two girls.”

She asked her apartment manager to be let out of the lease she and Jenkins shared. They said no.

Stephanie Velez: “You know, they said, at the end of the day, you have to pay what you have to pay. Honestly, I wanted to cry because it’s not like I did it on purpose or I wanted this to happen.”

Scared to death, Stephanie moved out anyway and went to stay with family and the property manager verbally came after her.

Stephanie Velez: “They took the security deposit for the rent that I had to pay, which is fine, but they’re charging me another $2,676 for breaking the lease.”

Common sense says get away Stephanie, but does the law allow her to break the lease without a penalty? Howard.

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Unfortunately no. The law does not protect domestic violence victims regarding a lease. Some states do allow a victim to early terminate a lease without penalty, but Florida does not help victims in that regard.”

We spoke to the apartment manager.

To us, they were wonderful. They said they would not go after Stephanie for the $2,600 in rent payments and even though they didn’t have to return the security deposit, they gave Stephanie the $1,625.

Stephanie Velez: “I didn’t even think they’re going to return it. So it’s very good that they’re doing that. With your help, of course.”

She also tried to make her break from Jenkins official.

Stephanie Velez: “I have a five-year restraining order on him, and I have full custody of the kids.”

She will always be looking over her shoulder for her ex but at least now she can move forward and try to put her life back together.

Stephanie Velez: “Yes, I definitely am. I’m very grateful and appreciative for what you guys did for me.”

Nice to be able to help you, Stephanie. Be safe and it’s stunning that the Florida legislature didn’t want to help victims of domestic violence avoid getting hammered on a lease like some other states did. Maybe they will in the future.

Facing a situation you wanna end? Take a break and contact us to see if we can help you flee the problem.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

When CJ sits down, his voice stands out.

CJ Fierro: “Welcome back to another amazing episode of the Pegasus Media Sports podcast.”

It’s a massive understatement to say CJ is a little bit of a sports fan.

CJ Fierro: “Yes, I’m obsessed with sports. It’s all I think about.”

But while his voice carries his podcast, his legs aren’t as reliable.

Carlos Fierro: “He has a condition called AMC, arthrogryposis, and he has bone brittle disease, which, you know, his bones can break at any moment.”

CJ’s walk is unsteady. To get around crowded places like school, he uses his wheelchair.

Carlos Fierro: “You don’t want him walking, you know, 5,000 kids around you. Accidents happen, so that’s why we use a wheelchair.”

This year, everything was great at Cypress Bay High School. Carlos would take his son in and out of school across this pathway.

And then it began.

Carlos Fierro: “One day, just one of the busses blocked one of the two ADA ramps, walkways.”

Each day, the same two school bus drivers decided to park over the two pathways CJ could use to get to his father’s car.

Carlos Fierro: “But now this is the one pathway that is totally blocked, and this is the other one. They’re doing it, not because they need to do it, but they want to do it, which is a huge difference.”

The drivers could pull up — there are no buses in front of them — or not park over the pathway.

Carlos Fierro: “I went up to them. I said, ‘Could you please back up so I can pass with my son?’ Her response was, ‘I can’t back up. Oh, if you have a problem, call this number,’ and it was the number to the Department of Transportation.”

Carlos contacted the Department of Transportation. He says they sided with the two drivers blocking CJ’s exit from school.

Carlos Fierro: “Now the school has told us that it’s out of their hands. They can’t do anything because it’s coming from the district.”

CJ now has to go out a different way. Farther, not as easy, irritating his father.

Carlos Fierro: “Some words I can’t say on TV. I mean, you are blocking a child that is going through so much in their life. Why would you do that?”

The eloquent CJ has no idea, just a simple request.

CJ Fierro: “Please don’t be this mean and don’t be this cruel. Just move a little bit.”

Well, can bus drivers block a student in a wheelchair? Howard?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Legally, this is complicated. The school have to provide access to any program for all students, and they do that by providing another entrance for students like CJ. That’s more difficult for disabled students like CJ. The simple solution is for the bus drivers not to park on the pathway, which is a reasonable accommodation, and that’s what they should do.”

We contacted the Broward School District while Carlos kept making calls to help CJ.

Things then changed.

The school district spokesperson told me the problem has been solved. The bus drivers were told to stop before they got to the pathway where CJ crossed.

Carlos Fierro: “Everything is good now.”

We went with Carlos to pick up CJ. As you can see, those drivers who were blocking the pathway did what they were told to do and stayed back.

Seems simple, but it means the world to CJ.

CJ Fierro: “I’m so happy. I am so relieved. This was an amazing day, I think.”

Father and son are happy after we all worked together to solve this Help Me Howard.

Carlos Fierro: “I am so happy I called you guys, because that’s what got the ball rolling, really.”

Nice to meet you both and help you a little. Now, the high school officials wanted to help CJ and the district did help. Just took a while.

As for those drivers who parked over the pathway, yeah…

Blocked from solving a problem? You don’t need a podcast to have a voice. Bus us in to open a pathway for you.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

When the Potters walk out their front door, it’s into a nice neighborhood.

Jill Potter: “I think our complex, they seem to be taking care of it.”

Now look out Jill’s back window.

Jill Potter: “Trash. Lots of trash.”

The trash is on the swale behind their Pompano Beach condo. You name it, it’s here.

Jill Potter: “There’s flooring. There’s kitchen cabinets. There’s furniture, mattresses, couches, bathtubs and toilets.”

It’s been going on for a while. This is Google Maps from 2022 with the trash prominently in the picture.

Jill Potter: “I don’t even have words for it. It’s just terrible that people think they can just drive up and dump trash anywhere.”

Over the past year plus, Jill has snapped pictures of everything from tires to tubs.

Jill Potter: “We’ve seen them pull up in pickup trucks and vans and they just dump everything out there to stand there and pull it out. Piling on, pile it on.”

As you can see it’s no secret who is doing it. Jill and her husband have documented it again and again with the dumpers staring straight at them.

Jill Potter: “There was a guy this morning. He was in a pickup truck. He was taking out flooring, like wood planks. We drove by. I took a picture. He looked right at me, didn’t stop, just kept on dumping.”

Jill has also sent pictures of the trash and the tossers to the association and the city.

Jill Potter: “When the city came out one time when we had an issue, they said they’re not responsible for cleaning it up. So I contacted the association, our property manager, and they said they’re fighting with the city.”

Jill assumes it’s a crime. The sign above the mess says it is.

Jill Potter: “I want to go out there and say something to them. But, you know, I’m not going to confront someone. They don’t … I don’t know their stability or anything.”

Jill has lived here for 28 years but not lived like this.

Jill Potter: “I get angry when I see people dumping because I know they shouldn’t be doing it. I get frustrated because no one’s helping out. No one’s cleaning it up. No one’s taking responsibility. They don’t care.”

Well Howard, legally who is responsible for cleaning this up and stopping it?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “Dumping garbage on private property is a crime. It’s up to the police to stop it but in reality, garbage is not a high-priority matter. In this case, taking the pictures helps law enforcement. As for cleaning it up, the property owner, the condo association, has to remove the trash even though they are the victims of the dumping. It’s not fair but it’s the law.”

We contacted the City of Pompano Beach and they were impressive. The city removed the trash even though they could have forced the association to do it. The city representative, Sandra King, told us the pictures helped them identify one of the dumpers, a worker for a nearby association. The Broward Sheriff’s Office had a little chat with him and the dumping stopped.

Jill Potter: “So it’s been nice to be able to look out my window and not see a pile of garbage.”

The garbage is gone and hopefully, the dumpers will stay away as well.

Jill Potter: “I am happy. I was at my wit’s end. I didn’t know what to do. So I said, ‘I’m going to try calling. Help me, Howard.'”

Patrick Fraser: “We are here to help and apparently the maintenance worker who was dumping trash was telling his contractor buddies they could dump there as well. If you have a similar problem, take pictures like Jill did. Set up a surveillance camera to make the job for police easier.

Got a problem you think is garbage? Ready to trash it? Dump it in our laps. See if we can pick up a solution for you.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

When Keith was young, his father prepared him for what his life might be like.

Robert Smith: “We had a friend that had a little person; everybody called him a midget. I saw everything that that little boy went through, and I said, ‘He’s not going to go through what he did.'”

And with his parents’ support and guidance, the 4-foot, 1-inch Keith feels he’s been able to lead a fairly normal life.

Keith Smith: “Now I’m used to it, and I feel like a regular person. I blend in with the crowd.”

Keith is certainly a confident person. In high school, he ran for homecoming king and won.

He’s had a job as a salesman in a lumber yard and a second job as an entertainer.

Keith Smith: “It’s like a side job for me, so I’ve been doing it for 15 years plus. I love it. I’ve got over 50 costumes, for St. Patrick’s as leprechaun, Christmas mini Santa Claus or an elf. I’ve done Donald Trump at Club 11.”

But mixed in with the fun, physical problems. Eleven surgeries over his lifetime.

Keith Smith: “Being a little person, we have a lot of issues in our lives that we we go through, and we have to have surgery for different things.”

The latest surgery on his neck has left him struggling to walk.

Keith Smith: “I’m still numb from the side, all the way down to my toe, to my feet.”

Without money coming in, Keith moved back home with his parents.

Keith Smith: “If my parents weren’t here, what would happen to me? I would be living probably in the streets, under a bridge, homeless shelter or something like that.”

In February, Keith applied for disability to try to get a little money and health insurance.

Robert Smith: “He’s been born here, paid taxes, worked all his life, and he’s a perfect example of a person that needs it, and they’re turning him down.”

Keith doesn’t want disability for the rest of his life, just temporarily, until he can walk normally again.

Keith Smith: “I’m not able to go to work, which I wish I could. I would go tomorrow if I could. This is a hold back, and once I get back to normal, I’m going to be back to being me.”

But right now, everything is on hold, as he wonders if he will be able to get disability.

Keith Smith: “It’s like a waiting game. It’s like, when is the waiting game over?”

Well, Howard, technically who is entitled to disability?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “There are two types of federal disability, and anyone is eligible if they meet the requirements. One disability benefit, called SSI, is for people who didn’t work or pay enough to qualify for Social Security. The other type is for people who are eligible for social security, it’s called SSDI, and it pays up to three times as much as SSI. Keith is eligible for SSDI. The problem is, it can be years to get an answer from the federal government.”

This one shocked us, in a good way. We contacted the Social Security Administration and were told they would look into Keith’s disability claim.

We expected it to take months. Six weeks later, Keith got this notice. He was approved.

Robert Smith: “He was almost jumping up and down, and he’s not able to jump up and down. Everything’s working out since you guys got involved real good.”

Keith not only got this month’s disability check. He also got them going back to the day he applied for disability.

Keith Smith: “I’m happy that Help Me Howard got on the case, and I want to thank you so much for helping me.”

You’re welcome, Keith, and can’t wait to do a follow up to see Keith healed, so he can drop his disability and get back to the work he loves.

Now, if you have a disability issue, Social Security has some tips to see if you qualify and how to qualify. The link is at the bottom of this Help Me Howard.

Determined to whip a problem? Never give up, ’cause we won’t.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

More Information:
Social Security disability benefits

Moises does pretty well playing air hockey with his daughter.

Pretty well, that is, for a guy who is supposedly dead.

Moises Ramos: “Fatality in 2019.”

His so-called passing began when Moises backed out of his driveway and another driver bumped him.

Moises Ramos: “We called police department to make an accident record for insurance.”

No one was hurt. Everything was fine, until Moises applied to be an Uber driver and was rejected.

Moises Ramos: “And I was like, ‘Why am I getting denied?’ So I disputed it. They came back again, and they put because of an accident of a ‘fatality.'”

Moises was told to check the Miami-Dade Police report on the fender bender.

Moises Ramos: “And when they reviewed everything, they stated that the police officer had made an error.”

Under “injury severity,” the officer should have clicked 1 for none. Instead, he clicked 5, fatal.

Moises Ramos: “They realized that the fatality on the record was myself.”

Imagine being told you’re dead.

Moises Ramos: “And that kind of like shook me.”

Miami-Dade Police said they would correct the mistake and notify the Division of Motor Vehicles, who had been told Moises died in the accident.

But a month later, he was still a fatality in the state records, so he contacted the police again.

Moises Ramos: “‘We reported it to the state. There’s a phone number you can call.’ We call, they don’t answer.’ I don’t know what else to tell you.”

It’s not only irritating, it’s having consequences. Besides being unable to drive for Uber, Moises can’t get things like life insurance.

Moises Ramos: “I know I’ll get denied because they’re going to check everything, and if they comes up a fatality, it’s going to deny it.”

Even stranger, while the state lists Moises as a fatality, his license is still valid, and of course, the feds makes him pay taxes.

Moises Ramos: “Yeah, they’ll take the money, even if it comes from a dead man.”

Moises can joke about it, but being declared dead is not funny to him anymore.

Moises Ramos: “Very frustrating. So it’s like they made a mistake, and now it’s on me to fix it. So I just don’t know what to do.”

Well, Howard, what can you do?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “You can sue the state, but that’s too expensive. The simple solution: be the squeaky wheel. Keep calling till you get to the right person. If you can’t, call your state representative. They can make the bureaucracy fix the mistake.”

I was Moises’ squeaky wheel.

We contacted Miami-Dade Police, who confirmed they corrected the report, showed Moises was not a fatality and sent it to Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

On Friday, we asked them to correct their records. By Monday, they did that and more.

Moises Ramos: “It was not only resolved, but it was taken to another step further that they took the whole accident off of my driving record.”

Moises’ life is back to normal, after Help Me Howard was able to breathe new life into his situation.

Moises Ramos: “I’m ecstatic about it, and I don’t think this would have happened had had it not been for Help Me Howard.”

When they list you as dead, you get problems. And in the defense of government agencies, they have people who want to help, but in many cases, they are overwhelmed. Not enough staff, ’cause as we often see, the government doesn’t fund the government properly.

Feel your chances of solving a problem are dead? Perish the thought. Let us bury the headache so you can get up and go.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Alejandra got hooked when she was young.

Alejandra Salazar: “Yeah. For my 16th birthday, my grandma got me a husky because I wanted one so bad.”

Nucita is 12 years old now. Alejandra has gotten two more huskies, but Nucita is the special one.

Alejandra Salazar: “She’s the original. She’s just been with me for so long.”

If you notice, Nucita cannot stand up after a trip to the groomer.

Alejandra Salazar: “And then when she comes out, she was like, basically, like unable to walk and like sprawled out like frog legging, like she kept on falling.”

When Alejandra left for the groomer, the ringtone camera showed the husky walking normally.

This is how she looked when she picked her up at the groomers. Their explanation…

Alejandra Salazar: “They thought that she got a cramp from being in this dryer for several hours.”

When Nucita didn’t get better, Alejandra took her to the vet.

Alejandra Salazar: “They think it’s like a tear in like the ligaments in her back legs.”

The groomer said the injury didn’t happen at their shop, showing a short video clip of Nucita as proof.

But the pictures in their lobby tell a different story. A heart breaking story after the vets office tried to prepare Alejandra for what might be coming.

Alejandra Salazar: “They actually were talking to me about like potentially euthanizing. I just started crying and I just cried. At this point, like my mom was crying, like everybody was crying.”

Alejandra is scared and she says so is Nucita

Alejandra Salazar: “Well, the first few days, definitely sad, definitely in pain, scared. The first couple of days, especially when I picked up like her, her eyes were, like, so afraid.”

The vet prescribed medication and Alejandra is using a sling to help Nucita get up when she wants to go to the bathroom outside.

Alejandra Salazar: “She’s adapted to that. So we’re still using that technique because she’s still struggling to get up. I don’t know if she’s ever going to be able to get up on her own.”

Animals are remarkable. After a few days, Alejandra says it appears Nucita is a getting little better.

Alejandra Salazar: “I want to hold out hope that she’s going to get better and I’m holding on to it because I’ve seen that there’s been improvement.”

In the meantime, the groomer apologized and refunded the $165 they charged to wash Nucita, but they still wont tell her what happened and won’t pay for the $1,400 vet bill.
.
Alejandra Salazar: “Things could have been so different had they just been very honest from the get-go and called when whatever it is that happened happened.”

Well, Howard. How does the law look at this?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “This is what the law calls a mutual bailment where each side gets a benefit. And the law will presume, since the husky walked in fine, that the groomer injured the animal. They have to prove otherwise. If they can’t, they have to pay the vet bills.”

We contacted the groomer who wouldn’t tell us how the animal was hurt either.

After a few conversations, they agree to pay the $1,432 vet bill and they said they will continue to pay Nucita’s follow up bills until she is fully recovered.

And look at Nucita now. The medicine and time are working.

Alejandra Salazar: “She’s able to walk now on her own without needing the support.”

Alejandra had the agony of watching Nucita suffer, but she won’t have the pain of paying the vet bills after her call to Help Me Howard.

Alejandra Salazar: Because you guys were so helpful with dealing with the situation and communicating with the groomers to help come to the best resolution that we could.”

Glad Nucita is getting better.

And the bottom line, if someone or their animal injures your pet, they have to pay the vet bills. But they don’t have to pay for your pain and suffering because the law considers a pet like a piece of furniture. Sounds cold but it’s the law.

A problem dogging you? Feel like you are barking up the wrong tree? Unleash us ’cause we’re itching to help you.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Maryanna takes good care of herself: exercise, eating right. But of course, she still gets aches and pains.

Maryanna Healy: “My shoulder has been bothering me. It’s probably just an age thing, rotator cuff.”

She called her primary care office, where she was told a new doctor would see her.

Maryanna Healy: “They told me, ‘Yes, your insurance is going to cover this. Oh, yes.'”

The appointment went well … and then she was hit with a new ache.

Maryanna Healy: “About two weeks later, I get a bill for $548.”

Turns out the doctor she saw had not yet been approved by her insurance. She called the office.

Maryanna Healy: “‘And it’s all going to work out. And we’ll – we will redo it, and it’ll be fine.'”

It wasn’t fine.

Maryanna Healy: “I got another bill, and I’ve been following up, and I keep getting electronic and paper bills.”

Maryanna contacted her insurance company, who told her how her doctor could get approved by them.

Maryanna, who worked in the health care industry for 40 years, says she explained it to the staff members.

Maryanna Healy: “I’m going to say 15 times at least, and the same thing happens. It was like I was Groundhog Day no matter what I did.”

Then she finally she got the painful letter from the doctor’s office.

Maryanna Healy: “Final notice. They’re going to take action against me if I don’t pay this bill.”

She went to the physician to feel better, not worse.

Maryanna Healy: “It just made me angry. I could pay the $548. It’s not about the $548. It’s about justice.”

The pain in her shoulder is going away. Now Maryanna needs a prescription to make her billing headache disappear.

Maryanna Healy: “My husband convinced me. ‘You need to call Help Me Howard.'”

Well, Howard, if a medical provider says they accept your insurance, do you have to pay if they don’t?

Howard Finkelstein, 7News legal expert: “No, you are not responsible. This is simple. Maryanna called the doctor’s office, and she relied on what they said: that they accepted her insurance and were in her network. Therefore, she is not responsible for the bill.”

We contacted the representative for the doctor’s office. We wish every problem could be solved this quickly. That afternoon they contacted Maryanna.

Maryanna Healy: “She said she took care of the billing and would move it over to ‘insurance only.’ And she was apologizing.”

Maryanna went to a doctor’s office. What if it’s a hospital where you see several doctors?

Howard Finkelstein: “There’s a new law, called the No Surprises Act, that says if you go to a hospital that’s in your insurance company’s network, and one of their providers does not accept your insurance, you only have to pay what you would have paid if they accepted your insurance.”

Maryanna doesn’t owe any money at all, after her call to Help Me Howard.

Maryanna Healy: “And I really appreciate what Patrick and you and Howard, everyone has done. It’s remarkable how once the media was involved, the problem could be solved in two hours, and I had spent countless hours on it for the past four months.”

As in many cases, it’s just getting in touch with the right person. That’s why we’re here, to help you do that.

And to know your rights if you get a surprise medical bill, or to know what to expect ahead of time, the links to the state and federal laws protecting you are at the end of this Help Me Howard story.

Got a problem that’s a real pain? Aching to get a solution? Make an appointment with us, ’cause we have the prescription to help you out.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

Federal Law Regarding a Surprising Medical Bill

Information Regarding Florida Surprise Medical Bill Law

Florida law prohibits surprise billing in emergency situations. In addition, it protects consumers when they are at in-network hospitals for non-emergency services, but are unknowingly treated by out-of-network physicians for covered services. Hospitals must post on their websites the health plans with whom they are in-network, and put consumers on notice that patients may be seen by out of network practitioners.

For more information on Florida’s consumer balance billing protections, please contact the Agency for Health Care Administration, at 1-888-419-3456 / 800-955-8771 Florida Relay Service (TDD number). Additional information for consumers is available on the Florida Health Care Complaint Portal.

And For More Information:
jackson-hospital.com/patients-visitors/no-surprise-billing-notice

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

While you are sleeping, Joseph is working … making donuts.

Joseph Podmokly: “I’ve been doing it for almost 30 years. They always ask me what donut I like. I say I don’t have a favorite no more.”

But your favorite will be warm and tasty when you wake up every morning … ’cause recently Joseph has been working every morning.

Joseph Podmokly: “Right now, I’m working seven days a week. It’s difficult. I mean, you gotta get used to it.”

One reason Joseph was working so much was to get a car.

Joseph Podmokly: “Four thousand [dollars] altogether. Down payment was like $4,000.”

When Joseph told the used car dealer he didn’t have the $4,000 down payment, they said, “Just pay us $400 a week for 10 weeks to cover that payment.”

Joseph Podmokly: “And if the dealership was willing to do something like that, I figured, hey, it would be a great opportunity.”

Joseph says he signed the contract to pay off the down payment plus the contract to buy the car. The dealer told him the name of the lender who was financing the loan to pay off the rest of the vehicle.

But when he didn’t get any paperwork from them, his wife, Tammy Jean, called that lender.

Tammy Jean Podmokly: “‘Joe’s is not in the system. There’s no auto loan there.’ And I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?’ And she said, ‘No, no, it was never approved. I don’t know what’s going on.'”

Joseph immediately called the used car dealership to find out why the lender hadn’t approved him for financing.

Joseph Podmokly: “And he kept saying, ‘Oh, don’t worry about it, don’t worry about it. They’re going to get in contact with you.'”

And then the hammer hit. After 10 weeks, Joseph had made the last payment on the the $4,000 deposit … and the car disappeared.

Joseph Podmokly: “They repoed it. They said they didn’t get the money and then they could come and repo it.”

The dealer said Joseph didn’t pay the lender the monthly payments on the auto loan, but Joseph and Tammy Jean said the lender turned down the financing for the car.

Tammy Jean Podmokly: “If there was no loan on this car, why did you even say he was approved? Why did you let us walk out?”

Joseph Podmokly: “This doesn’t sound right. It’s just fishy.”

It certainly stinks for Joseph, because the used car dealer won’t return the $4,000 deposit that he worked seven days a week to afford.

Joseph Podmokly: “I’m just a small little peon kind of guy. I just want justice. You know, I just want my money back.”

But is Joseph entitled to his $4,000 back, Howard?

Howard Finkelstein: “Yes. Legally, it’s questionable. If the dealer knew Joseph’s financing was turned down and still let him proceed for 10 weeks paying the deposit, the deal is invalid and Joseph gets his money back.”

We went to the dealership where the car Joseph had tried to buy was for sale again.

Joseph Podmokly: “This is the car that I bought here that they screwed me over on.”

We spoke to the owner of Royalton Motors several times without getting the problem solved.

Josh Becker then wrote us that “Mrs. Podmokly also called you and told you she doesn’t want the story run and that you do not have her authorization to do so.”

She said she told him she did not control Help Me Howard.

After that, the dealer returned the $4,000.

Joseph Podmokly: “He says, you know, he wants to do the right thing, and of course, he did at the end. But if it wasn’t for Help Me Howard, this would have never happened.”

We met Joseph as he was arriving at night at the donut shop … in the truck he just bought. Possible after his call to Help Me Howard.

Joseph Podmokly: “If anybody has any problem, I would say call Help Me Howard. They’re the best.”

And getting that $4,000 back helped Joseph get a truck. One lesson here: no matter what the used car dealer tells you about financing, do not take the vehicle off the lot until financing is approved in writing. Otherwise you’re going to be in trouble.

Doing a donut trying to solve a problem? Don’t take a half baked solution. Let us deliver a tasty one to get your dough back.

With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN