nCrowd, a Knoxville based online discount coupon company (similar to Groupon), was foreclosed by creditors in August 2015. Shoppers and merchants in at least three countries were owed millions in goods and services that, according to news reports, they may never receive.

Knoxville reporter Dan Andrews contributed to this report from the UK: Many shoppers buying discount goods never received their items. The company ceased trading late last year and officially folded in mid-December. Shortly afterwards a letter from the liquidator responsible for winding up nCrowd sent to creditors warned that 'no refunds will be issued by the company and nor will any orders made now be fulfilled'.

There is also a report from the Canadian Deals and Coupon Association: Attention consumers in Canada.. if you recently bought a deal voucher from nCrowd and bought it using your credit card then we recommend you get it charged back by your credit card company. Again buyer beware; we would recommend that you purchase your deals from other deal providers instead of nCrowd or Boomstreet. There are better options for you in Canada.

CBC News and CTV News in Canada have similar reports.

The Knoxville Better Business Bureau has received hundreds of consumer complaints about the company.

The State of Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance has placed the company on their "Buyer Beware" list.

State Sen. Richard Briggs has introduced a bill (SB 2026) that "creates an advisory taskforce to review the sale of online coupons and recommend any necessary statutory revisions to the consumer protection and criminal laws that should be made to protect consumers when paying to obtain an online coupon."

On Monday, WATE will have an in-depth report by Don Dare on the American and more local Knoxville impact.

(Credit: Dan Andrews)

Update: WATE report...

Toby from afar's picture

I see that Petty Hearst is

I see that Petty Hearst is still practicing coitus with the odd Capra aegagrus circus

bizgrrl's picture

What a great picture of the

What a great picture of the Sunsphere and Knoxville in the article. The company that owed millions in goods and services operated out of the Sunsphere.

Bbeanster's picture

Remember? A lease deal on the

Remember?
A lease deal on the Sunsphere was part of the deal when Haslam unloaded the Candy Factory to Conley.
He's been a privatizer since Day One.

danandrews's picture

Interesting that you should mention that Betty UNPAID TAXES!

Taxes are levied for the calendar year and billed October 1.
Taxes become delinquent on March 1. Current Tax Year: 2015
Business Name: APOLLO CREATIVE, L.L.C. ( Appraised Value: $35,271.00
Location: 810 CLINCH AVE #710 Assessed Value: $10,581.00
Mailing Address: 810 CLINCH AV #710 IN S KNOXVILLE TN 37902 Tax Rate: $ 2.7257 /$100 **Use the Print Icon at the top of the
page to print tax report**
Sequence No: 1317365 Tax Levy: $288.41
Tax for 2015 if paid in 02/2016 $288.41
Payment Information is correct as of 2/19/2016 Prior Years Due: $2,391.59 Calculation Date 2/22/2016
Total Due: $2,680.00 For payment in a
later month

2/22/2016
Submit
Pay Online
Recalculate
Mail Payments To City of Knoxville
P. O. Box 1028
Knoxville, TN 37901
Tax Summary
Tax Year Receipt Number Status Last Date Paid Tax Levy Tax Balance Interest Penalty Suit Expense Court Cost Misc Fee Total
2015 001332 UNPAID $288.41 $288.41 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $288.41
2014 007976 UNPAID $230.73 $230.73 $55.38 $0.00 $0.00 $286.11
2013 005720 UNPAID $196.08 $196.08 $94.12 $39.22 $15.50 $344.92
2012 900377 UNPAID $224.11 $224.11 $161.36 $44.82 $15.50 $445.79
2011 076672 UNPAID $279.46 $279.46 $268.28 $55.89 $15.50 $619.13
2010 004195 UNPAID $283.39 $283.39 $340.07 $56.68 $15.50 $695.64
2009 076121 PAID 3/1/2010 $371.68 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
2008 001097 PAID 3/1/2010 $337.42 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
2007 084493 PAID 12/5/2007 $209.15 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
2006 075189 PAID 2/12/2007 $333.29 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
2005 074647 PAID 10/19/2006 $411.55 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
2004 073922 PAID 10/18/2004 $550.89 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

danandrews's picture

More unpaid taxes involving the Sunsphere

Taxes are levied for the calendar year and billed October 1.
Taxes become delinquent on March 1. Current Tax Year: 2015
Business Name: CARDINAL ENT. Appraised Value: $88,280.00
Location: 810 CLINCH AVE Assessed Value: $26,484.00
Mailing Address: 810 W CLINCH AVE, 7TH FL, KNOXVILLE TN 37902 Tax Rate: $ 2.7257 /$100 **Use the Print Icon at the top of the
page to print tax report**
Sequence No: 1326876 Tax Levy: $721.87
Tax for 2015 if paid in 02/2016 $721.87
Payment Information is correct as of 2/19/2016 Prior Years Due: $4,087.46 Calculation Date 2/22/2016
Total Due: $4,809.33 For payment in a
later month

2/22/2016
Submit
Pay Online
Recalculate
Mail Payments To City of Knoxville
P. O. Box 1028
Knoxville, TN 37901
Tax Summary
Tax Year Receipt Number Status Last Date Paid Tax Levy Tax Balance Interest Penalty Suit Expense Court Cost Misc Fee Total
2015 001614 UNPAID $721.87 $721.87 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $721.87
2014 002725 UNPAID $577.49 $577.49 $138.60 $0.00 $0.00 $716.09
2013 005792 UNPAID $490.74 $490.74 $235.56 $98.15 $15.50 $839.95
2012 900459 UNPAID $352.15 $352.15 $253.55 $70.43 $15.50 $691.63
2011 076623 UNPAID $389.69 $389.69 $374.10 $77.94 $15.50 $857.23
2010 003403 UNPAID 3/2/2011 $431.48 $402.94 $483.53 $80.59 $15.50 $982.56
2009 076952 PAID 3/2/2011 $501.18 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
2008 005475 PAID 3/6/2009 $518.89 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
2007 080492 PAID 3/6/2009 $1,128.50 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
2006 071165 PAID 7/16/2007 $4,938.55 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
2005 070587 PAID 5/30/2007 $3,186.20 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
2004 069920 PAID 3/9/2005 $2,184.35 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

danandrews's picture

and yes Betty Bean...more unpaid taxes

Taxes are levied for the calendar year and billed October 1.
Taxes become delinquent on March 1. Current Tax Year: 2015
Business Name: PROLIFIC LIVING Appraised Value: $10,838.00
Location: 810 CLINCH AVE. #5 Assessed Value: $3,251.00
Mailing Address: 810 CLINCH AVE. #5 KNOXVILLE TN 37902 Tax Rate: $ 2.7257 /$100 **Use the Print Icon at the top of the
page to print tax report**
Sequence No: 1355795 Tax Levy: $88.61
Tax for 2015 if paid in 02/2016 $88.61
Payment Information is correct as of 2/19/2016 Prior Years Due: $229.62 Calculation Date 2/22/2016
Total Due: $318.23 For payment in a
later month

2/22/2016
Submit
Pay Online
Recalculate
Mail Payments To City of Knoxville
P. O. Box 1028
Knoxville, TN 37901
Tax Summary
Tax Year Receipt Number Status Last Date Paid Tax Levy Tax Balance Interest Penalty Suit Expense Court Cost Misc Fee Total
2015 007363 UNPAID $88.61 $88.61 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $88.61
2014 005833 UNPAID $88.61 $88.61 $21.27 $0.00 $0.00 $109.88
2013 010168 UNPAID $62.05 $62.05 $29.78 $12.41 $15.50 $119.74
2012 900952 PAID 3/27/2013 $40.96 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
2011 077662 PAID 3/27/2013 $32.77 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

danandrews's picture

So Betty, guess who is not paying their taxes?

http://sunsphereeventrentals.com/about.html

OK Betty,

The 266-foot tall structure was renovated in 2007 and is leased from the City by the developers of the renovation project; Kinsey Probasco Hays of Chattanooga and Knoxville based Cardinal Enterprises. The Developers hold a 20-year lease on the Sunsphere building. Apollo Asset Management (a division of Cardinal Enterprises) manages floors 5-8 of the property and also controls the lease agreements on the Event Floor. In late 2010 Apollo Asset Management entered into an agreement with small Event, Media, and Public Relations firm Prolific Living to exclusively book the Event Floor.

danandrews's picture

Now let's drill down a little more

(link...)

Cardinal Enterprises Inc
810 West Clinch Avenue # 7
Knoxville, TN 37902 - View Map
Phone: (865) 971-4680
Web: Cardinalgroup.net
Own This Business?
Cardinal Enterprises Inc
A privately held company in Knoxville, TN. Is this your business? Claim This Profile

More Details for Cardinal Enterprises Inc
Categorized under Real Estate Developers. Our records show it was established in 1994 and incorporated in Tennessee. Current estimates show this company has an annual revenue of $1 to 2.5 million and employs a staff of approximately 5 to 9.

Company Contacts
Is this your business? Claim This Profile

Brian Conley, Owner
Owner

R. Neal's picture

Update: WATE report...

Update: WATE report...

Bbeanster's picture

quote: WATE 6 On Your Side

quote:

WATE 6 On Your Side visited last month to find out if any of nCrowd’s dissatisfied customers could get their money back. John Wright, the CEO of BoomStreet and former email marketing director of nCrowd, said Brian Conley has never been associated with BoomStreet.

Isn't John Wright Conley's longtime flunky – the one who "ran" Metro Pulse"?

danandrews's picture

(link...) John Wright,

(link...)

John Wright, former manager at Metro Pulse, will help establish our distribution and sales networks.

danandrews's picture

Betty Bean... I Love You!

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://monkeyfire.com/mpol/dir_zine/dir_staff/staff.html

We also know that while Brian Conley was the publisher at Metropulse John Wright was the associate publisher

(link...)
(link...)

Their relationship goes back as far as 2003 to Metropulse...

Joe Sullivan, who made Metro Pulse what it is today in his 10 years as publisher, sold the paper to Brian Conley early this year. Joe stays on as editor-in-chief, maintaining his smoke-filled corner office and his Insights column, but the day-to-day operation of the paper is in the hands of Conley and his savvy sidekick and associate publisher, John Wright.

(link...)

You can cache it to find the direct info...Great job Betty!

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