A COUPLE have been left heartbroken and out of pocket after a Married At First Sight star failed to deliver on work promised.
Divisive character Ross McCarthy, , returned to his following his, but has now been accused of being a scammer by a furious foster couple, who warn: “If he’s done it to us, there will be more people he’s conned out of cash.”
The reality star returned to his roots as a painter and decorator following his TV show stint Credit: mccarthy91_/Instagram
Married At First Sight star Ross McCarthy has been accused of scamming a couple who paid him to do work for them Credit: Channel 4
Devastated Jayne, 57, and Alan Taylor, 60, from Eccles reached out to Ross to plaster a room after seeing his work on Facebook.
The job, however, has never been started, let alone completed, despite them paying a deposit more than three months ago.
At their wits’ end, Jayne tells us: “We weren’t just going to sit back and let this happen. I’m p*****d off.
“There are vulnerable people out there that maybe wouldn’t think about doing anything, like the elderly or people with learning disabilities, and it’s not fair.”
He rose to fame on MAFS, during which he married co-star Sacha Credit: Channel 4
On the show, Ross clashed with Sacha due to anger issues Credit: Channel 4
The couple, who have dedicated the past 21 years of their life to fostering children, decided to “retire’ last year.
They intended to knock two bedrooms they had used for children into one and create a relaxing space for them to enjoy.
Jayne had seen MAFS, so she knew who Ross was – his
He admitted to throwing things in a rage during filming. Sacha, who was half the size of Ross, claimed he would scream at her and call her names, including calling her a “b***h” when he lost his temper.
He later revealed he was an alcoholic and had been struggling with booze issues during filming.
But Jayne was impressed with his work online and put any preconceived ideas she had about him to one side.
She says: “He’d put loads of pictures of work he’d done, and people were asking for jobs for him. So it seemed legit.”
Ross had been busy promoting his business on social media, telling fans: “If you’re looking for painting and decorating work done, especially bigger jobs, feel free to DM me.
“I’ve had a few people ask about distance, but it’s no issue now – we’re happy to travel and focus on delivering quality work every time.
“Let’s get your space looking spot on.”
Unfortunately, it didn’t work out like that for Jayne.
She had reached out to Ross in January, when he was advertising a discount.
He agreed to take on the job. In February, he contacted Jayne and asked if he could start in March, but insisted he would need a deposit.
It was agreed that the couple would pay £175 then and a further £225 when it was finished.
But when March came, Jayne started to have concerns about Ross as he kept pushing back his start date.
“It all got a bit crazy”, Jayne says.
“Every time I contacted him, there seemed to be a new excuse.
“The first time he was moving house, then he was in hospital, apparently in a wheelchair and on a drip, but just a few days later he was with his child.
Ross often shares updates about his work to Instagram and has advertised his services online Credit: Instagram/BBC/mccarthy91_
Ross (left) has been described as a “cowboy builder” Credit: Instagram
“After he claimed to be in the hospital, I decided to ask for my deposit back, but it was just more excuses.
“You just take people at face value, don’t you? I thought I’d give him the benefit of the doubt.
“But when he’s saying he can’t send the money over because he’s not got his card reader – that’s just taking the mickey.”
Jayne last heard from Ross on April 2nd when she received a WhatsApp from him saying: “Good morning, Jayne, the message not going through on normal text. Please sent me your details on here I get it sent over by the end of today. Sorry for delay. [sic]”
The money never appeared – she has messaged and called him over ten times since then, but has had no response.
Instead, Ross has blocked them on social media and completely ghosted them.
Reflecting on what’s happened, Jayne says: “In this day and age, in the world that we’re in now, people need to be a bit kinder, don’t they?
“People don’t have spare cash.
“You have to be open and honest with people. That’s what we try to do anyway. But not everybody has the same morals, do they?
“He’s a conman and like a cowboy builder.
“He’s told me he’s going to send me the money back, and he’s not.
‘The job now costs me double what it should have cost because we’ve had to get somebody else in to do the job. So that’s not great.
“If he can do it to one person, he can do it to others.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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