Music and Arts

After having multiple instrument rental issues last fall but then finally resolving them, I very very stupidly went ahead & took lessons. Then COVID-19 hit and the store had ABSOLUTELY - NO - none - nada - communication with customers regarding how they were going to handle lessons. I did not hear anything from them, my teacher, or their corporate. No directives on how they were going to handle lessons…I did try to call the store numerous times, the corporate office, and even tried to call another teacher at another store who I knew. He had no clue - as he was not giving lessons at the time and received no directive from the company. I was furious when I saw my credit card was still being charged for lessons! I have now had to cancel the credit card because there’s no way to get in touch with anybody at the store or the corporate office. Do not do business with this company; they are complete is and sheerly incompetent ss.

We rented a musical instrument (bass at $86 a month) from Music and Arts for my school age child and returned the instrument in June 2016, terminating the monthly rental agreement. Music and Arts proceeded to charge my credit card three additional times after the instrument was returned. I contacted them when I saw the duplicate charge in June and they promised to fix it and reverse the charge, but they never did and they continued to charge my credit card in the following months for an instrument that had been returned to them. I was told the new billing system was to blame and that the charges had now gotten so high that they refused to reverse the charges but had to issue a check and mail it which would take weeks. It is now September (we returned the instrument in June) and we still do not have a refund.

Review: I went to Music and Arts just about 3 years ago to rent a alto saxophone for my son who was in the 5th grade. At that time I was told that all the money your pay on your rental would be credited towards you purchasing a new instrument if your child decided they liked playing. The agreement was for $50 a month. I have paid this amount all this time, even in the summer time because when I tried to return the instrument when school was out, I was told that if I did I would lose all my credits. Well we are at the end now and I have been told 4 different things. When I inquired about purchasing an instrument for my son at the end of 2012, the store manager at the time, [redacted] explained that with the credits I had, I could purchase an intermediate alto saxophone for my son if I paid an additional $212.55. He even wrote it down for me on the back of his business card which I kept. Unfortunately, I didn't have that money than. So I called the store on Friday, March 18th and spoke with the young lady who answered the phone. I explained to her what I had been told. She told me that I was told wrong. She also said that if I wanted my son to have a new instrument I should have taken care of that within the first 6 months of the rental. I became upset and told her that although I did fall behind on payments, due to unemployment, I was entitled to a new instrument for my son. It was only fair. She than called the district manager [redacted] so that he could handle my issue. [redacted] called me on Tuesday, March 19th. I explained to him my disappointment and told him that I wanted a new intermediate instrument for my son. I have paid a lot of money to rent a used instrument and I don't want to own that saxophone. I also received a call from their corporate office and now I am being told that my contract is up and I should have gotten a new one 3 moths ago. In all of my previous conversations with Music and Arts, I was never told anything about swapping the rental for a new saxophoneDesired Settlement: I want Music and Arts to give me a new intermediate alto saxophone for no more than the $212.55 that the former [redacted] store manager guaranteed me that I was eligible for. I am not asking for more that what I was told by their employee.

Consumer

Response:

[A default letter is provided here which indicates that the business has not responded to you directly. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

At this time, I have not been contacted by Music and Arts regarding complaint ID [redacted].

Regards,

Review: I'd like to start by saying I have never been a customer of this business, nor have I shown any intention as I don't play any instruments. I currently live in the area because of active duty orders and about six months ago got a call from my parents saying a bill from the store arrived in Ohio to their address that equipment had been rented and never returned. I called the store, told them I did not know what this was and ended up speaking with several individuals and coming to the conclusion that they were facing a fraudulent charge using my name and former address. They even went so far to tell me that the equipment was rented for a young student at a school on my base but the salesclerk didn't get the child's name which they usually do. I have no children and no affiliation with the base schools. After this they told me it would be sent forth as fraud and I would no longer be bothered. I then a few months ago had to call and speak to the company again when more bills showed up at my parents house. Again I was assured that the problem would be resolved. Now today other relatives in Ohio are receiving phone calls from debt collectors looking for my information at the request of this business. I am very displeased at the lack of communication professionalism with this company. Obviously this equipment is worth a fair amount of money, so why would equipment be rented to somebody without verifying their ID and taking the complete information as required since the manager told me they didn't have the child's name which they should have. They even had a second address that I am not associated with that is on the base with the school listed on the bill and I'm assuming it was sent back because my former address was then added to it.Desired Settlement: I would like this company to fix their error, stop sending bills to family members after they've assured me twice it would stop and ensure that I am no longer contacted my debt collectors for payments I am not responsible to make.

Review: In January 2013, I took my sons saxophone for repairs. I was given a rental while his instrument was being repaired. I was told that the store would contact me once the repairs was done and that I shouldn't need to incur an additional month of rental fees. After almost four weeks, I called the store to inquire about the instrument and was told that they called my several times. I had NEVER received ONE call. On February 28, I went into the store to pick up the instrument and close out my rental. To my surprise, I was charged next month's rental fee of $50. 38 on March 1. I immediately called the store to get my refund since I did NOT go into March. I was never able connect with the store manager and have not since then. I even called the Frederick store and have had no luck in getting anyone to return my calls.Desired Settlement: I want a refund of $50.38 for the March rental fee that I did not use!