Local business owners want their money from Twongo
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Triangle businesses say they are fighting to get their money back after running a promotional deal through Twongo. It's an online Cary-based company that contracts with local businesses, and then offers daily discounts on their services that we can all buy.
This isn't the first time business owners have claimed trouble getting paid. We've helped two businesses get money from Twongo, and now I have an update from more business owners who say they want their money.
Fenita Morris-Shepard, the owner of Kool Kidz in Apex, told me she signed a contract with Twongo. The online deal was $45 for 10 hours of drop-in child care.
122 deals were bought, and Fenita was supposed to get 60 percent of the sales which was more than $3000.
She waited for her money, but when there was no check, she says she reached out to the owner of Twongo.
"We started sending emails and calling him, asking about payments and never received any response back," Fenita said.
Mike Schlink, who has a carpet cleaning business called ChemDry of Cary says he was in the same boat. He was owed $2200 from Twongo after running a deal that he never got paid for.
Not getting paid really hurts Kool Kidz said Fenita.
"It's very important to us. Every dollar helps in a small business, and when you talk about $3,000, it's huge," Fenita explained.
Twongo owner, Brad Halferty, told me both business owners would get paid but that it would take some time.
Fenita said she is still waiting for her $3200 payment which has been a tough blow to her business.
"We still have to honor every voucher that we received from customers because they paid money for that, so essentially we're working for free," Fenita said.
Mike of ChemDry on the other hand is thrilled because he says the owner of Twongo finally paid him $2200.
"It's been a long process over the case of the year and I appreciate all the help," Mike said.
So Mike is paid in full, but Fenita says she is still waiting.
I have heard from another business owner who told me they have not been paid by Twongo.
Additionally, while Fenita has accepted deals despite not having been paid from Twongo, not all businesses are doing that.
Twongo customers have said their deals are worthless as some businesses are refusing the deals because they have yet to be paid by Twongo.
Twongo has not offered daily deals for several months now, and when I asked the owner why, he said they're launching a new platform that would pass the proceeds directly from the consumers to the merchants without Twongo as a middle man.
