OnStar Beware!!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 215
Likes: 1
From: Vonore TN
OnStar Beware!!!
My 6 month trial with On Star expired in May. I subscribed to the $10.00 for 6 months calling feature. I didn't notice on my cc bill last month that they had charged me, caught it on this month.
I called OS and had to go thru a song and dance routine. I informed them I did not want it after trial and that I wanted refund. The rep told me they could not reach me so they figured that I wanted it and renewed it for me!
Finally they would cancel it at the end of this billing cycle with no refund. I told them to disconnect now and refund last month and reminded
I did not authorize. They said they would but I will keep an eye on my credit card for refund. BEWARE
I called OS and had to go thru a song and dance routine. I informed them I did not want it after trial and that I wanted refund. The rep told me they could not reach me so they figured that I wanted it and renewed it for me!
Finally they would cancel it at the end of this billing cycle with no refund. I told them to disconnect now and refund last month and reminded
I did not authorize. They said they would but I will keep an eye on my credit card for refund. BEWARE
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,526
Likes: 12
From: Los Angeles California
Yeah. It's odd how pushy they are with that kind of stuff. I have OnStar in both of my cars. They tried to get me to buy into their "minutes", which is absolutely ridiculous. They also state that if my cell phone doesn't have coverage, they will. That's a load of crap because they don't know what carrier I use but I know that our cars use Verizon's CDMA network which is going the way of the dodo. So it's technically less reliable than my phone's network.
In any case, I asked them if both my cars pool these so-called "emergency" minutes since they're both under the same account, and they said, "No. The minutes are exclusive to each car." I asked if I could buy them later and they said, "Yes, but they'll be more expensive."
That was pretty much all I need to hear. I can do the math very quickly in my head and the reality is that in the chance that my phone is has no service (unlikely), or it's dead (even less likely because the car can charge it), I would simply pay a little extra up front to get minutes and get help if I needed... But to pay over and over for minutes that I'll likely never ever need is just stupid.
In any case, I asked them if both my cars pool these so-called "emergency" minutes since they're both under the same account, and they said, "No. The minutes are exclusive to each car." I asked if I could buy them later and they said, "Yes, but they'll be more expensive."
That was pretty much all I need to hear. I can do the math very quickly in my head and the reality is that in the chance that my phone is has no service (unlikely), or it's dead (even less likely because the car can charge it), I would simply pay a little extra up front to get minutes and get help if I needed... But to pay over and over for minutes that I'll likely never ever need is just stupid.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 469
Likes: 23
From: Schaumburg IL
Same with Sirrus radio. With the wifes new car, she gets 3 months free Sirrus. They sent me an offer, where we can continue to get it for the next 6 months at 5 bucks a month. That is not a bad deal. I said ok, but send me an address and I will send you a check. They did not want to, but finally agreed.
Pro
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 580
Likes: 32
From: New York
What is worse is I bought the minutes - only $5, why not. What they neglected to tell me is that those minutes expire in 6 months. The chances of me needed to use those emergency minutes is near zero over the next few months.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 10
From: Cumming GA
On order: Torch Red Z51
I cancelled Onstar but when my year is up I'll go with the full Sirrus package for three years. It's not a bad deal w/everything you get. One bill for three years.
Same with Sirrus radio. With the wifes new car, she gets 3 months free Sirrus. They sent me an offer, where we can continue to get it for the next 6 months at 5 bucks a month. That is not a bad deal. I said ok, but send me an address and I will send you a check. They did not want to, but finally agreed.
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Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 176
Likes: 13
From: New Oxford PA
If you cancel your OnStar you would loose the automatic updates to your GPS system, so I would think you would want to keep the OnStar. When I asked about the updating of the GPS system the sales rep at Chriswell Chev in MD specifically stated that the updates are automatic thru the OnStar. Or, are none of you using the Vette GPS system?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 215
Likes: 1
From: Vonore TN
If you cancel your OnStar you would loose the automatic updates to your GPS system, so I would think you would want to keep the OnStar. When I asked about the updating of the GPS system the sales rep at Chriswell Chev in MD specifically stated that the updates are automatic thru the OnStar. Or, are none of you using the Vette GPS system?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 9,526
Likes: 12
From: Los Angeles California
If you cancel your OnStar you would loose the automatic updates to your GPS system, so I would think you would want to keep the OnStar. When I asked about the updating of the GPS system the sales rep at Chriswell Chev in MD specifically stated that the updates are automatic thru the OnStar. Or, are none of you using the Vette GPS system?
If someone told you this, they were mistaken or lying. What you DO get with OnStar is the turn-by-turn directions through the speakers. This has nothing to do with the car's built in GPS navigation.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 176
Likes: 13
From: New Oxford PA
hmmmm, think I need to speak to Chriswell Chev in Maryland - that is the ONLY reason I ordered the GPS. In my other Vette I have a TomTom and that one has life time FREE updates (purchased that way) - and has been doing well getting updates etc. I will be very upset with Chriswell if this GPS update is not as the sales person explained it. And there was no misunderstanding as I questioned the fact that OnStar did the updates.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 176
Likes: 13
From: New Oxford PA
I suppose I should be asking - how is the GPS updated?
Is there a fee for this?
I know with my first TomTom there was a fee for new maps and then one day they came out with a version of "Lifetime" updates for free and I bought one, and updates have been free and works very well so I am happy. From what I am hearing here is the updates are not from OnStar. Please advise as to the REAL STORY on the GPS.
Is there a fee for this?
I know with my first TomTom there was a fee for new maps and then one day they came out with a version of "Lifetime" updates for free and I bought one, and updates have been free and works very well so I am happy. From what I am hearing here is the updates are not from OnStar. Please advise as to the REAL STORY on the GPS.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 585
Likes: 39
From: FL
All good information posted above. I signed up for On-Star because I saw a 'Three Months for Free' promotion. I called from my car to sign up, administrators must have asked me four times for a CC. I said let me use my three for free and I'll let you know. A week later I received a letter from On-Star enclosed with a card indicating my car's phone number. If anyone wants to talk to my car let me know I'll give you its number. Received another letter indication the value of OnStar and requesting a CC so I don't have service interruption. It's now been two months and I haven't used OnStar nor care to. It maybe a great service for some, but I'm going to opt out. And I won't have to fight with them over any auto CC charges.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 392
Likes: 3
From: Palm Coast Florida
My 6 month trial with On Star expired in May. I subscribed to the $10.00 for 6 months calling feature. I didn't notice on my cc bill last month that they had charged me, caught it on this month.
I called OS and had to go thru a song and dance routine. I informed them I did not want it after trial and that I wanted refund. The rep told me they could not reach me so they figured that I wanted it and renewed it for me!
Finally they would cancel it at the end of this billing cycle with no refund. I told them to disconnect now and refund last month and reminded
I did not authorize. They said they would but I will keep an eye on my credit card for refund. BEWARE
I called OS and had to go thru a song and dance routine. I informed them I did not want it after trial and that I wanted refund. The rep told me they could not reach me so they figured that I wanted it and renewed it for me!
Finally they would cancel it at the end of this billing cycle with no refund. I told them to disconnect now and refund last month and reminded
I did not authorize. They said they would but I will keep an eye on my credit card for refund. BEWARE
Pro
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 708
Likes: 51
From: Huntersville, North Carolina
OnStar was pushy with me when a picked my vet up last Thursday. I finally said, " I don't mean to be rude but, I've had a 14 hour day and have an hour drive home." And she left me go.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,891
Likes: 1,198
From: Ft. Myers FL
I refuse to pay for Sirrus radio and I don't want Onstar either so when the free time runs out, it's done for me. If some one had told me 20 years ago I'd be paying to watch TV and I'd be buying water I'd have told them they were nuts !
Oh yeah, the TV wouldn't have commercials. 
Oh yeah, the TV wouldn't have commercials.