OnStar Ripoff
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,615
Likes: 60
From: Haymarket Virginia
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 97,155
Likes: 1,471
From: Calgary, AB. There's a reason why white was the only color offered on every year Corvette. Proud Canadian German Jamaican!
St. Jude Donor '09, '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
I'm going to threaten to cancel my OS tomorrow, if they don't offer me a discount then I will, I'm paying 40 bucks a month for a report on my tire pressure. I tried to add more minutes to my OS phone, when I called it said their volume was high so they couldn't help me at that time.....what good is it if no one is there when I need them?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 775
Likes: 119
From: Plattsburgh NY
When you registered the free account you probably signed up for continuous coverage. That authorizes them to charge your credit card when the subscription expires. That way you don't accidentally lose your coverage. I have always found the OnStar reps to be courteous and helpful and willing to work with a Customer. Sounds like you had one trying to help you but didn't realize it.
OnStar is like insurance. I have it on all 3 of my vehicles and I get a discount on my insurance because I have it on all of them. OnStar provides better phone connections than a hand held phone, emergency response when you need it, unlock capabilities when needed. At $159/yr for the basic plan it isn't a bad deal. The best cell phone on the market can't compete with it in fringe areas and it will work even when your cell phone is tossed to the other side of the car in a collision and you can't reach it because you are pinned in your seat or unconscious. Once you hear an actual story by somebody whose butt was saved by OnStar you will think differently.
Bill
OnStar is like insurance. I have it on all 3 of my vehicles and I get a discount on my insurance because I have it on all of them. OnStar provides better phone connections than a hand held phone, emergency response when you need it, unlock capabilities when needed. At $159/yr for the basic plan it isn't a bad deal. The best cell phone on the market can't compete with it in fringe areas and it will work even when your cell phone is tossed to the other side of the car in a collision and you can't reach it because you are pinned in your seat or unconscious. Once you hear an actual story by somebody whose butt was saved by OnStar you will think differently.
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,992
Likes: 394
From: Naples FL
2023 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2015 C6 of Year Finalist
Maybe it's me but if your getting a 6 month "free" trial why in the world would you give them your CC number?
If they told you they can't give you a free trial without your CC, what did you think would happen after 6 months?
Not very hard to figure out.
If they told you they can't give you a free trial without your CC, what did you think would happen after 6 months?
Not very hard to figure out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
huh? They told me I could not get phone service as an ala carte item. Had to have the basic "safe and sound" package (19.95/mo), then additional charge for the phone.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,596
Likes: 120
From: East Tennessee
Drifting
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 182
From: South Dennis MA
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Verdad Gallardo
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 406
Likes: 2
From: Collingwood ON
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 207
From: Loveland, CO
I just called Onstar to cancel my subscription. As usual, they wanted to know why I was cancelling. I indicated that I was unhappy with minutes expiring at the end of the year. They said, no problem, and they will roll over unused minutes for another year. Then I got to my real reason - the car will be in the garage during cold Colorado winter, and I didn't see any reason to pay for coverage for those 6 months. They said they could put the car under "storage" coverage and I could re-activate in 6 months, or whenever. Could keep minutes already paid for also. That is what i did.
Ralph
Ralph
Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 693
Likes: 158
From: Milwaukee WI
You can continue to use the hands-free phone operation in your vehicle without an OnStar subscription by using your own cell phone with a Bluetooth link to the vehicle communication interface module. You will not be able to use the vehicle antenna system which can only be used for OnStar services.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 693
Likes: 158
From: Milwaukee WI
The free services from other manufacturers use XM for weather and traffic. You must subscribe to those modules from XM to keep them active. I buy just the weather and traffic from XM and pay about $7.00 per month without XM radio.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 35,769
Likes: 148
From: Northern NYs Adirondack Mountains,http://www.visitsacandaga.com.
When I get my new Vert I will not be giving my CC number for anything. In fact I will not allow them to activate that onstar nonsense in my car.
Where I live we do not have cell service and it looks like it will be a long time till we do.
Where I live we do not have cell service and it looks like it will be a long time till we do.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 693
Likes: 158
From: Milwaukee WI
Fortunately you have Internet service to keep in touch with the World when you are not enjoying your Corvette.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 5,888
Likes: 1,559
From: Calgary Alberta
I would think you'd be one of the very few for which it would be useful since you can't get cell service otherwise.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 342
Likes: 9
I'll be picking up my Z51 Vert in December, and I have no intention of signing up for On Star. My wife loves it but she likes it to get directions to wherever we're going, I just type in the address into my navigation system which works just as well. So there's no practical reason for me to have it. Now I do love my Serius/XM radio, and I will be signing up for that.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 72
Likes: 1
OnStar
LIE2ME,
I would be more than happy to look into this for you. Please PM me your VIN number, and I will contact you directly. Thank you, I hope to hear from you soon.
-Johnua, OnStar Advisor
Social Media Team
I would be more than happy to look into this for you. Please PM me your VIN number, and I will contact you directly. Thank you, I hope to hear from you soon.
-Johnua, OnStar Advisor
Social Media Team
I just took a look at my OnStar account and noticed that I too have been enrolled in "Continuous Coverage" which expires this month. I also happened to notice that the credit card they have on file for me is one I cancelled a couple of months ago..
I wonder if I am going to be getting a call or note from my OnStar friends? I figure that would be a very good time to negotiate a better deal...
I wonder if I am going to be getting a call or note from my OnStar friends? I figure that would be a very good time to negotiate a better deal...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,956
Likes: 4,811
From: Camden SC
Actually, I ended up calling in to OnStar and purchased a year of "Safe & Sound" for a discounted rate. Unlike some others, I really do like having OnStar active in the car. Thanks...
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 215
Likes: 80
From: Woodstock, IL
St. Jude Donor '15
The turn by turn thing and theater/restaurant finding seems ridiculous to me. Have no interest in using it when its free much less when it costs anything. Also to have a feature I would be interested in, which is the accident response, as an extra charge above the basic subscription is kind of insulting as safety is strictly a money making proposition for GM, or cost prohibitive as with the key switch debacle. Hmmm, why does that not surprise me?