XM Nightmare
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 792
Likes: 4
From: New Jersey
XM Nightmare
Having read about all the horror stories of XM, I would never give them my credit card and paid by check. My yearly subscription expired the end of Dec and I would have thought the service stopped.....my Vert has been in the garage since before the holidays taking it's winter nap....
Today I get an invoice in the mail for a the month of January....I called and finally got a supervisor (so they told me). Got a run around that they could not cancel the invoice and I would have to pay.....told them there was NO way I would pay the invoice. I did NOT authorize the service and it should have been cancelled at the end of my current contract.
Anyone else have this same issue??
Today I get an invoice in the mail for a the month of January....I called and finally got a supervisor (so they told me). Got a run around that they could not cancel the invoice and I would have to pay.....told them there was NO way I would pay the invoice. I did NOT authorize the service and it should have been cancelled at the end of my current contract.
Anyone else have this same issue??
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 384
Likes: 2
From: Sterling Heights Michigan
Let me paraphrase your situation. You signed a contract with XM for service in which the contract says you must notify them in writing to cancel the service. You do not read the contract or follow the terms to cancel. You are surprised when you get a bill and feel you shouldn't have to pay it, even though you are obligated to under the contract and you still received the service. Lot of people in the same boat, apparently nobody reads contracts today.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 792
Likes: 4
From: New Jersey
Let me paraphrase your situation. You signed a contract with XM for service in which the contract says you must notify them in writing to cancel the service. You do not read the contract or follow the terms to cancel. You are surprised when you get a bill and feel you shouldn't have to pay it, even though you are obligated to under the contract and you still received the service. Lot of people in the same boat, apparently nobody reads contracts today.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,254
Likes: 5
From: Anaheim Hills, Ca
Let me paraphrase your situation. You signed a contract with XM for service in which the contract says you must notify them in writing to cancel the service. You do not read the contract or follow the terms to cancel. You are surprised when you get a bill and feel you shouldn't have to pay it, even though you are obligated to under the contract and you still received the service. Lot of people in the same boat, apparently nobody reads contracts today.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 792
Likes: 4
From: New Jersey
I think you missed something...I NEVER signed anything. When I asked them to fax me a copy of my signature on a contract I was told they couldn't locate it......I told them that was because I never signed anything except the check I sent them over a year ago.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
From: Alpharetta Georgia
No fine print here. It is plain on the XM contract agreement that you must cancel your subsription or it will auto renew. It is on the contract in plain and simple english. All you have to do is read.
Strait from the XM Terms and Conditions / Costomer agreement (In Larg Print)
Services will be provided to you for the period agreed to by you and will continue to renew for additional terms of same length on the same billing terms until canceled, terminated or discontinued by you or by us. Please keep this copy of these Terms for your records.
PLEASE READ THESE TERMS OF SERVICE CAREFULLY BEFORE ACCESSING OR USING OUR WEBSITE OR OUR SERVICES. BY ACCESSING OR USING OUR WEBSITE OR SERVICES, YOU AGREE TO BE LEGALLY BOUND BY THESE TERMS OF SERVICE. PLEASE DO NOT USE OUR WEBSITE OR SERVICE IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THESE TERMS OF SERVICE.
IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THESE TERMS, PLEASE NOTIFY US IMMEDIATELY AND WE WILL CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION. IF YOU DO NOT CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION WITHIN 3 BUSINESS DAYS OF ACTIVATION OF YOUR RECEIVER, IT WILL MEAN THAT YOU AGREE TO THESE TERMS WHICH WILL BE LEGALLY BINDING ON YOU.
Strait from the XM Terms and Conditions / Costomer agreement (In Larg Print)
Services will be provided to you for the period agreed to by you and will continue to renew for additional terms of same length on the same billing terms until canceled, terminated or discontinued by you or by us. Please keep this copy of these Terms for your records.
PLEASE READ THESE TERMS OF SERVICE CAREFULLY BEFORE ACCESSING OR USING OUR WEBSITE OR OUR SERVICES. BY ACCESSING OR USING OUR WEBSITE OR SERVICES, YOU AGREE TO BE LEGALLY BOUND BY THESE TERMS OF SERVICE. PLEASE DO NOT USE OUR WEBSITE OR SERVICE IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THESE TERMS OF SERVICE.
IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THESE TERMS, PLEASE NOTIFY US IMMEDIATELY AND WE WILL CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION. IF YOU DO NOT CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION WITHIN 3 BUSINESS DAYS OF ACTIVATION OF YOUR RECEIVER, IT WILL MEAN THAT YOU AGREE TO THESE TERMS WHICH WILL BE LEGALLY BINDING ON YOU.
Last edited by viper62; Feb 18, 2010 at 01:24 PM.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 384
Likes: 2
From: Sterling Heights Michigan
By signing you are referring to physically writing something down I assume. Legally you can sign something electronically by sending an email, sending a check, acknowledging something on a webpage and so on. Also, statute of frauds doesn't apply in this case, your contract was not over a year and this was not for the sale of goods.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,188
Likes: 4
From: S.F. Bay Area CA.
Get out your check book.
In America we have these things called contracts. You need to read them.
*Subscription Note:
Service will automatically renew for additional periods of the same length as the Plan you choose, at the then current renewal rate unless you call to cancel. Activation fee of $14.99, other fees and taxes may apply. You will be charged a $75 early termination fee if you cancel a one-year or longer subscription during the first year of service. For certain promotions -- those with special 3-mos and 6-mos prices -- service will be billed monthly, but will be automatically renewed for additional periods of the same length as the Plan you choose, at the then current renewal rate unless you cancel. For certain other promotions and programs, different early termination fees may apply for failure to maintain the first full term of the Package or Plan chosen at inception. See OFFER DETAILS.
Having read about all the horror stories of XM, I would never give them my credit card and paid by check. My yearly subscription expired the end of Dec and I would have thought the service stopped.....my Vert has been in the garage since before the holidays taking it's winter nap....
Today I get an invoice in the mail for a the month of January....I called and finally got a supervisor (so they told me). Got a run around that they could not cancel the invoice and I would have to pay.....told them there was NO way I would pay the invoice. I did NOT authorize the service and it should have been cancelled at the end of my current contract.
Anyone else have this same issue??
Today I get an invoice in the mail for a the month of January....I called and finally got a supervisor (so they told me). Got a run around that they could not cancel the invoice and I would have to pay.....told them there was NO way I would pay the invoice. I did NOT authorize the service and it should have been cancelled at the end of my current contract.
Anyone else have this same issue??
Service will automatically renew for additional periods of the same length as the Plan you choose, at the then current renewal rate unless you call to cancel. Activation fee of $14.99, other fees and taxes may apply. You will be charged a $75 early termination fee if you cancel a one-year or longer subscription during the first year of service. For certain promotions -- those with special 3-mos and 6-mos prices -- service will be billed monthly, but will be automatically renewed for additional periods of the same length as the Plan you choose, at the then current renewal rate unless you cancel. For certain other promotions and programs, different early termination fees may apply for failure to maintain the first full term of the Package or Plan chosen at inception. See OFFER DETAILS.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,836
Likes: 9
From: Rushsylvania Ohio
XM or SIRIUS, basically the same contracts. As soon as you sign up/pay, you agree to auto renewals. Does not matter how you pay. Once you have paid, you have entered into a binding contract where you agree to auto renewals. You MUST contact them to cancel. Period - end of discussion. So many people do not understand this part of the contract.
The person on the phone with you that could not produce some document that you signed just does not understand their contract either. There is nothing for anyone to sign - you pay, you agree to the terms.
I just canceled my SIRIUS contract before it came due next week. Had zero problems on the phone and they were actually very nice. Now did it really get canceled, I will have to wait and see, but I did get an email from them asking how I liked my Previous service, so that would seem to indicate it was in fact canceled.
To the OP, I understand you are very upset, but if you don't pay what is due, the next step is they will turn it over to a collection agency and it will hit your credit report.
The person on the phone with you that could not produce some document that you signed just does not understand their contract either. There is nothing for anyone to sign - you pay, you agree to the terms.
I just canceled my SIRIUS contract before it came due next week. Had zero problems on the phone and they were actually very nice. Now did it really get canceled, I will have to wait and see, but I did get an email from them asking how I liked my Previous service, so that would seem to indicate it was in fact canceled.
To the OP, I understand you are very upset, but if you don't pay what is due, the next step is they will turn it over to a collection agency and it will hit your credit report.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,188
Likes: 4
From: S.F. Bay Area CA.
You agreed to the contract when you started service with them.
I would hope that most folks read, and understand their obligations when entering into a business deal, or contract with a company, or individual. Judging from the many XM posts here on the CF, I guess there are many folks that don't.
Did you sign your check?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 2
From: Albany Oregon
I purchased one year of service quite a while back. I didn't even use it for the full year and forgot about it. Same story got a bill, told them I wouldn't pay it. They turned me over to a collection agent. So I paid and never again. I love my Ipod.
PS. If I remember correctly, the one years service came with the purchase of the radio I bought.
PS. If I remember correctly, the one years service came with the purchase of the radio I bought.
Last edited by widgetsupply; Feb 18, 2010 at 01:42 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 2
From: Albany Oregon
I think most people get started with XM during the new car buying experience. When you are going through the process, they ask for a credit card when you are registering your Onstar. My dealer had previously told me not to give them one. So, I didn't. Nothing to read, just part of buying your new Vette. Total BS if you ask me.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,254
Likes: 5
From: Anaheim Hills, Ca
Ok so here's what we need to do:
Sign up for XM and then be sure to MARK YOUR CALENDER to call them before your subscription is up for renewal. Who is going to remember to do this?? C'mon!
Sign up for XM and then be sure to MARK YOUR CALENDER to call them before your subscription is up for renewal. Who is going to remember to do this?? C'mon!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,234
Likes: 92
From: Florida
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I hate the "auto renew" policy, but it's not unique to XM. Based on the number of threads I have seen on this topic it's clear that a lot of customers think if they use a check to pay for their subscription that they cannot be automitacally renewed. As many are discovering that's just not the case.
Many also think that if they use a credit/debit card and subsequently cancel the card that they cannot be auto renewed as well. As with paying with a check that's just not the case either.
Keep in mind that if you refuse to pay the bill they can and probably will turn the debt over to a collection agency and it could eventually lead to a ding on your credit report if you do not pay.
My advice is that you should pay the bill and send them a registered letter informing them that you do not wish to renew your subscription at the end of the contract. Either that or mark the date on your calendar to remind you to call and cancel before you are auto renewed again.
Many also think that if they use a credit/debit card and subsequently cancel the card that they cannot be auto renewed as well. As with paying with a check that's just not the case either.
Keep in mind that if you refuse to pay the bill they can and probably will turn the debt over to a collection agency and it could eventually lead to a ding on your credit report if you do not pay.
My advice is that you should pay the bill and send them a registered letter informing them that you do not wish to renew your subscription at the end of the contract. Either that or mark the date on your calendar to remind you to call and cancel before you are auto renewed again.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,709
Likes: 1
From: Pacific Northwest
St. Jude Donor '06
I'm not defending them because I think their business practices stink, but FWIW I did put it on my calendar and call them to cancel and did not have any problems with the cancellation or additional billings.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,098
Likes: 8
From: Dayton Ohio
By the way, I'm so paranoid about XM's billing practices, I won't even send them a check because I don't trust them with my routing number.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,254
Likes: 5
From: Anaheim Hills, Ca
I have a portable XM radio and have the expiration date posted on the back of the unit. Every time I pick it up I make a mental note to screw them before they get me.
By the way, I'm so paranoid about XM's billing practices, I won't even send them a check because I don't trust them with my routing number.
By the way, I'm so paranoid about XM's billing practices, I won't even send them a check because I don't trust them with my routing number.
I hear ya, brother!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,188
Likes: 4
From: S.F. Bay Area CA.
Here's the best way to deal with XM, and EVERYBODY should do this right now. Cancel now! Call them up, and tell them, that at the end of your current, paid for, contract, that you want to cancel your service. Request a conformation number, and the name of the supervisior that your dealing with. I did this the very same day I renewed my contract last year. My service will end on 5/11/10, and THEY KNOW that. This way, when you call back to renew, you're coming from a position of strength. This makes it much eaiser to get the $77 deal, which is now $80 something a year.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
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