Consumerwatch reporter Karen Rocznik follows up on the efforts of local business owners to recoup lost money from an event promoter
Winnipeg business owners are still trying to collect money owed to them after several events organized by a local promoter fell through.
CTV previously reported that Rockstar Entertainment owed thousands of dollars to several local businesses for events it helped organize. Months later, some of that money has been returned but much of it is still outstanding.
In November, Kathryn Sawatzky paid for a booth at an upcoming wellness expo featuring celebrity fitness guru Suzanne Somers. The event was cancelled and Sawatzky learned Somers had never signed on.
She asked for a refund, but it never came.
He said the cheque was in the mail, I said great but I wasn't holding my breath,” she said.
In June, CTV spoke to Rockstar CEO Kurt Wittin about the repayment and he promised to get it to her that weekend. Sawatsky said she received it three weeks later.
"It took a bit of time, but I was shocked to find it in my mailbox," she said.
Yvonne Kriskovic's decorating store processed all the ticket sales for a Chippendales show organized by Rockstar, which collected the cash.
When the show was canceled, Kriskovic said the refunds came out of her own pocket. Kriskovic told CTV Chippendales refunded her $10,000 but she's still waiting for the remaining $15,000.
In June, local building supplier AMC Foam successfully sued Wittin for more than $1,000 after another trade show he pitched ended up being cancelled. Court documents show the court was able to recoup the cash by garnishing Wittin's bank account.
Sawatsky said she's glad she didn't have to go through the courts to collect her money and that the experience has taught her a valuable lesson.
“Anybody can make up a poster, or use a celebrity’s name, so I would definitely be more buyer-beware and do my research,” she said.
CTV attempted to contact Wittin about the outstanding refunds but calls were not returned.
- With a report from Karen Rocznik
