Take It Away

Take it away is an Arts Council initiative designed to help more people get involved in learning and playing music. The scheme allows individuals to apply for a loan of up to £2,000 for the purchase of any kind of musical instrument, and pay it back in nine monthly instalments, completely interest free!

Typical 0% APR

Offer subject to age and status. Terms and conditions apply. Take it away is operated by ArtCo Trading Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Arts Council England and a limited liability company registered in England & Wales under No. 2758433. Registered address: Arts Council England, North East, Central Square, Forth Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3PJ.

What can I buy?

You can use Take it away to finance the purchase of any kind of musical instrument, whether new or reconditioned, from a tabla to a tenor horn, a bass guitar to a berimbau. You can also include music stands, stools, sheet music, amplifiers, equipment and sometimes tuition as part of your loan.

Recorded music, PA systems and computer hardware are not eligible to purchase under the scheme.

How do I Take it away?

First, visit a participating store and find an instrument that you want to buy. If you don't know what you're looking for, staff in the store will be able to give you help and advice in selecting the right instrument for your needs.

Once you've made your decision, you can apply for a Take it away loan to finance your purchase. You will need to bring a credit or debit card with you in order to pay the 10% deposit. The application process takes no more than a few minutes and, if approved, you can take your purchase away with you there and then.

To apply for a loan you need to be:

• 18 years old or over*
• A permanent UK resident
• Hold a bank or building society account capable of handling direct debit payments

* if you are under 18, your parent or guardian can apply for a Take it away loan on your behalf. Loans are subject to status. Terms and conditions apply.

How much can I borrow?

Loans are available up to £2,000, or as little as £100. The loan amount can be a part-payment towards an item that costs more than £2,000, or you can buy several lower value items with a combined value of up to £2,000 or more.

You will need to pay a minimum 10% of the loan amount at the point of sale. The rest is then paid back over nine months in equal instalments. There is no administrative charge or handling fee when you take out the loan, so you will never be paying more for your purchase than the ticket price.

Questions

If you are unclear about any aspect of Take it away, please read through the Frequently Asked Questions below. If your question is not addressed here please contact us.

Who runs Take it away?

Take it away is an Arts Council England initiative operated by its trading company, ArtCo Trading Ltd. Secure Trust Bank (trading as Moneyway) is the credit provider.

If the customer doesn't pay interest on the loan, who does?

The scheme is subsidised by Arts Council England. This means that the Arts Council pays the interest to the bank, instead of the customer.

How do I use the scheme?

Simple. Find an outlet that operates Take it away using our directory of participating stores. It's a good idea to check the store's website for their opening hours and range of stock before you visit. Once you're there, staff will help you select an instrument appropriate to your needs, and then take you through the loan application process. Don't forget that you will need to have a credit or debit card with you as ID and to make your deposit payment (minimum 10%).

Do I need to take proof of address or photo ID with me?

No, you just need to have your credit or debit card with you. However, if you are paying your deposit by Cash or Cheque, then photo ID is required.

Can I use the scheme if I am unemployed?

Unfortunately, we are unable to accept applications from people who are unemployed and in receipt of state benefits.

Can I use the scheme if I am a student?

Students are eligible to apply, provided that they have a part-time job working 16 hours a week or more. Students who don't qualify under this provision can still benefit from the scheme, but must ask a parent or guardian to apply for the loan on their behalf. Once the loan has been approved, you can contact the bank to arrange for the monthly direct debit to be changed to your bank account, rather than being charged to your parent/guardian. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT IF YOU DEFAULT ON PAYMENTS THE PARENT/GUARDIAN IN WHOSE NAME THE LOAN HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT WILL REMAIN LIABLE.

Can I take my new instrument home immediately?

Yes. Once you have signed the agreement and paid your deposit you can take your new instrument away with you immediately.

Is the scheme available outside England?

At the moment Take it away is only available through retailers based in England. However, the scheme may be extended to cover other parts of UK in the near future, in partnership with the Arts Councils of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Can the loan be used when the value of the instrument is higher than £2,000?

Yes. The loan can go towards the payment of an instrument that costs more than £2,000.

Can I take out more than one loan at once?

You can borrow up to £2,000 at any one time, and this can be put towards the cost of one or more instruments. You can also have different loans with different outlets running concurrently.

Can I use the scheme more than once?

Yes, there is no limit on the number of times that you can use the scheme. However, you will normally have to allow at least three months between loan applications in order to establish a repayment record with the bank.

Can I use the scheme to buy instruments for other people?

Yes, you can use the scheme to buy instruments for other people including children and young people under the age of 18. However, please remember that you will remain responsible for repaying the full loan amount to the bank and that the loan is not transferable to a third party.

Can I use the scheme to purchase a second hand or reconditioned instrument?

Yes, provided that the instrument is being sold through an approved Take it away outlet.

Can I use the scheme to pay for music services such as tuition?

This will depend on the services available through the shop in which you are making your purchase. Some stores are able to provide lessons and other music services which can be added to your loan. Please ask for details when making your purchase.

Can I use the scheme in conjunction with the VAT free scheme operated through my Local Music Service?

No. The two schemes are distinct and because Take it away is only available to individuals (rather than through schools or other organisations). We would advise customers to make their own decision about which scheme best suits their needs based on their individual requirements and circumstances.

What happens if I don't pass the credit check?

You would need to speak with the bank directly. The sales person in the shop would give you the contact details.

Can I cancel the loan once I've signed the agreement?

No. Unless you have made your purchase by mail order, in which case you can cancel the agreement within 14 days.

What happens if I change my mind and want to return the instrument that I have bought?

This will depend on the returns and exchanges policy operated by the store in which you made your purchase. Some stores operate a buy-back policy allowing you to return an instrument within a certain period of time. However, please remember that you may not get a full refund. Please check the store policy with a member of staff before making your purchase.

Can I pay off the loan early i.e. before the 9 months have passed?

Yes. You can pay the balance of your Take it away loan early and there will be no penalty charge for this. You would just need to call the bank directly on 0845 111 7107 to arrange this. This applies to both in-store and mail order loans.

When will my first payment be made?

This will normally be around 30 days from the date of your purchase, or the expiry of the cooling off period if you have made your purchase by Mail Order.

Can I change my monthly payment date?

Yes, providing that the new date is no later in the month than the original due date.

There aren't any shops running the scheme where I live, what can I do?

Take is away loans are available on mail order purchases as well as those made in person at a participating store. If you can't find a local retailer that stocks the instrument you need, try searching for other stores using the search functions on our website.

If there's a musical instrument retailer in your area that you think should be part of the scheme, either speak to them or send us their details. The application process for new retailers wishing to participate in the scheme will open in January 2008 for the next financial year.