Basketball: Deal goes sour for sponsor

Jarrod Hanson
Jarrod Hanson
Jarrod Hanson says his experience of trying to get money out of Basketball Otago (BBO) has left him questioning whether he would want to be involved with the organisation again.

Hanson owns a rental business in Kaikorai Valley and got involved with the Otago Nuggets as a sponsor this year.

He also gave BBO a 50% discount on rental cars and said initially he was pleased with the arrangement.

But while he was making weekly sponsorship installments, BBO was falling behind on its bill.

''I gave them a really sharp price on rentals and we came to an agreement that they would pay weekly,'' Hanson said.

''It worked all right for the first two weeks and then it fell over. Then it became monthly and then every two months. It just got worse and worse.

''I'm a sponsor as well and it hurt because I paid my sponsorship weekly but they didn't pay me.''

Hanson said he has not received a payment since early July and is owed $3557.18.

''For a small business like mine it is [a substantial amount]. It hurts.''

Hanson, who approached the Otago Daily Times, was worried going public would jeopardise his chances of recovering the money.

However, he has become frustrated with a lack of action from BBO.

He said phone calls and emails have gone unanswered and it has soured what he had hoped would be a rewarding experience.

''I'm leaving emails and making phone calls. I've been contacting three different people and none of them are getting back to me.

''Their communication is awful.''

Asked if it has put him off being involved in the future, Hanson responded, ''Definitely.''

''I love the game and loved everything about it. But it has left a real sour taste in my mouth.''

Hanson Rental Vehicles was a silver level sponsor and the Otago Daily Times understands a gold level sponsor is also owed money by BBO.

It did not want to discuss the issue in the media.

Last week, Dunedin Indoor Sports Venue Trust chairman Robin Bates revealed BBO owes about $27,000 for court hire at the Edgar Centre.

BBO's financial struggles have be well chronicled. In June, news broke the organisation was expecting to report a significant deficit for the financial period ending December, 2013.

Those accounts are still with the auditor but the projected loss follows two previous deficits totalling almost $50,000.

BBO chairman Ricky Carr was contacted for comment and gave a brief response before hanging up.

''I don't know,'' he said when asked why Hanson Rental Vehicles had not been paid.

''I can't tell you. I'm not up with the intimate details of the accounts system unfortunately.''

 

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