C-INRED

I got the bill today after my third $77 deal expired. I called and went through the regular routine telling them I'd like to cancel since I only use the car about half the year and when I do I don't get good service because it cuts out all the time. This is all true and I was perfectly willing to cancel if we couldn't reach an acceptable agreement.

The gal offered me the $144 per year deal and then a $119 per year deal. When I turned those down she tried the old $77 per year deal. I told her since I don't use the car in the winter that's just not worth it and that I had read or heard about a $4.99/mo for six months deal that I might be interested in. She said that was no longer available but she could do five months for $20 and if I'd give them a credit card number I'd get a credit and it would be $12.49 total for the five months, which I did.

Now, since I knew ahead of time from all of you about the credit card hassles (I've always asked for a paper bill in the past) I gave her a temporary card number with a $12.49 limit which I will cancel as soon as the charge posts.

So the bottom line is an additional five months for $12.49 which is just about what it's worth in my estimation.

Daytona Bob

I hope they send you 6 bills and waste hours of your time.

I figure customer svc should be you get what you pay for.

If it all works out congrats to you for screwing XM

OhNiner

You might have made some agreement for a contract somehow by giving them a credit card. You might want to make sure and cancel your service when the time is up or it might get renewed automatically.

C-INRED

Well, the $12.49 is going on my card so I don't know what the six bills would be for, but we'll see I guess.

As far as 'screwing' them...it's their deal, I just accepted it. If they're being screwed they're screwing themselves.

I agreed on the phone that if I wanted to cancel that I would call and do so prior to October 11th, which I will. At that point if they have another offer I'll listen.

P.S. My time is cheap as I'm retired. I have plenty of time to play their game.

C-INRED

Yes, that is exactly what they're going after. But since I gave them a temporary card they will not be able to charge it. I will call in advance to cancel as agreed during the call.

Thunder22

I cancelled my subscription today, I didn't get any offers besides the $144/year. I guess it's a crap shoot on which guy from India you get.

C-INRED

I got a gal. It was probably my sexy voice.

MRCowboy

I just paid for a lifetime membership LOL...got one of those portable ones and got the home boombox dock to go with it. I don't have to worry about using it just in my car and never have to redo any deals.....

corvettezman

In today's economy , a lifetime membership is as good as .
You better hope for your sake XM stays in business a long time, at least out of bankruptcy. Even if they just bankrupt , they could technically kick your membership to the curb.

FLACHUSNRET

I have an '05 which I purchased used from an individual back in Feb of last year. It has the XM radio which we use and enjoy. I still have not had to renew it. All last year I kept thinking it would quit any day but it is still works. I don't know whether the previous owner bought a lifetime service or maybe has it on a contract with other vehicles.

Needless to say, I am not calling XM to ask why it is still working.

ben dover

Good on you.

GCD1962

You need to be careful even with a temp card. If the transaction is a "recurring charge" credit card co's will still allow the charge even after a card is cancelled and will continue to bill you.

jimmie jam

or, they will consider it as fraud (you had no intentions to keep your end of the CC billing agreement you entered into by giving them a CC #). why do you think they offered you that deal?

Vetter 1

I just got the 6 months for $29.00.

Red Rochester

C-INRED

Thanks. Good Info. They wanted to bill it all as one charge so it is not recurring. I'll be careful about that in the future though.

I know what they're up to. They were very clear on the phone (even going so far as to say the conversation was recorded) to say that if I wanted to cancel service I needed to do it before October 11th. I will definitely do that and I will document it. The reason for using the temporary card is to make sure they can't renege on their end of the deal and try to charge me after I've fulfilled my obligation and cancelled service.

not08crmanymore

No wonder they are broke!

phileaglesfan

They'll just charge you the full rate after your great rate expires and then send a collection agency after you since your credit card # is not good.

rohard

Interesting conversation.

The "zwinback" code is supposedly only good for one radio. (We will see when the second radio expires at the end of August.)

They prorated me (at the full rate of $144.45/year, or $8.63) for the 21 days between when my orginal subscription expired and I renewed today, but gave me the $77 rate going forward. They also charged $2 for a bill, since I would NOT give them a credit card.
They have an interesting theory on renewals, they say it renews unless I call and cancel. I told her that it only renews if they bill me and I pay. They said no, I said good luck collecting, if I decide not to renew. Anyone gets a new code, please post. I have another renewal coming up in August.