SPRING HILL -- Cindy Villari is retired and the money was supposed to help off set the cost of Christmas. Last Christmas.
A garage often shares something about the people who live inside the home.
"I am married 47 years today," said Cindy.
Cynthia Vallari's garage tells a story about her husband, John.
"He loved carpentry, loved it," she said.
This carpenter worked the wood until cancer robbed him of the strength to run a saw. John Villari died last year. For months his widow avoided his garage and the memories it evoked.
"...Cause I would see him here cigarette hanging out of his mouth all full of saw dust,” Cindy remembered.
By Thanksgiving Cindy was ready to make room in her garage for something else.
"I rent my garage to UPS and they store golf carts here,” she said.
The holiday agreement with UPS should have paid Cindy about $250. She submitted this invoice to the shipping giant last January but never got paid in spite of repeated calls.
"It has to go across the desk, it has to be signed, it was always something."
Day after day, month after month after month, Cindy checked the mail box.
After I contacted UPS they found an answer for Cindy’s missing money.
In a statement UPS told me: "Our records indicate that UPS sent a check to Ms. Villari at the address she provided. Upon further research, we discovered that the check has not been cashed. We've canceled the first check and we will send Ms. Villari a new one.”
I got the check within 10 days, Cindy said. "I am thankful you were able to help."
This holiday Cindy's garage will be closed for business, reserved only for the machines and memories her man left behind.
Cindy did not have anywhere to turn in Hernando County because it does not have a consumer protection unit. Another option for those living in Hernando is to contact the Better Business Bureau to mediate a consumer issue.
