Cincinnati, OH June 8, 2010 – Brides across the country have been literally left at the altar by A Solid Gold Sound. Clients of this Florence, KY based company say they paid the company hundreds of dollars for DJ and videographer services that were never delivered.
BBB has received 96 complaints about A Solid Gold Sound in the last year, 38 complaints in the last month alone. Customers report that the company would contact brides a day before the wedding with the news that their DJ or videographer had been in a car accident. Brides were forced to hunt down and pay for replacement DJs/videographers on their own, less than 24 hours before their wedding.
Brides also tell us they were surprised to learn that A Solid Gold Sound was not the local company they portrayed themselves to be. According to BBB files, the company provided a local address to their customers, but it was merely a local UPS mailbox used to collect payments.
Although A Solid Gold Sound initially promised refunds, the company has shown no effort to pay back customers’ deposits. In recent complaints customers were told not to expect refunds since the company would be filing bankruptcy soon.
But A Solid Gold Sound did not file bankruptcy. Instead, it ceased operations. They’ve disconnected their phones, removed their website and are still refusing to refund deposits.
A Solid Gold Sound has claimed to have arranged DJ and Videographer coverage for all their customers and promises to post an email address on their website directing customers to their assigned DJ and/or Videographer. The company hopes to re-establish phone communications soon but is unable to provide specific details.
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Still, this is distressing news to some brides who are waiting for their wedding videos from weddings that took place months ago. Although some of these brides confirm they have indeed been contacted directly by the videographers, the videographers are telling a different story; specifically, that A Solid Gold Sound has not been paying their vendors. Brides are told if they want to receive their wedding videos, they must pay the videographer what A Solid Gold Sound owes them. This essentially doubles the cost of the videos for the brides.
The BBB advises customers of A Solid Gold Sound who did not receive services to dispute the charges with the credit card company, or if paid by check, to stop payments to this company.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has been working in conjunction with the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office in an investigation of A Solid Gold Sound and their business practices. Victims are strongly urged to file a complaint with the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office by downloading and completing a consumer complaint form at:
http://ag.ky.gov/civil/consumerprotection/complaints/
or by calling 888-432-9257 to have a complaint form mailed to them.
A Solid Gold Sound, also known as A Sensory Sound System changed ownership in 2009 when Rob Doyle purchased the companies from John Kruer. Separate reports for the prior ownership of A Solid Gold Sound and A Sensory Sound are available. Both reports describe the same pattern of consumer complaints.
The BBB offers the following tips for those looking to hire DJ or videographer services:
· Deal only with reputable companies that provide these services. Ask for the names of satisfied customers and call or write them before signing a contract.
· All contracts should be in writing and should include dates, products, prices, and all fees. Contracts need to be signed and dated by all parties involved. Be sure to understand any cancellation policies and make sure everything is in writing including refund policies and returns on deposits.
· Most vendors will require a non-refundable deposit. Try to keep deposits as small as possible in case you have to cancel or change plans. Never pay for a service in full upfront, however, realize that many vendors will ask to be paid in full the week of your wedding so make sure that you have the money in your budget.
· Pay by credit card in the event you may want to challenge the purchase at a future date.
· Contact the BBB for a Reliability Report by visiting www.bbb.org or by calling 409-835-5348.
About the BBB
The BBB is a non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. The BBB provides objective advice, free business Reliability Reports, charity wise-giving reports, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. Please visit www.bbb.org for more information.