Take It Away Art Council Scheme | Zero Finance | Free Credit

To be eligible to apply for a Take it away loan, you must be:

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EITHER an individual over 18 buying an instrument for a child under the age of 18
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OR an individual aged 18-25 years using the scheme to buy an instrument for themselves (or someone else, e.g. as a gift)

All applicants must also:

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Be a permanent UK resident
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Be working at least 16 hours per week
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Hold a bank or building society account capable of handling direct debit payments

Applicants using the scheme to buy an instrument for an under 18 will be required to complete a customer declaration confirming that the recipient of the instrument is a child.

Unfortunately we are not able to support applicants aged 26 or over who are not using the scheme to purchase a musical instrument for an under 18.

Sound Affects Music in conjunction with the Arts Council, are now able to offer  0% Interest Free Credit on all purchases of musical instruments from £100 up to £2,000

Take it away is an Arts Council England initiative created to help people get involved in learning and playing music. The scheme allows people to apply for a loan of £100 to £2,000 for the purchase of any kind of musical instrument, and pay it back in 9 monthly instalments (plus a minimum 10% deposit), completely interest free. Provided that the core purchase is an instrument other equipment, accessories and tuition can also be included to the loan.

Some Examples: 

You wish to buy a PRS SE guitar for £300

This would involve a £30 deposit followed by 9 monthly payments of £30.Total Amount payable for the Guitar is £300 at 0% Finance.

You may also decide you want to add a Line 6 Amplifier, a cable and a strap which total £180, making the total package price £480

This would involve a £48 deposit followed by 9 monthly payments of £48. Total amount payable for the whole package would be £480 at 0% Finance.

Although it has been created primarily to assist those who might otherwise be unable to afford the right instrument, the scheme is open to all. Applicants must be over 18 years old and a permanent resident of the UK.

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. There is a list of eligible and ineligible items below in the "Frequently Asked Questions" section.

How do I Take it away?  

First, visit our store, or our website, and find the instrument that you want to buy. Once you've made your decision, you can apply for a Take it away loan to finance your purchase.

There are 2 ways to apply for finance on the 'Take it Away' promotion:

For web/telephone orders: Please call us on 01695- 570023

For in-store applications:Please visit our store but make sure you have either a credit or a 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.

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.

Frequently Asked 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 I don'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 you.

How do I use the scheme?

Simple. First, visit any of our stores, or our website, and find the instrument that you want to buy. Once you've made your decision, our staff will take you through the loan application process. The application process takes no more than a few minutes and, if approved, you can take your purchase away with you there and then if buying in store.

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%).

If you are buying from our website you can call us on 01695-570023 to go through the short application form.

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?

If buying in store, then - yes. Once you have signed the agreement and paid your deposit you can take your new instrument away with you immediately.

If you apply over the phone the goods will be dispatched around 14 days after we receive your signed agreement forms and a copy of your ID (Passport, driving license or utility bill).

Why does it take so long if I apply over the phone?

Applications over the phone are subject to a 14 day cooling off period i.e. you can cancel the agreement within 14 days. The delayed dispatch is to cover this period.

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? 

Yes a course of lessons can be added to your loan. We have a large music school and can provide tuition in a number of instruments.

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/phone, 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? 

We do not provide refunds on instruments unless faulty.

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/Phone.

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.

What can I buy? 

Take it away loans are designed to assist individuals with the purchase of new or reconditioned musical instruments. These include things like:

Electric Guitars
Bass Guitars
Acoustic Guitars
Drums (Acoustic & Digital)
Folk Instruments
Digital Pianos
Portable Keyboards
String Instruments
Brass & Woodwind

In addition to the above, the following associated goods and services may be included as part of the loan, provided that these items are purchased at the same time as the instrument itself and can be supplied by the retailer at the point of sale.