Tulsa Business Owners Claim 'Keep It Local Tulsa' Ripped Them Off, File Suit

Wednesday, January 4th 2012, 7:17 pm

By: News On 6

Complaints are piling up against a local company calling itself Keep it Local-Tulsa.

Several small businesses tell News On 6 they paid up front for goods and services, but didn't get them or a refund.

After months of waiting, some of the businesses are now filing police reports for fraud, and suing Richard Wolfenberger and Keep it Local-Tulsa in small claims court for unpaid wages and fraud.

News On 6 talked to several business owners who say he owes them money but all they get are excuses.

Rusty Rowe owns Mod's Coffee and Crepes in downtown Tulsa. He says when Richard Wolfenberger pitched his Keep it Local-Tulsa plan, it sounded great.

"He does this whole spiel and you think it's somebody who wants to help Tulsa, to get people interested in shopping local, helping the local economy," Rowe said.

Rowe says he paid $200 in exchange for cards that customers would buy that would give them discounts at local businesses. But, he says he requested a display that would explain the program and never got it, so he wanted his money back, as promised.

"Never happened. I called several times, eventually just told him, ‘you know what, I don't want to be a part of this program. I'm done, take our name off everything,'" he said.

He says that was months ago, but the Keep it Local-Tulsa Facebook page is still using Mod's name, so their lawyer is drafting a cease-and-desist letter.

Jim Loggin says he paid Wolfenberger $500 for promises of radio ads and online videos, but neither happened.

He says Wolfenberger claimed his company ordered a huge number of iPads, so he could sell them at a discount.

Loggin paid more than $600, five months ago, but never got the iPads. Then he says Keep it Local-Tulsa charged his credit card another unexplained $2,100.

"Once that happened, excuses started and I tried to get my money back without pushing him into a corner, now I don't care," Loggin said.

He says he finally got a $675 money order but nothing else.

Ann's Bakery said they paid $200 for the program and also money for an iPad but never got the services, the iPad or a refund.

Pizza Depot says they paid $200 to join the program, then paid $2,700 for iPads, but never got them. They say they got a check months later, but it was written on an account that was closed last May.

The owner of Ascent Outdoor Apparel and Movement on Cherry Street says he paid $200 for the program and $800 for I-pads, but never got them or a refund.

The Cherry Street Salon says they paid for iPads also, but never got them or a refund. And, there are more.

Rowe has filed grievances with the Attorney General, the FTC and the Better Business Bureau as well as a police report.

There is a legitimate company called Keep it Local Oklahoma. They operate in the Oklahoma City area and have the name trademarked with the state.

Their attorney sent Richard Wolfenberger a letter ordering him to stop using that name, but he keeps using it and keeps taking people's money.

News On 6 called three separate numbers for Wolfenberger, but he didn't call back.