Rant about XM Sirius business philosophy

[Fastlerner]

Early on in my free 3 month trial I had a nice voice from XM call me on the phone and ask if I was enjoying it. As I was, they offered me a promo deal of 6 more months for a 1 time $30 fee. Sounded good so I bought it.

Fast forward to today and I get another call from a nice voice at XM. They pitched the call as "we just need to confirm that your information is still the same." Okay, so I confirm they have all the correct info. And even though they never actually said the word "collections department" that's what this call was. (for $4)

Turns out that they were charging me a $2 per month "invoice administration fee". So I said, "Fine. Stop sending me a paper invoice. It's prepaid and I don't care to see it anyway." Of course, they wouldn't be charging me the fee at all if I would just keep a credit card on file with them. Why I asked. Because their billing is built on automatic renewals. But I DON'T WANT an automatic renewal, that's why I paid up front in one lump sum.

Round and round we went with no reasonable explanation of what the $2 invoice administration fee was actually for. Finally I said if you won't stop charging me the fee, you can just cancel me because I'm not paying it, and I'm sure as heck not putting a card on file. Well, she's going to have to transfer me to the billing department and perhaps they can pro-rate what's left. That's when it actually became clear I was talking to collections.

So I get transferred, explain the situation, and a nice broken english voice credits $10 to my account.

I still love the service, but their business philosophy sucks. They KNOW once they get your card they're gonna make bank on auto-renewals. And if you don't have one on file, they'll make bank on that too.

I think I'll just wait until my prepaid promotion is up and it stops working. I'm betting I'll be getting another phone call from a nice voice offering me some kind of "welcome back" promo offer. And no, I won't be putting a card on file.


EDIT: Almost forgot, she did give me one other option if I didn't want my card on file. She said I could purchase another 6 month block at the promo fee and she would cancel the invoice fees for the current promo period. Of course, once the second promo period started I'd be getting the fees again! WTF!!!

[doeboy]

Well this is food for thought. I just got an email saying that my trial is almost over. Is there way I can prepay with my card and then cancel my auto renewal right after that? I don't want the re-occurring charge on my card nor do I want the re-occurring $2 a month for some weird unknown reason.

[cbx4evr]

Well this is food for thought for sure. No one has my credit card or bank information on file and Sirius won't get it either. I've pretty well made up my mind that I will be cancelling anyway. Only found 2 stations I like.
It's still radio and someone else is picking the music.

[LTR]

I haven't tried it yet but I've seen pre paid XM cards on sale at best buy. I was thinking about buying one of those that way I can keep the service, but like fastlerner i don't want to give them a credit card that they can keep charging month after month.

[cbx4evr]

I haven't tried it yet but I've seen pre paid XM cards on sale at best buy. I was thinking about buying one of those that way I can keep the service, but like fastlerner i don't want to give them a credit card that they can keep charging month after month.

I don't know if you can use that if you already subscribe. Seems like it's a gift card to get a non-subscriber started.

Give the gift of SIRIUS with this $75 pre-paid subscription card. Apply towards SIRIUS activation and subscription. This subscription card is valid for 12 months after purchase if not redeemed with SIRIUS.

Pre-paid subscription cards can be combined.

This pre-paid subscription card CANNOT be used to purchase hardware such as radios or accessories.

Pre-paid subscription cards are non-refundable.

Credit card required at activation.

[Iggypop]

I'm a huge Howard Stern fan. I will be upgrading when my free promotion runs out. I love Satellite radio.

[profittakr]

I don't trust XM and so they won't be getting my card info either. Their billing is always screwed up and you have to watch them like a hawk. I like the service but the billing is terrible.

[cbx4evr]

I'm anxiously awaiting the renewal call from XM. Want to see what negotiating power I have. I only listen to 6 channels at the most so no way I want to pay the full price. Nor are they getting bank info.

[LTR]

I'm anxiously awaiting the renewal call from XM. Want to see what negotiating power I have. I only listen to 6 channels at the most so no way I want to pay the full price. Nor are they getting bank info.

I found that you can just kind of name your own price on the service. I basically told the guy on the phone I wanted to pay 30 dollars for 6 months of XM Premier (NFL, Howard Stern, etc.) and he told me to hold on for a second and then approved the price. So far I'm happy I did it.

[Topster]

Canceled XM on my 07 Impala. Nothing left on account for refund. Brother passes away a couple of months later. I call and cancel his XM. Refund due him of 150+. They send check after 2 months. Check is wrong. I call and they tell me to send it back and they correct mistake. I do so. 2 months later, no refund. Call again and ask and am told "we don't reissue a check once it has been sent". I asked "even if you screwed it up? Answer was "we don't reissue check once it has been sent back to us". If they do that X amount of times with people who are due refunds, look at all the make. I would NEVER use their service again.....

[cbx4evr]

My XM expired a week ago but I'm still getting it. They have never called with any offer. Just high priced deals in the mail.

[jasen1]

xm/xirius I think is terrible sound quality and not worth the price they are charging.

I use internet radio in the car all the time and although it goes against my data on my phone, Work pretty much covers it all.

[floormatt6]

Mine expired about two weeks ago. I just got an email (I don't know how they got my address) saying I was automatically subscribed. I too had to fight with them for an hour until they canceled the $2 invoice fee. Their customer service is so oblivious to what is going on. I don't think it's worth the frustration to argue every fee. May not resubscribe next time.

[jasen1]

The got my email from the dealership when I bought the car. I had a strong conversation with the dealership after that.

[cbx4evr]

My latest offer from XM is half price for a year - $82.45 plus taxes and fees.

Still not interested.