Beltone Hearing Aids

I purchased 2 hearing aids (Marq) approximately 3 years ago. Last week when I was in New York, the left hearing aid microphone fell off and was lost. When I returned to the hotel, I looked all over, but it was gone. I returned to Beltone Friday to see what they would do. Nothing they said - my fault, etc. The technician told me the hearing aids I was sold 3 years ago were out of date and a new mic could not be obtained. He tried to sell me the new True model and recommended the "9" for my type of hearing loss. He told me the cost was $6000 for 2, but that I could buy one for 1/2 that price. When I seemed hesitant, he said that they were having a 25% off sale and would sell me 2 for $5540.

I was not planning to purchase new hearing aids at this time. None of the prices are shown on any printed material. When I went online the price shown for 2 True "9" is $3046 - a difference of about $2500. How can I determine a fair price? Why does the company not show their prices in any printed material?

I was sent a card from Beltone at 15004 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa, FL 33618 for a free cleaning and adjustment. Turned out the one aid wasn't working on his left ear. Without any clue of what the problem might be, the attendant exited the room and came back in 30 seconds and told my father and me that the repairs would be $400. Your company representative used the advertising scam to get my 94-year-old father in the store so that we could all make some money. Guess what? It did not happen. He did not fall for your poor scam. Not even a 94-year-old man fell for it. I will call the consumer agency overlooking these scams and send them a duplicate of what I have written you. If you would like to contact me, that will be the only way I will return to any of your stores.

I paid $3,250 for one hearing aid to be used as a making device for ringing in the ears. I bought the device in Florida and had 2 adjustments there. Then we went back home to Kentucky where I had 3 more adjustments at a center nearby. After 30 days, it was still not helping the ringing in my ears and I wanted to return it. I was asked to give it 2 more weeks. After that time, I called back and was asked to wait till he talked to someone in the home office and would call me back in 3 days.

A week later, I called him back and he told me it was suggested that I get another hearing aid for the other ear. When I asked about a 30-day warranty on both, he told me that the warranty on the first one was up and I could not get my money back on that one. He then told me he would call me the next day and make arrangements to send me the second one at a reduced cost, because that is what they told me up in KY. That was 3 weeks ago and I have not heard a word from him. His name was Jason and he works out of 3 offices in Englewood & Port Charlotte, Fl.

A Mr. ** from Beltone was not a fair man at all. My uncle got a $7,000 pair of hearing aids. A Mr. Joseph ** told us we could return them and pay a fee of around $500.00. When I wanted to return them, I was told it was past the time limit. We did not know there was one. I asked him to please give me a break on the price, and he said no. How heartless and cold not to have been given some of the money back, even if it was $1,000. He seemed very satisfied seeing me hurt. The company made enough off me. When it is my turn or anyone I know, I will tell them not to go to Beltone unless they want to give away their money. I wish I could talk to someone of authority with the company, someone who is compassionate and understanding of other people's feelings, and someone who understands.

I have Marq9 Hearings Aids that I got in Stuart, Fl from a guy named Stewart. He was so kind and made sure my hearing aids were adjusted just perfect for me. The problem is with their batteries. The ones I buy from Beltone last between 2 to 5 days. They are pricey and there's no way I can afford that. I finally bought Ray-O-Vac hearing aid batteries from WalMart. They come in a pack with 24 batteries and man, what a difference! They were not near as expensive as getting them at Beltone and now my batteries last about 10 days to 2 full weeks. I don't know if the Beltone store has only old batteries or what, but if you also have this same problem, try getting them at WalMart. They are universal size 10.

The hearing aid batteries lasts only 2 days. I am on a fixed income, and I can not buy batteries all the time.

I could not charge it. I had no place to charge it. The man told me to send it back, and he would put one in the mail right away. I never got it. I sent mine way back 2/2/12. I received this hearing aid from Silver Sonic Micro.

The person in the MO office was rude and is not helpful at all. Then I took the aids to Rogers, AR to be fixed and they put on tubes that were too short which broke and I took them back. They were closed on a Wednesday afternoon. I wish I had never gone there. They totally ****!

Beltone has been nagging me to come in for months to have my hearing aid cleaned, adjusted if necessary, etc. I did and the boss' son (that's what he kept saying he was) was very arrogant and was only interested in selling to someone who had very good insurance or cash money. I have CareSource, which he would have known if he had checked my chart, and he told me that they wouldn't pay for anything above what he could get the aid for and that the one I have was too old. He wanted me to pay the difference out of my pocket. I refuse to do so. I'll take my business elsewhere first.

To start with, my aid is only a couple of years old and they were advertising it on the TV in the front office for sale, so it couldn't be too old. He said his grandfather started that business and his mother owns it and that he's training his father who was in the room with us. I sure hope the father knows better than to learn from this arrogant little greedy worm. In this small town, no one is going to pay money out of their pockets for the expensive aids that he wants to push on them when there is no work here. I didn't like the fact that he sent us in the room, then took off in the other room, and left us sitting before he came to see us in the beginning. He's not a doctor. He's not that popular, and he wasn't that busy so there was no reason to put us back there in that tiny room to wait when I'm claustrophobic anyway.

I will never go back there again no matter what, and I will be telling everyone about this. What ever happened to the lady who was there before? She was really nice and cared about the people and the job. My boyfriend was with me (Watt **), and he brought his hearing aids back with him because he had so much trouble with them. He just assumed CareSource paid for them too, but he paid cash for them. They were the tiny ones that fit back in your ears and cost a few thousand dollars. He has had nothing but trouble with them. He's brought them back several times. Now, he doesn't even need them that much. It seems that it's mostly allergies that's got his hearing off, but they sold them to him anyway. They are a big time rip off! Where does the guarantee fit in on these things?

I paid $6000 for a set of hearing aids in Fairfield, IL. They worked for a month pretty good. After that, I had constant trouble hearing. I went back numerous times and they would reset them or say I had wax. They could never show me any wax in them. They then sold me a set of plugs that attached and went further in my ear supposedly to direct the sound better. These trips went on for three years with no satisfaction with the aids.

I went to a nearby town, Mt. Vernon. IL, and asked if I could have a different person work on them. They said no problem. She tested my ears and the aids and said I should never have been sold that type of hearing aid as they would not help me. She said the man who sold them to me was a contract employee who was no longer available. She then wanted to sell me a new pair that would be suitable for my hearing problem to the tune of $4200. Also, she fixed the old ones where I could absolutely hear nothing.

I sure am not paying for any other piece of junk. I am telling all my friends and anyone else not to buy at Beltone.

I went to them to get an exam and they did it only in 30 minutes, which I have been told should have taken longer than that. They showed me what prices there was. The ones I needed was $6000 a pair. I told them I could not afford that price since I am a senior and had lost most of my retirement money in the first stock market plunge many years ago. Now 66, nothing is left. She said "well if you can't pay, you need to leave". She got up and immediately tore up my ear exam papers. So insulting and so rude! I would advise people to not ever go there!

On March 2010, I purchased hearing aids and went back for adjustments for several months. I don't hear soft sounds well and hear loud and perfect. They tried to adjust but to no avail. I returned the aids to the store, which they kept for a couple of weeks, and then told me that I had to take them back. I wanted to return them after the 90-day period as they didn't work. I have gone through five people and the last is Michael **

I paid $5,990 for the hearing aids and they don't work. I want my money back and return the hearing aids.

My 86 year old mother purchased Beltone hearing aids on January 2008 from the York, PA store. After she received the aids, she had problems with having them adjusted to hear on numerous occasions. The guy who sold them to her and Raymond **, who supposedly helped her for several months to try and adjust them, were both let go by the company.

After many trips to Beltone, York, PA and three years later, they are now telling my mom that she should have had hearing aids behind her ear because of her earwax buildup. My mother also was told by her ENT doctor that they sold her the wrong hearing aids. She had problems from the beginning but the guy told her these $7,500 hearing aids would be fine (ear wax build up, etc.).

When my left hearing aid stopped working, I returned it to the hearing aid care center where I had purchased the hearing aids. It's located at 1147 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA 15131. A Mr. William ** (a licensed audioprosthologist) tested the unit. He informed me that indeed it needed to be repaired. The repair needed an upfront payment of $288.00. And it would take 11 days to complete. That was on August 8, 2011. After waiting for 3 weeks and making several calls to the office, I was finally told the hearing aid was not repairable. And I was told that a Mr. Jack ** would contact me to discuss the situation. After making several calls to the office and being told that the aforementioned Mr.** had been made aware of the situation, I am still waiting to hear from him. Evidently, Mr. ** is very very busy or he has little concern for his customers. That bothers me. What I would like to happen is for them to return my unrepairable hearing aid and upfront payment of $288.00.

I took a perfectly good set of Beltone IC hearing aids to the dealer. He said they were too old to adjust the volume and I would have to set these aside and buy new ones. That is crazy, they are working just fine and just needs a volume adjust. A different brand dealer told me they could adjust the volume no matter how old they were. Mine were 7 years old.

I have now received about 5 promotions for area residents to try new digital tech, hearing aids. The mail outs were addressed to my mother. She died 11 years ago. I asked the manager to stop sending them. He stated that they cannot be stopped, they were mailed by the head office. What database did the mailing list comes from? If the mailing list is that old, I would think sales is not good.

Please have the mail outs stopped.

The franchise person has only given my mother and her friend (also has Beltone) unsatisfactory customer service; ranging from sending new batteries when needed and support for their hearing aid problems. My mother called many times and waited many times for the representative to come to town (Washburn, WI) to receive service. She has one of the two hearing aids that doesn't work at all. I have heard it squealing at a high pitch from two rooms away. She has called for service and is still waiting. Since these two women have both paid over $7,000 for their hearing aids, I think Beltone should give them a refund so they can find someone more reputable. Please help!

I have ringing in my ears, so I went to get hearing aids to solve the problem. I had my ears checked. My hearing was in need of amplification also. I went to Beltone to get the problem solved. They fit me with a set of over the ear hearing aids. I never thought about them needing to be brought in for volume adjustment. That was the first problem. I could not wear it then in any noisy environment. They would blow your ear drums out. At the time of the purchase, they were supposed to be the latest and greatest thing since sliced bread. I was never told they were already set approximate 95% of the max volume.

I had seen an ad in the newspaper regarding a free trial for a Beltone hearing aid. I called for an appointment for my husband and was given the date of July 19. I had to call and reschedule. I was given an appointment for the next week at 1:00 PM.

First of all, when we got there at 12:50 PM, there was a sign on the door saying they would return at 1:00 PM. My first question is that why would you set a customer up for an appointment at 1:00 when you go to lunch from 12 to 1 o'clock? We were greeted by Tericia and taken in the examining room. She performed different tests on my husband's ears and she then concluded that he had at least over 50% loss of hearing in both ears. She explained what hearing aid he would need and fitted him for the set. She then went on to explain that there would be an initial deposit of over $1,000 for him to be able to participate in the trial.

The newspaper stated nothing about a deposit for trying out the aid. I think the newspaper ad needs to be a little clearer and explain that there is a deposit required for trying out the system. Needless to say, we were very disappointed on how the way things turned out. The newspaper article was totally misleading. I guess the ad is just to get you in there so they can offer you something else. The set he was fitted for was over $6,000.

My Mother purchased hearing aids made by Beltone in 2009 and she was advised that the units that she purchased would adjust to all sounds, allowing her to hear the TV, speaking, and more importantly, conversations on the phone. She went back over 6 times in the last 18 months to have them adjusted only to be told the same thing.

I called the representative on July 8th, 2011 and I was told that he no longer represented the company. I explained what we were told and the lady asked us to allow the new representative to take a look at the current devices and if he could not make them work the way they were promised, he would go to Beltone and get them replaced. She went to the office, visited last week and was told that the devices that she purchased and is still paying for, would not do what she was told. One of the devices is already to where it does not work. I am not sure what he is going to do but I would like to know what our alternatives are to get Beltone to make her whole. It appears that the Representatives they have to meet with these older Americans just take total advantage of them because they do need to hear what is going on around them.

This was the case of my mom, she was taken advantage of and I just want to make sure she gets what she was promised and paid for. She has not missed a payment even though I have advised her to not pay until they are made right.

My 83-year-old mother purchased a hearing aid from Beltone in Port Orange, Florida. The product was placed on "order". One day later, she entered the hospital and sadly passed a few weeks later of pneumonia. The day she was admitted, her caretaker called Beltone and informed them of the situation. Her caretaker asked if the hearing aid could be put on hold until my mother is released from the hospital. The answer was "yes". After a couple of weeks in the hospital, we attempted to have them deliver it to her. But the manager, Jim, had actually become ill himself, and was unable to deliver it to her. When she entered intensive care, it became obvious that she would not need it. So, I called Beltone and told them we needed to cancel the "undelivered" product.

We never took delivery of the product, and she was never even fitted for it. Beltone's Ramina told me that the only way for her to cancel it was that my mom would have to come in personally, and cancel. Three times I explained that she was in intensive care, and that was not possible. Finally, when my mother passed away, Beltone finally agreed to cancel the hearing aid. I waited for sometime to see the credit be applied to my mom's credit card. When it finally showed up on the statement, it was not for the full amount of $2145. It showed a credit of $1887. I called Ramina at Beltone and was informed that the $258 fee was a cancellation fee. And I was told that a portion of that fee was a "sitting" fee, due to the fact that we did not pick it up in a timely manner. We scheduled it to be delivered to her in the hospital, but Beltone canceled it twice. And we made numerous attempts to cancel the product earlier, that were ignored by Beltone.

It's interesting to note that as I tie up many loose ends after my mom's passing, including calls to the phone company, power, and water companies etc., Beltone stood out as the only one that didn't start out the conversation with "I'm sorry for your loss". All I heard from Beltone's Ramina was a contract is a contract. And it doesn't matter what the reason for canceling is. Even if it is canceled due to a death, your mother signed the contract. After reviewing some of the other comments from others regarding this company, it appears that this is not an isolated incident. It does appear to be a company only interested in profit at the expense of others, that shows no compassion for its customers. My purpose is to warn anyone considering a purchase with this company to avoid Beltone.

I bought a left ear Beltone hearing aid in 3/2008. It has not been any good since day 1. I have had it back time after time and have not been able to wear it over 6 months since. It does not have the volume to hear and it squeals all the time and has caused my hearing to worsen. They keep sending it off and the company sends it back with no improvement. They claim they put everything new in it. It did not help.

I moved 200 miles a few days after picking it up when I bought it. I called the office in Ypsilanti a week later and complained. I have also been taking it to Beltone in West Branch, MI. and the lady (Kathy) has been sending it off and they send it back with the same condition. Beltone just kept it a month and I got it back with the same condition. Kathy says that her franchise is not the same as the one I bought it from and will have to deal with them in Ypsilanti, MI. She has done all she can. I have had this aid to Beltone since I have had it complaining about the squeal and not enough volume.

This company sucks. I will not ever buy a hearing aid from Beltone again. I have been buying hearing aids from this company for years and didn't realize there were better hearing aids on the market until I bought a Starkey for the right ear on 6/13/09. Why would I buy a new Beltone if they cannot take care of the one for the left ear? Beltone told me I needed a new aid for my left ear and the new one was worse than my old one that was about 4 years old because of the feed back and not enough volume on the new one.

My husband and I went into this hearing center (located in Sears store), to find out about hearing aids. The tech told my husband to turn around, and he had to repeat what he said. Then he looked into his ears, and said he should be fitted for hearing aids. He put some kind of putty into each ear, and said they would be ready in about a week. The cost was over $3,000.00 and we gave a $1,000.00 deposit on my ATM card. I personally didn't think this test was so thorough. Talking to people, they told my husband to go to the Vets Center in Beacon, NY for a thorough test.

We made an appointment, and that was a genuine test. We found out that he didn't need hearing aids! We were quite shocked, and I called and Beltone, who said it was too late to get our deposit back! How unfair it is that to take advantage of us. I still feel that I should get my deposit back, because they rent space from Sears Roebuck, and I think they should stand behind their reputation. We are on social security, and this is a lot of money to lose. I felt we have suffered economic damage, and would like to see justice served. Thank you.

Beltone had a promotion offering a Nikon camera for having a hearing test and trying a new hear instrument which I qualified for. I was told to expect delivery in about 2 weeks and my original contact and test was July 8, 2010 and follow up 8-4-10. I called a couple weeks later and was told it would be shipped soon but not received. I had been considering hearing aids so was not a matter of wanting something for nothing but think a company advertises a promotion such as this should honor their offer. I would be hard pressed to deal with a company that sells such a high cost item and fails to back their promotions.

As a company, it is unfair that this website doesn't allow us to respond to the allegations that are posted on this site. We have one complaint that was posted on this site and also this person filed a complaint on the BBB website. The customer sent a response to this website and we have settled this dispute satisfactorily per the customer. I do not see the addendum to the complaint on this website. What I do see is that companies can respond to a complaint on **** for a nominal fee. Loss of customers who don't know that this website only allows complaints but no resolutions. If we wanted to respond to a specific complaint, we would have to pay a nominal fee and commit to contractual agreement. I am betting that this doesn't get posted.

My father purchased two hearing aids from Beltone on Mar. 23, 2010. On April 17, I called and asked for someone to go to the nursing home and adjust his hearing aids. Brian of the Ravenna office was so rude and unwilling to help that I hung up on him. Understand that my father was ill and was never able to hear us without us yelling. Brian called back and said he would try to make it to the nursing home. He did go but even after that my father was hearing the TV across the hall and not his own. We took the aids into the store and had them cleaned but he still could not hear. I have tried to get satisfaction from Beltone for a refund but let me warn anyone thinking of going to Beltone that this is a money-seeking company and offer no customer service. They go by their contract and hope you are late when trying to cancel. My father died June 30, 2010 and never was able to hear his wife of 69 1/2 years without her yelling to him. It was horrible. It took me three weeks to finally talk to Mike **. Everyone gave me the runaround.

I talked to Mike and he said that the majority of Beltones clients are 70 years old plus. He said this happens all the time, that people are ill and never get to enjoy the aids. Money-hungry company. In a 10-minute conversation, he must have said contract 15 times. There is no getting around it in their opinion. I say let's all get together and make this company pay. Karma is what I pray for. I own a business that 100 to 300 clients a day come in. I am telling them to stay away from Beltone and I smile when they go next door in our plaza to get their hearing aids. One person at a time but I love it.

My mom went to Beltone in Berlin in February to inquire about hearing aids. She put a deposit of $100 down. Several times, her appointment was canceled due to computer issues. A lot of times they would not be notified until they got to the office so they made the trip for nothing and being elderly that is a great inconvenience.

My mom wanted to go on a payment plan but $5,800 was charged to their credit. I was not present when this happened and this was not explained to them. My mom was not happy with the hearing aids and they aggravated the ringing in her ears that Mr. C. knew about and even told us that the hearing aids might do this. Once my mom decided that she did not want the hearing aids I called Mr. C. but it took almost two weeks to finally reach him. I left numerous messages and did not receive a call back, I had to call him back. On June 6th we had a appointment set up with him. When we got to the office once again he was not present but instead had an associate there to try and help us.

We told the associate that we were there to return the hearing aids. Now this associate asked the secretary and her name is Donna, she informed us that we would have a full refund within 30 days. I waited over 30 days, checked my mom's credit card statement and it was never credited. I never received any kind of communication from Mr. C. regarding my mother's account. It wasn't until I called to inquire that he called me.

Unfortunately I was not able to speak with him but I wrote him a letter letting him know how frustrated and disappointed I am with the level of service that has been received. I have asked for a refund but I have not heard anything back as of yet. I would like some help in resolving this issue. I feel like my mom was taken advantage of. I don't think this is fair especially to senior citizens who are already on fixed budgets. They are now accruing finance charges because of this. Please look into this. Thank you!

My husband inquired about their product testing and was brought in under the precept of being a product tester. They test him, they show him their most expensive hearing aids, try them on him, get him all excited and then drop the price on him; no product testing at all! Just a disguise to get us in the door and he was just devastated.

My husband was tested on May 4, 2010 and was told he needed hearing aids for both ears. We knew this as he has had trouble with his hearing most of his life. We were told that they had a special price on their hearing aids that day. The normal price for the 7 channel hearing aids my husband needed would normally be $7,750 for a pair. But, to match a competitor's price, we could have the pair for $6,200. We signed the contract, charging $3,200 to a personal credit card and $3,000 to their own Care Credit.

After leaving the store and thinking about it, the whole deal sounded like a pitch from a used car salesman. We had done no comparison shopping, so I got on the internet and found that we could get basically the same product for $4,298. Our contract with Beltone states, "The Buyer has the right to cancel this purchase for any reason at any time prior to midnight of the 30th calendar day after actual receipt of the hearing instrument(s). You may cancel the purchase by notifying the Seller that you do not want the hearing instrument(s) by mailing a notice before 6/24/10 to Seller at 918 Broadway.

Upon cancellation, the Seller may keep the following cancellation charges: $620.00 cancellation fee (not to exceed 10%). "There is nothing in the contract about a cancellation fee prior to receipt of the hearing instruments. However, when I called Beltone to cancel our purchase, I was told by the owner/franchise owner that we would be charged the $620 cancellation fee. I told him that is not what the contract said, and he said he didn't care; he is on the Kentucky Licensing Board, this had been discussed at a Board meeting and all agreed it was correct. This does not make it legal. We have now spent $620 for a product that we've never even seen.

My mom purchased two hearing aids from you about a year ago. She has had nothing but trouble in every form and has not been able to hear literally anything since she purchased them. She has been in the store she bought them from countless times which is difficult enough to do as she does not drive and each time has dealt with Nick and has had no improvement. I am watching my mom get more frustrated and depressed the longer this goes on. Her money is so tight and she paid more than 6000 dollars for them.

This is ruining the quality of life for not only her but for all of us. I do not want to deal with Nick at all. Along with being not compassionate, he has an attitude of impatience. What is your suggestion? She also said Rick told her the reason her right one is uncomfortable and that she still can't hear out of it is because every ear is shaped different and they couldn't make a mold to fit her ear. Anxiety, major depression, miscommunication with doctors, irritability with family. Financial confusion as a result of the situation.

Bought 2 hearing aids. One is fine. The other did not work. Told agent. He said he would adjuts. Still didn't work. I said I think it's a factory defect. He refused to return and told me to try for a while. I told him repeatedly over time that it did not work. He told me I had to use Beltone Batteries to get it to work. I told him I used the same batteries in the other hearing aid and it worked fine. He said he would put it on computer and adjust. It was the same. I told him I wasn't wearing it because it didn't work. It was the most expensive Beltone offers and it never worked. Beltone is trash. Their warranty is trash. Will NEVER buy another.

My father purchased his hearing aids 6 years ago from Beltone and has had nothing but problems with them - they have been rebuilt costing him hundreds of dollars and now today just got an estimnate back from Beltone telling us that because the aid is more than 5 years old rather that costing $375 to repair the new estimate is $625 because they have to look for parts. Does this mean that Beltone thinks we should change the hearing aids evry 5 years - what a bunch of crap - if I ever need hearing aids it will certainly not be Beltone that I will go to

At first I went this Beltone store in January 2009 to try out their hearing aid. After I try them out most their hair aid does not fit right. I could't hear anything just blocking my hear canal that I told him about this is problems but he shave off end of the hearing aid so fit in right. So 1 wk I came back on almost every Monday I got the way. I got sick of it. I told him I want the money back. He said is under store policy.

Well I research on my computer I find this is a law is call "Grace Act Law". They must refund or exchange it another hearing aid. But he said no way. So I told him ok then I will see him in court. This last hearing aid is so much problem this is top of the line. Let see that will work,

"No" did't work because is still blocking my ear canal and wired stick out and I did't not know and this hearing aid almost came out of my ear. Some sore out side my ear get wet. This is my first time went through this. I been wearing hearing aid since I was 9. Today I am 57. This is so bad. Now I am not wearing only go to church I have to hear. I even hard time hearing my girlfriend. She get made at me. I really hate this. What a rip off. What can I do now? Made my inter canal red & sore.

I have been trying to get beltone A. Whitmore to fit me with a pair of hearing aids for over a year now. He keeps telling me that I need to get used to them. I have returned the aids so many times I have lost count. In the first 90 days He had them more than I did. It was not until almost 10 months into the exchange, refit, adjust, make new ones, refit etc etc that he told me that I only had 90 days to be able to get my money back.

I again have a new pair and this time the company sent them to me with NO batteries and no way of adjusting them and they are NOT the type I originally was told I was buying. I also have a card from the company telling me that the warranty ends in feb. of 2010. I have now contacted the BBB and they are trying to get A. Whitmore to refund my money. I do not think even they will have any luck as I have been told by 12 on your side that each hearing aid center from beltone is individually owned and operated and they seem to be able to do whatever they want. Does this also mean that they can stick it to the consumer if they want to?

I have paid A. Whitmore $5400.00 for the pair and an additional $26.00 for a dryer for them as Whitmore told me because I sweat so much that I needed to by this dryer to keep the aids dry. He also told me that I should NOT wear them during the day when I would be sweating so much (If possible) I thought that is why I was buying them and I told him the same, to be able to wear them all day long.

I also complained about the batteries not lasting more than a few days. I made it very clear that my previous aid would not need to have the batteries replaced more than 30 to 36 days. He said that 4 to 7 days was normal for hearing aid batteries. NOTHING he has done has worked. I just want my money back. Is there anything that can be done?

I forgot to tell you that when I went into him I did have a hearing aid in my right ear but it finally gave out after about 5 years and this is why I went to him. The original aid was also a beltone. I have talked to A. Whitmore and he is only upset that I went to 12 on your side and then to the BBB about this problem.

The hearing aid was never able to provide satisfactory results despite numerous attempts to tune it and affix it in my ear canal properly. Once I left the office where it was calibrated, it failed to perform in real world environments. I could not even hear a person talking to me from 5 feet away. I continually expressed my dissatisfaction to the Beltone representative and each time was told that "sometimes it takes a while to get used to it" and that "what I needed was a different piece of equipment" or that "perhaps we should recalibrate it". The first Beltone representative finally passed me off to the owner of the Memphis Beltone (her sister) in desperation. I went through another three weeks of dissatisfaction with the hearing aid and finally declared I had enough and that I was returning the device.

After returning the device, and Only after returning the device, I was told of the applicable "fitting fees". These fees are nowhere in my signed contract and are twice the amount stated for the return of merchandise.
Over the course of this purchase and return, I made an additional 4 payments of $77.00 each for a total outlay of $603.00 which has been held by Beltone of Memphis.
I was told (after the final return) that I was being charged "fitting fees" that were 10% the first month 15% the second month and 20% the third month. This is nowhere in my signed contract.
This company (a franchise) pushes the most expensive hearing aid they have and then drags out the adjustment process in an effort to retain the most money they can. I was Never shown a less expensive hearing aid, even though my hearing loss is not bad enough to demand the most expensive device.
I am now out $603.00 for a hearing aid that I do not have and that never produced satisfactory results.

I contacted the Beltone corporation and was told that each franchisee can assess whatever fees they wish.

Paid over 5.000 for hearing aids about 2 yrs ago. I can't hear any one talking for other people talking on the other side of the room. Bern will take them and fix then they way he thinks they should work not the way I ask him. They are never rite. I have been back at least 50 times. Now he said he does not know what to do. Should I get my money back!!!

I purchased Beltone hearing aids from a Beltone rep in Middletown, KY. I noticed I was not hearing anything in the right ear. So when I went to take them in for repair, the office went out of business. I found a dealer in Clarksville, In and he said the right one was not working and sent it back for repair. It took them 3 weeks to find it. And now I have had it back for 1 week and it has nothing but static in the right ear and the batteries last less than a week.

I answered an ad for free hearing test and free two-week hearing aid trial. After filling out several forms, I was informed that the Beltone Hearing Center was out of free trial hearing aids and high pressured to buy a hearing aid. I did not buy and it was a waste of time.

I paid alot of money for this hearing aid and I went back several times after I received because I still couldn't hear, I gave up. I went back last week and they told me it was not working and they would fix it. I got it back Friday saying it had been fixed, It had not. I still can not hear with. I also find that other people have only paid $800. or $900 for the same thing that I have aNd I paid $1600. I think it is out rageouse. I will never buy another Beltone and will not recommend it

I had a hearing test and was fitted for hearing aids that cost nearly $6k.We talked about how I was going to pay for the hearing aids. I have a charge card that pays up to 7% on purchases or another card that each dollar spent is change into airline perk miles. the dealer offered a 90 same as cash with the option that before the 90 day period was up we could use either card to pay for the hearing aids and get credit or cash back from either card. The dealer did not know the finance company he recommended would not take credit card. They only took bank transfers or debit cards. My wife paid the bill with our debit card. The dealer said we should have called him and he would have fixed things.He further stated that by doing the 90 day same as cash it cost him money.

I am out either the airline mile perks or the 7% that my credit card pays Well his inability to not know his finacing company cost me right around $420.

I paid and astonomical amount of money for these supposed best hearing aids and they still can not hear any better. I have been back at least every week since purchase. I have had them since about Aug. 2008. My famuly is still not happy w/ the fact that I still can't hear there conversing with me. It is really embarrassing for everyone and anyone I come in contact with

I had to cash in several of my savings bond and and practically go into debt to purchase a 3 set of hearing aids in my lifetime. They should never cost this much for anyone and there should be extended waranty or refund extension.

I purchased two digital hearing aids from this establishment. I went back several times for adjustments. They never seamed to get the aids right. In 2007 I moved to western NY. I went to a Beltone office in Jamestown, NY for further adjustments. The technician in NY told me neither aid fit properly, the left aid was not suited for my hearing loss and could not give me quality hearing. The right aid had a telephone switch which didn't work, and I got constant feed back (high pitch tone) which was caused by inproper fit.

I have $3190.00 in hearing aids which I purchased in Dec 2006 that doesn't work. At no time during my trips to the Ohio office did the gentleman there tell me that they had misfitted me or made any attempt to give me what I paid for. I have called and emailed beltone several times.I did recieve a call from the Ohio Office trying to convence me they had done nothing wrong and I got what I paid for. I guess Beltone may have contacted them.

I now have the task of purchasing new hearing aids and am very nervice about this industry. I wish there gov. angency that protected the consumer as well as they(Gov Agency) protect this industry. I need hearing aids but hate the task of try to get good value for my money spent. Thank you for listening.

This is a copy of the letter I sent (to Beltone dealer) Harlan Cato Nov. 7,2007.

Dear Harlan,

As the result of my former audiologist saying my right ear was deaf and my overall hearing could not be improved, I responded to the positive Beltone advertisement for the hearing impaired.On my first visit, your assistant ( Audrey Martin) tested my hearing and said I did have hearing in my right ear which a hearing aid would give me back the hearing in this ear. You confirmed the test.

The hearing aid for my right ear has not helped my hearing and resulted in my not wearing the aid as my hearing is just the same with or without. You and I have worked diligently (approximatley 14 visits) to make this aid work but have failed. I am returning the hearing aid as it has not accomplish the results that was determined by the preliminary tests and substantiated by you and your assistant.The hearing aid has not given me the ability to hear fully or partially in my right ear. The ability to hear in my right ear is the only reason I came to Beltone.

The hearing aid in my left ear has aided my hearing. The need for helping is by far less needed in this ear than in the right ear. The problem with the current setting for the aid is the high frequency and how it interfers with my hearing in a group or at a meeting. I can turn down the normal listening mode (P1)to ths lowest setting and the high frequency then is greatly reduced and I can hear a little better. With the left ear aid not having the need to be adjusted, the changes needed for this problem should be qluick and easy.

I will be away from Charlotte next week and will return November 12. Hope to see you then.

END OF LETTER

I was assured that the aid could be ajusted (volume increased, hi frequency reduced, etc) to meet my needs.I was also told that the hearing had to pass through my head bone.

Harlan is a warm assuring confincing man and I was a very hopefull man that I could get my hearing back.

The hearing test by Harlan's assistant was not accurate or true. Efforts by Harlan were not successful and did not allow me to hear in my right ear. The aid in my left ear ha snot been corrected resulting in my not wearing either aid for the past three weeks.

I have paid $6,640 for my hearing test (proven wrong by doctor), poor diagnostics and providing adequate hearing aids to have my hearing restored in my right ear and to have my hearing improved in my left ear.

I have been misled and inaccurlatly advised as to the ability to cure my hearing in the minimum of approximatly 40 visits over two years,

I have no hearing aids that I can use and am out $6,640. I do not feel that Beltone allows this type of result for service rendered. I want my money refunded.

I spent $4000.00 on a Beltone hearing aide that breaks down every 6-8 weeks. Presently it's under warranty, but they refuse to allow me to extend the warranty, and it will end in 9 months. My mother won't be able to afford to continue fixing the product. I feel this is one of the worst products I ever bought, especially for the money. I think Beltone should give us a better aide to replace this one!

I spent $6,000 on hearing aids. I now am in the position of ending up with lesser models which I don't know if I'll be happy with. A difference of $1500 is expected when I take possession of the 'new' ones. If I don't like, am not happy with these I don't believe they will refund any more or make any more changes. As far as I'm concerned at this point I am out $6,000. I don't know if I have any recourse.

81 year old woman on oxygen has been forced to make repeated trips to the Belltone office in Rochester to have hearing aids adjusted. She cannot hear her doctors orders or conduct business without an aid due to the malfunctioning of these hearing aids. Belltone has misrepresented the repair of the aids for months.

Joe is a very nice person to deal with, I bought my first hearing aid from beltone about 4 years ago in that 4 years my hearing aid was being repaired more then it was in my ear, I've had it repaired so many times I lost count, then Joe said I should get a new hearing aid their better made , so I did . I paid $1.800 for it had it about 3 months and now it needs repair it seems like the whole cycle is starting over again

My aunt who is 89 years old went by herself to Beltone for hearing aids. She paid $3,718.00 for them. This was on 3-21-2006. She was given a 30 day guarantee period in which she could bring them back for a full refund. From that day on 3-21 she went back to Beltone on 3-23,3-24,3-28(8:30a.m.) and again on the same day 3-28(1:30p.m.),3-30,4-4,4-6,4-11,4-13,4-17,4-18, and 4-20, all within the 30 day guarantee period.

Each time she trusted that the aids would be fixed. Of the 12 times that she went back (which averages out to every other day when you take out Sundays)she was never once told that they weren't any good. Instead she was strung along with the promise that this time we'll get them right until the 30 day period had expired. I recently found out about this and took her to an audiologist associated with a reputable clinic. They tested the Beltone hearing aids and found them to have only a 5% benefit to her hearing.

Had I known about her association with Beltone, I would have gone with her and demanded her money back by the seventh visit if not sooner. Actually, I would never have let her gone to Beltone to begin with. She will be 90 years old in two months and is very trusting as so many from her generation are. I feel this is a clear case of age discrimination as none of this would have happened if she hadn't done all of this by herself.

The damages are that she is out the $3,718.00 dollars that she paid for worthless hearing aids. She is now on her way to new hearing aids from a reputable clinic, that will cost her around $5,000.00 dollars. I want her to be able to get her money back to put towards these new hearing aids.

made the whole side of my face and head hurt. and also cause vertigo.

I'm out many hours of time, money and effort trying to obtain a hearing aid from BELTONE. I paid $1,835.00 for this device to get nothing for my money. Hey, I have been taken before but this is a bit too much.

$5,663.00 for the pair which was a lot of money or me. I did not wear them for a couple of years because I had a hard time getting used to them. I had to make serveral trips to finally get them so I could. Of course my warranty was over then. I thought it was a life time warranty. Being hard of hear and 71 years old I misunderstood. I have had to take them back many times. The times I have to have them repaired the charge a standard $263.00 without even looking at them to see what is wrong. They do this to everyone in there.

There is not place
else to have them repaired, so they can rip you off and there is nothing you can do. I am now 75 years old on SS and this is just not right. When you pay almost
$6,000,00 and you are on a fixed income
it is just not fair. Now I will have to
go without them because I just can not afford this.

It is very hard for me to talk to my grandchildren or anyone. I have to have the tv so lound my wife has to wear ear plugs. I just can not afford for them to be repaired and pay $263.00 everytime and they do not look at them that is just the standard charge. Beltone in Ill. says the stores are owned sperated and there is nothing they can do about what they charge. This is all just a big scam.

The office has a notice on the door ,open till five,but after 2.5 hours traveling time the door is closed 10 minutes before,so back I go.

There is very little courtesy,they will not adjust a hearing aid bought from them without an appointment.
The woman that comes to Heritage Towers from beltone(Theresa),when I complanied that the mold they furnished
did not fit right,she took a sissors and mutilated it,now she says I need a new mold.for 70.00. It took 17 days for them to send out the hearing aid I got from them till I got it ,cost 250.00 repair.

I am a senior with my pension to live on,and have barely enough to get by .

On August 9, 2005 my 84 year old mother had an appointment to have her Beltone Hearing Aid adjusted by Dr. David H. Levy. Upon arriving she was told that the office had made a mistake and she would be required to wait for 2 hours to see Dr. Levy. When Dr. Levy finally arrived at the office he proceeded to berate my mother in a loud angry manner because she had purchased the Beltone Hearing Aid in Florida, where she lives 7 months out of each year, and then expects Dr. Levy to service the Beltone when she resides in Knoxville.

Dr. Levy was rude and refused to honor the Beltone guarentee that provides that Beltone products will be serviced by any Beltone dealer.

My mother must now wait 3 months to have her Hearing Aids serviced back in Florida.

On 5/12/03 I puurchased a pair of hearing aids for $4990.00 as a replacement for my old aids. Since that time the aids have been back to the factory several times, the original set was replaced with a different model and I have been back to the office I don't know how many times for reprograming. I have contacted the Beltone customer service department but all they do is refer me back to the local office.

Since I have had two previous sets of aids, with which I had virtually no problems, I believe that I know how hearing aids should perform and the current aids do not perform at all. I feel that after all of the trips back to the factory and over 17 months of adjustments I should be able to understand what people are saying to me without asking them to repeat.

We were visiting my mother in W.Va. on October 7, 2001. My brother had just started working for Beltone Hearing Aids there and was told to come back to the office on Monday morning with four impressions of ear canals. Beltone would not let him practice in the office first. They said he did not need to. Someone at the office did an impression so he could watch. On Oct. 7th my brother was putting the silicone in my ear with a small caulking gun. It was hurting quite bad (but I did not know how it was supposed to feel since I had not had this done before). He left it in for 5 minutes (during which time it did not hurt) but then when he went to take it out it REALLY hurt! I finally told him to just pull it out quick (he was going slow so it wouldn't hurt me so bad).

He finally got it out and it quit hurting but I could not hear out of that ear anymore. We left shortly after that and went back to North Carolina (our home). I went to see an Ear Doctor the next day. They could not figure out what had happened. I went to this doctor off and on for 1 months. The doctor thought that the eardrum had been irritated and become infected and thought it would clear up on its own. When this did not happen he decided the only recourse was to put a tube in my ear so it would drain the fluid. When he did this, he was very surprised to learn that it was not fluid on the other side of the eardrum but it was silicone.

Evidentally when the impression was being taken, the eardrum had been punctured and silicone was put on both sides of the eardrum (this is why it was so hard to get out). The doctor sent me for a CT Scan to see just where the silicone was (hoping that it would not be around the hearing bones). But it was all around the hearing bones. He said that he was comfortable doing 95% of all Ear, Nose & Throat surgeries but not this one! The doctor immediately made arrangements for me to go to a doctor at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC for surgery.

On January 4th I had the surgery. The doctor said that the silicone was EVERYWHERE! I was in surgery for about two hours. The doctor said that he was able to get all the silicone out.

It is now January 29, 2002 and I have regained a small amount of hearing in that ear. There is still packing on the other side of the eardrum which will dissolve on its own eventually and hopefully then I will regain some more of my hearing. This has been quite traumatic for me and for my husband. He has had to take quite a bit of time off work taking me to doctors and hospitals. For three months I could not hear at all out of that ear. I am now able to hear a little bit.

my mother who is 76 years old was taken for $183.00 for a hearing test and so- called fitting for a disposable hearing aid the song bird. after being told the product did not fit her ears she was charged. upon calling song bird manufactures. they said she never should have been charged #1. for a fitting and programing since it only comes in 2 sizes and there is nothing to program. and should also have been refunded the money for the hearing aid she returned within 3 days since it was falling out of her ear.

i went with her to mr. katz this morning to get a refund. he became extremley abusive shouting and looming over us that we ran out of his store. i am reporting him to the local police dept. for threating us. and causing my mother heart palapations.

as stated above my mother has a heart condition and is 76 years old his yelling and threatening her caused her duress. we never got our money back and she is now at home lying down .