Multiple companies across New Zealand and Australia claim they're still waiting to be paid more than half a million dollars in total for their work during the FIFA Women's World Cup.
A 1News investigation into the global events company CSM Live has found it's still yet to pay some signage and printing businesses.
CSM was contracted by FIFA and was responsible for delivering the event branding and signage, which took place nearly 5 months ago, back in July.
Four companies across New Zealand and Australia have told 1News they're all still fighting for payment.
Fiona Hunter owns Otago Grandformat Print (OG Print) in Dunedin and says she is still waiting to be paid over $200,000.
"So what hasn't been paid for is half of the print, probably more than half the print, and all of the install for the FIFA Women's World Cup here in Dunedin," Fiona told 1News.
Back in December last year, CSM sub-contracted OG Print to do the entire FIFA Women’s World Cup print works for Dunedin.
Hunter saw this as an opportunity of a lifetime.
"I was actually just really happy. Really grateful because it was an opportunity. I had just started out," she said.
"It was about women too, you know, that empowerment sort of side of things."
Her work included fitting out the entire Forsyth Barr Stadium for the Dunedin games.
"We were actually sleeping at work because it was around the clock," she said.
Hunter completed her last day of work on the 4th of August, almost 5 months ago.
"We were told that we would be paid 14 to 30 days after," she said.
Australia-based company All Flags says it’s also waiting to be paid. Their work included the Perth and Adelaide event venues and stadiums, as well as pre-tournament qualifying events in Hamilton.
"From the last report I saw, it was around $140,000, but it's likely to be more than that," Peter Wagener, director of All Flags, told 1News.
"Post-event, CSM has been, shall we say, very difficult and evasive," he said.
Wagener’s company is one of the largest print installers in the Southern Hemisphere. He said there were a few businesses around Australia and within New Zealand still owed an awful load of money.
"They've covered the cost of the materials, but all the overheads with the labour and all the other fixed overhead costs with rentals and leases and all those sorts of things, we're still out of pocket on those effectively," he said.
Doubtful of getting repaid
When asked if his company would recoup the finances lost, his response was doubtful.
"I don't think we are going to see all of it because of the way they are carrying on,” he said.
An Auckland printing company, which doesn't wish to be identified, says it's also owed around $300,000.
1News understands they're considering legal action against CSM Live.
"I’m amazed a company of their size can treat New Zealand and Australian businesses so atrociously," they said.
"They will not even respond to emails anymore. Everyone we talk to who dealt with them tells the same story."
This company also claims CSM altered purchase orders at a later date, something Hunter experienced during her struggles to get paid for her work in Dunedin.
A second printing company in Auckland, which didn’t want to be named, has also expressed frustration towards the global corporate.
"To date, we have been paid 80-90% of what we were owed (still owed around $37,000), but it took hours and hours of work by me and our accounts team to get to that point," they said.
In a brief statement, CSM Live said it was working to resolve supplier invoices.
"Due to the complex nature and size of this project, it takes time to reconcile multiple areas of deliverables to reach final payment agreements. In a handful of cases, this has taken longer than we had hoped.
“We are working to ensure all supplier invoices are settled. All our suppliers will be paid for their work delivered pursuant to their contracts.”
Wagener from All Flags has spent 33 years in this industry and says he has never come across this sort of scenario before.
"We've been burnt by local business where we have seen this sort of thing happen but never at this scale," he told 1News.
Breaking point
It’s a situation that's left Hunter at a breaking point if she doesn’t get paid.
"It doesn't leave me in a very good position. It looks like I will have to close up."
She is now working two jobs to make ends meet, dipping into her own money to pay her workers.
"My main concern is that those who I owe money to are paid."
Hunter reached out to Peter in Perth for help during the World Cup, and he believes the way she’s been treated is appalling.
"It's not just her; it's the whole event. It's been disgusting," he said.
FIFA said it wasn't aware of payment delays until told by 1News of them, and that the issue lies with CSM.
CSM has clarified they have been paid by FIFA, so the delays to the sub-contractors are not due to any non-payment by FIFA.
Following 1News’ inquiries, it appears CSM promptly contacted some of the companies to resolve outstanding payments.
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