Song Placements HITT Music Group Scam, Rip off, unacceptable service Los Angeles, California

At bare minimum, Song Placements is the most unprofessional, incompetent company I have ever dealt with.  More realistically, these are professional scam artists.

My story with them begins exactly how the other scores of their victims stories begin:  on Myspace.  On of their reps messaged me saying she really enjoyed my original music, specifically mentioning 2 tracks on my Myspace page, saying my music has potential for placements on indie films and radio.  I told her I would be open to a conversation and provided my telephone number.  I was phoned by a Julianna from Song Placements, who was very personable and professional.  She promised me the moon and stars.  She said my music has what it takes and that the company would help me get the placements in media that it deserved.  She promised me that I would have a dedicated team devoted to promoting my music.  She promised me that they would assist with landing professional live gigs.  She promised me that they would act as my agent for Landau Music, a manager I was interested in contacting for potential cruise ship gigs.  Her sincerity was believable, and after her persistent followup for weeks, I caved in.

The deal was I would not pay the $400 sign up fee up-front.  I would pay $100 a month for 4 months, which I was comfortable with.  After the first $100 was charged on my American Express, I received a welcome call from one of their reps who walked me through electronically submitting my mp3s to their email inbox, which I did.  I was given the name Ben, who would be my liaison to publishers and indie film producers.

Heres where they started to reveal their true selves.  After I emailed my mp3s to Ben, I called to follow up to make sure the email went through.  I left a voicemail.  No call back.  2 days go by, I call again and leave a voicemail.  No call back.  A week passes and I finally get a hold of Ben.  My call was polite and courteous in nature.  I simply told him I wanted to verify receipt of my mp3 attachments in my emails to Song Placements.  He said, and I quote, I dont have time for you right now and hung up the phone on me.  I then called the number back and left a voicemail, stating that this is an unacceptable level of service and that this warrants a full refund.  Obviously, I received no call back.

I work for one of the largest payroll companies in the world.  The scope of my job is sales and customer service, with a focus on client retention.  If I would treat any of my payroll clients with the abhorrent level of service I have received from Song Placements, I would be fired on the spot.

Here comes the fun part:  After not hearing from Song Placements, I called American Express and disputed the charges, citing an unacceptable level of service, services promised were not rendered, and that the service was not the same as anticipated.  While Song Placements focuses no energy on properly servicing and satisfying their customer, they sure did allocate a lot of time, energy, and resources fighting their case to American Express.  They furnished American Express with an inch-thick stack of emails, documents, policies, etc., backing up their case why I am not eligible for a refund.  Eventually, they won the dispute and American Express brought the charges back on my card.

One of the most interesting aspects of their documentation they provided is the FACT they they are producing forged emails.  They furnished American Express with an email from me acknowledging the terms and conditions.  Problem is - the email was a fraud.  They included a signature line Cheers, [my name].  I am not a Cheers kinda guy.  I have NEVER to this day, nor will I ever, use the word Cheers as a closer in my email.  Ever.  They clearly are producing fraudulent emails to back up their case, and are committing fraud to a credit card company!  Interestingly enough, every email I have ever gotten from them, they use the word Cheers, Song Placements as their closer.

It gets even better!  At this point, I have no choice but to call back Song Placements, because obviously they are too incompetent or ignorant to actually call one of their clients to find out why a charge is being disputed.  I eventually got connected to Layla Naz in the Accounts department.  She was said that Song Placements is in the right, basically calling me wrong.  She said We will win every dispute, citing terms, conditions, and fine print.  I simply asked her Would you do business with a company that doesnt return your phone calls, and when you get a hold of somebody, hangs up the phone on you?  Is that the kind of company you would do business with? to which she replied No.  I demanded a refund.  She said that there is in fact a refund policy.  She would send me a form to fill out.  I filled it out to a T, clearly explaining an unacceptable level of service, and sent it back to her the following day.  I was told it would take 7 to 14 business days to hear back about my refund.  Several weeks go by.  Not one returned phone call or email, except a quick note from Layla reminding me it takes 7 to 14 business days.

A MONTH goes by, and I get a hold of someone else in the Accounting department, saying I will hear back by close of business.  I mentioned that when they sent documentation to American Express, they forged an email.  The woman I talked to did NOT deny that - she merely said Well, the credit card company doesnt take emails into consideration.  She basically ADMITTED that Song Placements forges emails!  I waited until close of business and do not hear an answer about my refund.  Another day goes by.  Still nothing.   Yet another day goes by.  I email "Layla" letting her know that if I do not hear back by close of business I would contact the Better Business Bureau, RipOffReport.com, and the California Attorney Generals Office of Consumer Protection.  The email came through.  After over a month of waiting, a quick email DENYING my refund was sent to me.

So far that has been my experience with Song Placements.  I am re-disputing the charges and if I lose again, I will continue to appeal.  Song Placements does not have the decency to pick up a telephone and call me regarding my issues with them.

I wish to warn all musicians to avoid this company at all costs.