'It's angering': Victoria restaurants claim food delivery service owes them thousands
Several Victoria restaurants that were hoping to support a local delivery service say they're out thousands of dollars since the company has failed to pay them.
Clif Lier, owner of Fol Epi in downtown Victoria, says the financial challenges of running a restaurant have compounded recently, and he claims that he's owed thousands of dollars from local food delivery company Tutti.
The restaurant owner says he turned to Tutti and its food delivery app during the pandemic because it offered cheaper prices than large corporations – like DoorDash and Uber Eats – and because he wanted to support another local company.
"We are strong supporters of local business and local producers," he told CTV News on Thursday.
But, he says things went sour several months ago when he discovered that Tutti owed him thousands of dollars.
"It's angering," he said. "We worked so hard to make this money over the past few months."
Fol Epi owner Clif Lier is pictured. (CTV News)
Leir says the company still owes him about $4,000, despite multiple requests from him.
"That's $4,000 from our bottom line, and bottom lines these days are almost nothing. So it's very hard," he said.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN CLAIMS
Fol Epi isn't the only business that claims it's owed money from Tutti.
J & J Wonton Noodle House in Victoria has launched a lawsuit against the company, alleging that Tutti breached its contract and owes it more than $200,000.
Meanwhile, Cold Comfort Ice Cream owner Autum Maxell says she's also owed more than $4,000 from the delivery company, despite multiple requests to collect the payment.
"[About] $4,236 dollars or something like that," she said.
Maxwell went public with her concerns on a Facebook page that quickly generated multiple complaints – including one from a Tutti delivery driver who told CTV News that she wasn't paid until she threatened to go public.
Cold Comfort Ice Cream in Victoria is pictured. (CTV News)
The company says it's working on paying all of the restaurants it works with.
"Please know that we have every intention to pay all the local merchants we are working with, as soon as possible," said Tutti Delivery CEO Kaisa Aierken in a statement Thursday.
"We are going through a difficult phase as well and we intend to solve it soon and get back the support of our merchants as soon as possible."
In the meantime, Maxwell says she's skeptical of the promise.
"If they actually had intentions of paying everyone back, it probably would have been happening," she said.
The restaurants that spoke with CTV News on Thursday no longer use Tutti, instead relying on bigger delivery companies.
None of the allegations have been tested or proven in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in father's drowning, told police he was baptizing him
A Massachusetts man who told police he was exorcising a demon and performing a baptism when he shoved his father's head under water multiple times has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in his death.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.