HCM Music Academy

Absolutely disgusted with their service.

3 years ago we hired an electric drum kit for our son who was taking drumming lessons at Richard Hale School. We were told by the sales assistant that after we had paid over a certain amount we would be given the opportunity to purchase at a lower rate. We were also informed that if we rented it for a certain length of time and had paid over what the kit was worth on the day of rental, then we would have purchased it outright.

After 2 1/2 years Play Something stopped taking payments for three months and we thought that we were now owners of the drum kit. At the end of three months, they took 2 months worth of rental WITHOUT any communication at all.

I telephoned the shop and spoke to their manager, John (no longer an employee). He informed me that the original information we were given on the day of hire was wrong and that although we had paid more than the kit was worth, he would call back with a settlement offer.

I contacted Play Something three times within the next month as John had not got back to me, and was assured each time that he would call me back as he 'was in a meeting'.

Needless to say, I never received a call back. However from the day we had the discussion over the phone, no further payments were taken from our bank, so we assumed, once again, that as the current market value of the drum kit was £199 and we had paid in excess of £550 that we now owned the drum kit outright.

This Friday they took another payment out of our account! Yes - after 6 months of nothing!!

Upon calling the now 'Hertfordshire College of Music' I was informed by their receptionist that John no longer worked there and that she would definitely get the manager to call me back after Thursday as she was not in until then.

Today I had a call from HCM and was informed that after speaking to the accounting team, they were willing to accept approx £229 as a final payment. Once again I explained to the receptionist (the only one who has any customer service in that place!) the history and that we would have taken the kit back 6 months ago had we known this was to be the outcome. She said she would look in to it, and true to her word she rang me back a few hours later. She said that she had spoken to the owner Geoff who announced that he would be prepared to take one month's rental off and charge us £199

After looking online at reputable music shops, we discovered that this particular model was now selling from anywhere between £79.99 - £199 brand new!

Needless to say we will be returning the drum kit and NEVER using them again

May I also point out that I have never complained about a business before. However due to the treatment we have had from this company, I would like to give my experience to the parents of school children in Hertford and Ware that if they are considering hiring instruments from HCM they do so at their own risk

“Amazing learning environment”

HCM were so helpful and a pleasure to deal with. Their Musical Education facility is second to none and I thoroughly recommend them. Well done HCM - keep up the good work!

Have been a student at HCM previously and my time there was exceedingly enjoyable. Very helpful and set me up for a future career in the music industry.