Raleigh, NC-based INNOVA Sport Tours, which specialized in packaged trips for NASCAR and other sports events, recently closed down due to financial and merchant account problems and apparently left several brokers in a bind.
According to emails obtained by TicketNews, several brokers are claiming the company, headed up by President Chad Stockert, allegedly “stiffed a lot” of fans and fellow brokers out of tickets, thousands of dollars and/or hospitality packages for recent sporting events, including races at Talladega Super Speedway.
“For the ISC [International Speedway Corp.] tracks, do not send any tickets or hospitality passes to this group unless you have money up front and the check has cleared,” read a recent warning email from one ISC executive.
INNOVA Sport Tours refunded some money to out-of-luck fans, but how much they returned is unknown.
Attempts to reach Stockert were unsuccessful. The company’s telephones have been disconnected, and visitors to the INNOVA Sport Tours Web site are greeted with a Linux test page that reads in part: “If you are a member of the general public: The fact that you are seeing this page indicates that the website you just visited is either experiencing problems, or is undergoing routine maintenance.”
In a recent email to customers, Stockert wrote:
To whom it may concern,
Due to a position out of INNOVA Sport Tours (IST) control I have had to discontinue and close INNOVA Sport Tours, LLC immediately. I have tried to make it as long as we possibly could however due to chargebacks and our merchant account withholding monies INNOVA Sport Tours will be closed and disorganized effective immediately. All websites and phone numbers pertaining to INNOVA Sport Tours will be closed and cut off and IST will not operate any longer in the state of NC [North Carolina] or any other state in the United States. Again, I apologize for this recent action in INNOVA Sport Tours however the company cannot and will not survive with the current conditions and it was not getting any better or a resolution was not coming fast enough for INNOVA Sport Tours to survive.
Sincerely,
INNOVA Sport Tours
Last Updated on October 25, 2008
27 Comments
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I would love to pursue legal action against Chad. Not sure where to go with it though beyond filing a complaint with NC. BBB complaint meant nothing to him. Tired of empty promises to refund money for pit passes and tent!!! That was my first and last nascar race tour! I’ll never trust anyone in the tour business again. He embarrased me in front of my friend! We were so excited to get to have pit passes! Then, to have to pay 8 bucks a meal and 3 for a drink when were stuck at the track for such a long time is outrageous!!!
Last I heard is that he was arrested. One quick note though, the dad has nothing to do with it, as a matter of fact I know that his dad has put all of his monies into this *******’s business. He has spent all of retirement and has taken money from his own business to help him pay off the people. Of course Chad decided to do something else with the money, so not only did he screw all of us, but also his own family. What a scum!
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Anyone who has lost money to Chad, the scam artist, should lodge a formal complaint with the Attorney General’s Office. This is website and click on file a complaint http://www.ncdoj.com/consumerprotection/cp_about.jsp. I believe that if enough people file a complaint against Stockert and the company, there is a possiblity of an indictment for theft. Nothing I would like better that to see Stockert go to prison and be a ***** whose passed around for a pack of smokes.
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I, too, lost money to Chad; however, the only difference is that I’m a cop and know the system and have already contacted the Raleigh Police Department to have a warrant issued on “Chadwick.” With a name like that, he’s sure to grab some attention in the big house.
He shares an office with his father… ironically his daddy runs a business consulting firm in North Carolina called Innova Group, Inc. http://www.innovagroup.com located at 5650 Six Forks Rd, Ste 101, Raleigh, NC 27609 (919) 676-8326
Chad Stockert is in the office there most everyday at this location if you care to stop by and visit or maybe request your money he still owes you in person. He has not filed for bankruptcy yet in the State of North Carolina for Innova Sport Tours, LLC.
Here is Chad Stockert’s new business and cell phone number for those looking trying to find him: Platinum Entertainment Live (919) 803-6369. Email: [email protected]. He is now a concert promoter for local bands in bars. He is also keeping the Innova Platinum website live for corporate travel http://www.innovaplatinum.com and will answer at the toll free number at the top of that webpage 1-877-209-6605.
You can file a complaint with the North Carolina Department of Justice. Go to their website and file a complaint. Here is the link to the form:
http://www.ncdoj.gov/
On the left hand side, click on “Consumer Protection” and then “File a Complaint”.
You must fill it out and send it in via US Potal mail. I spoke with a rep at the DOJ, and they already have several complaints.
I too am out money for a sporting package….Beware! Although this article written on 10/24 stating Innova is “closed” they are still sending emails.
I too have been stiffed by Chad. Had tickets to the CMA awards that never showed. Got a E-mail from Chad this morning stating:
We have unfortunately suffered an identity theft at the end of last week that has locked up our entire accounts. We are working now with local authorities and the credit card company to get this situation handled as promptly as possible. We are going to have to cancel the CMA Package due to check in tomorrow and you will be refunded the entire amount……credited back to your cards immediately. Tickets are still available through http://www.stubhub.com and http://www.ticketsnow.com the hotel Opryland also has some packages left for purchase as well that include tickets and rooms. We apologize for this action however we just found out about the accounts this morning and we have no other choice than to refund your monies for this event.
I also called the Raleigh police dept. 919 996 3335 and also will be filing a report with the NC Dept of Justice.
He’s just scum…
I have lost money to Chad at Innova Sport Tour also. We took a trip in August of 08 and was told we would receive a refund due to the fact that we paid for a Hospitatlity Tent & Pit tours and never received them. It is funny because Chad’s email after our event said basiclly the same thing as the Nov. 10 remark below. How many times can you have Identity fraud,and don’t most companies have insurance against this type of thing, come on. As of today 11/10/08 we have not received our refund. I email Chad over and over and only get a response if I say I am going to the law, or newspapers, then he emails me back and says he will sue me if I go to the newspapers and he also told me, I am losing my mind because I won’t let him get away with cheating me out of my money.
(11/10/08, We have unfortunately suffered an identity theft at the end of last week that has locked up our entire accounts. We are working now with local authorities and the credit card company to get this situation handled as promptly as possible. We are going to have to cancel the CMA Package due to check in tomorrow and you will be refunded the entire amount……credited back to your cards immediately. Tickets are still available through http://www.stubhub.com and http://www.ticketsnow.com the hotel Opryland also has some packages left for purchase as well that include tickets and rooms. We apologize for this action however we just found out about the accounts this morning and we have no other choice than to refund your monies for this event.)
His new email is [email protected]. That is something else I don’t understand, how can he have another business doing to same thing after he has cheated so many people.
This is the same thing he told us 3 months ago. Identity theft my A** he is cheating people and NC is letting him get away with it.
We purchased a package for the CMA Awards and discovered our hotel room had been cancelled. We have not gotten any tangible proof of anything. Has any legal action been taken against this company?
I emailed Chad on Monday 11-10-08 and he told me you and everyone on this site had already been refunded your money is this true? My event was 3 months ago and I am still waiting for my refund. Reply to robeynj@yahoo.
Thank you.
Hi, Chad the scumbag beat uf out of $1500 for a NASCAR package to Texas this November. 12 people showed up and no tickets, nothing. He never answers 919-803-6369 and the toll free number is no longer available. Call his fathers house!
Hi Robeyn, You’ll never hear from him again. File a complaint with the NC Attorney General and call Special Agent Jimmy D. Greene at 919-733-4649. He is a Senoir Special Agent with the state. Chad is a scumbag.
Hello, InnovaPlatinum beat us out of a NASCAR package to Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 2, 2008 for the sum of $1406.00 There were at least 12 people Chad scammed. One couple got beat for Texas and Phoenix to the tune of $2000. I have filed a complaint with the Attorney General of NC. Here is a great contact for you. Call Special Agent Jimmy D. Greene with the NC State Capitol Police at 919-733-4649. I talked to him today. Good Luck.
Chad is a pathetic liar. He has promised me since last August that he would refund my deposit. As of Nov. 14, 2008, the liar hasn’t sent a dime. His last email stated that he is not responsible for refunding deposits. I have file a complaint with the Atty Gen office and hope the thief is indicted. I also hope he suffers a physical attack that puts his *** in a wheelchair for life.
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Robert Mallon…ok so I dont know this guy Chad and I can sympathize with you and everyone else on here that was defrauded by the guy but to wish someone physical harm that puts them in a wheelchair for life is just wrong. I dont care how much money you lost – Pursue him through the courts and chalk it up as a lesson learned in consumerism.
You are really stupid. There is a time to confront the thief and see that he nevers does this again. Chalk it up to consumerism? Chalk it up to street justice.
Innova Sports Tours…”allegedly” no longer in business – this guy is SHADY to be kind! You should pull his business from your sight!
Like other reviewers, I was burned by promises made in the contract and not kept up. I, on the other hand was not given a letter nor was an email received “before your plane even lands on Sunday” – The owner is the only employee as of July this year and continues to deceive customer’s. (Bristol 2008 race)
Not received: Commemorative program (we too had to buy our own)
Pit Passes (one of the ringers for picking this company/tour)
Hospitality tent (yeah – we had to pay for our own food and drinks that day!!!)
On site personnel (not at the hotel nor at Saturday’s race)
Letter of explanation (why did dome receive this letter and it was with held from me)
Email (as promised form the owner’s own mouth)
Refund/compensation for above (I went to the better biz bureau and the owner’s reply was one of “shock” – he stated he would issue me 2 complimentary tours of my choice – this was on the 26th (Aug. 2008), so he lied again……still waiting……..)
Those extras we had to buy added up to more than I budgeted for – whether anyone believes this or not, it is like any other sporting event, $6.00 – $8.00 per meal per person (not including drinks) and when you are there for 12 hours, it can get expensive, the program is $15.00….see where I am heading with this?
**this company is not affiliated with INNOVA Group at the same location, they simply shared some office space
Please steer clear of this man and any business he runs/owns
If anyone is attempting to recoup losses, please contact me directly
I have been in weekly contact with him and am still trying to get my refund. I have told him I will not give up. I email him every Monday and just let him know I am still here. I will keep those phone numbers for future if I don’t get my refund soon.
You can email Chad at [email protected], I could only get him to answer if I told him I was going to the Newspapers and the Law, if I was nice I got no answer. I am being patient with him for just a little while longer as long as I have communication from him.
Chad Stockert has NOT been at the address above since June. He now works out of his house. He has officially filed for bankruptcy for IST but not the other companies he owns. Do not purchase anything from him since the status of this other businesses is currently in question. The info stated above otherwise for his new contact information is correct.
Would like to know if you could verify this
thanks
Chad was indeed arrested and spent some time in jail. I don’t know the length of his stay or the specific charges. He is currently out and somehow still operating his businesses (www.raleighmusiclive.com and http://www.platinumsportevents.com). The Platinum Sport Events site is just the old innovaplatinum.com site with a new name while the raleighmusiclive.com site is the band promotions. And as someone else stated earlier, the dad at innovagroup.com is not involved with Chad’s shady businesses. Tim actually seems like a good guy who just lost control of the situation. He’s basically been screwed over by Chad just like everyone else, only difference is he’s stuck with him.
Tim is a good guy and had no knowledege of what Chad was doing.
This guy is a real work of art. I bought his Daytona 500 package for my husband’s birthday. Took my deposit, and just recently paid him $2250.00. I only found out about the scam because I was over-charged and I tried to contact him. I guess I need not tell you the outcome of my efforts. I intend to do everything in my power to make sure this idiot is stopped dead in his tracks. My life goal now is to see him put away for a long time.We were so excited about the approching once in a lifetime trip and now we feel cheated,violated,angry and have nowhere to go.
Call the *** on a regular basis. You won’t be able to talk to the ***** because he never answers. He is a spineless ****head that needs to be stomped. One number is 919 538-7011. Another one is 919 803-6369. Remember to file a complaint with the Atty. General’s office and if you decide to pursue the **** civilally, email me. I will jump on board. Call his father at 919 848-1474. His name is Timothy Stockert and chastise him for not ending ****head with a coat hanger when he had the chance. And whoever owns this blog, quit taking my **** down. I only speak the truth. Grow some *****.
any one wanting to get in touch with chad stockert can reach him at 8203 candeleria dr raleigh nc 27616 9195387011 is his cell number he travels with a band called cool kid collective which dates can be found on their web site and possibly one another one of chads site http://www.raleighmusiclive.com
Jst google Christopher Stockert arresbt and you can see it there, scroll down and it shows he was arrested in Seminole county Fl