Consumer complaints about American Radio Network

Consumer Complaints & Reviews

Travis of Newhall, CA on July 29, 2009

I recived an E-mail that promised a job in the radio industry. I would be making two hundred dollars a show or four hundred dollars a week. I did a reading for them at the first interview. They called me saying that I had passed the interview and to bring forty dollars to orintation or bring ninety-eight dollars for a deposit for a press pass. They said I would save forty dollars if I did the latter. So I gave them ninety-eight dollars for orintation and press pass.

I then signed a contract to pay the american radio network twenty dollars a week to produce my show. The contract said I had to if i didn't show up for three weeks they would cancel my account and would take the money out of my depoist for the press pass. So I decided to not go rather then pay them I thought this would be the end of my contract and they would keep my money and I would not owe any more.

About five weeks latter on the tweenty seventh of july I recived a letter saying I owed them another tweenty-two dollars so I payed it so they would not send the bill to collections. So I lost 120 dollars to this company that was promising me a job and then baited and switched me into paying them. In these difficult ecnomic times I do not want to see others be suckered in by this scam.

Caroline of Mission Viejo, CA on May 21, 2003

The American Radio Network places an ad in the employment classifieds for Announcers, no experience necessary, promising $12/hr. to $200 per show. They have an "audition" and informational meeting, and sign people up to be trained - saying they want to help you get a career in broadcasting, either with their radio stations or others.
Although the training is free they charge a "fee to use the studio". The way you earn money is by selling ad spots on your shows. The equipment and training are a joke, and in the end you will end up paying quite a bit of money and wasting lots of time. They require 3 weeks notice to quit, and make you pay weekly fees whether or not you use the studio once you give notice. They say they're not a school, so they don't have to live up to any educational standards.
I was able to get out of it without notice or paying the fees, but I had to fight for it. I have business background and know what to say, but not everyone does. They're opening more "studios" in other cities across the U.S.

Damage Resulting: Lost $71 in fees, $25 in equipment and wasted time, effort and energy. Had to argue to get out of the contract without paying more fees.