Actually, you can't rationally say it's a terrible idea. It makes perfect sense from a risk standpoint.

I may not like it, but I can't criticize the logic.

 

how does this benefit us ; the consumer?

 

OnStar is a business. Not everything in business is primarily about the "benefit to the consumer". However, if OnStar does enough things to make consumers unhappy, they'll go OUT of business, and the problem solves itself.

 

How does it benefit the consumer? Many insurance companies are using this technique to provide lower rates for consumers. If you're a good driver and don't care about monitoring, it can be helpful.

Is it something you want in a sports car, nah. But this is optional....

There's so much monitoring these days you can't avoid it and it will continue to go this route. How many of you have shopping rewards cards at your favorite stores? You might be kind of shocked as to what they can figure out about you...heck, years ago Target figured out a teenager was pregnant before her father even knew.... http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/ma...ng-habits.html

 

Yup...just like driverless cars...

 

So if your subscription runs out are you still being monitored ?

 

I have three vehicles with onstar only the wife's car do I have a paid account, and only the vette had the active monitoring turned on by default. I'm guessing that is because I am still in my free trial period so everything is active. On my truck which I don't have a paid account for the active monitoring is not active, nor is anything else.

I am disappointed that my score on the vette was high. I guess I need to drive it faster and harder. Of course I am still breaking it in.

 

The dealer where I've had work done and GM have offered me 3 years of On-Star at no charge. Why would they do that? I haven't taken either offer as yet.

 

I find it comforting that if I'm ever taken out by one of the many talentless, reckless drivers out there . . . badly hurt, perhaps even unconscious, OnStar receives an automatic collision report, and immediately deploys first responders. That could save my life and that of my loved ones during that first "Golden Hour."

 

For now it is. Don't be surprised that in the future, opting out will automatically bring you into a higher rate plan. As privacy erodes for the benefit of Corporate America, you will find more of your behavior being improperly used. That is why I tell my nephew to stop posting some of what he does on Facebook. There is no law that prohibits a potential employer during an interview from ordering you to unlock your account to find out more about you. Or accessing your credit history. Privacy is dying and our government is not stepping up to make these questions as illegal as asking about sexual orientation.

Ever wonder why oil change places can offer such low prices on an oil change? After all, most don't offer services to fix what problems might be lured into their shop, so how come such a cheap price? Its because they sell data to third party providers about the cars that come into their shop. All scan the barcode on the VIN tag and sell your information to third parties - that is how CarFax, for example, gets the repair data they do for their service. Insurance companies do the same thing - they buy the data and see if your car really is used near the address your filed with them. Same with miles driven per year. Those who's company find a discrepancy see their rates go up. While some may say "so what, that is what they get when they lie", I find the invasion and use of my private information without my consent offensive and a violation of my rights.

Our Founding fathers would be turning in their grave.

 

All you have to do is remove your self from onStar Smart Drive and they will not track your driving. Login and exclude yourself from the service.

 

I just deactivated mine! Thanks for the information.

 

Just deactivated mine too. Thank you to the folks in this thread who pointed this out and how to turn it off.

 

 

I'm guessing this is the basic On-Star plan, which is the remote functions and monthly emails. This is generally free for 3-5 years on a GM vehicle after the trial expires. You can probably get the same deal by calling On-star themselves.

If for some reason it is the more advanced (costly) plans, let us know.

 

I heard some Russian owns OnStar.
Can anyone confirm?

 

Must not be on the 2014 Corvette.

I visited the location you mentioned (my.chevrolet/OnStar/MyOnStarServices/VehicleManager) and it says SmartDriver is included in my plan, but there is absolutely nothing about an on\off status, driving report, or any controls to turn it off, opt out of ins discounts, etc. -- nothing. Just maintenance info, payment info, current mileage, estimated maint interval, etc.

Logged into my OnStar.com account too... still nothing.

Fully traversed all 3 submenus... nothing about Smart Driver service or reports.

 

I actually heard this on the radio a couple days ago! It was in reference to younger people not having sufficient credit history when they get out of college to buy a car or home so credit companies want to search the rest of your life for clues as to how responsible you are. Payment history etc. will be used, but also checking social media accounts for keywords like "drunk" or "party" will lower your credit rating! My employer ALREADY checks social media and employees have had consequences at work for what is posted online.

I certainly agree with you... much of what we do in the privacy of our own homes is being monitored and sold and politicians are receiving "donations" to allow it to happen. They really need to update the laws on how technology and privacy interact, just like they did with telecommunications. Samsung and Vizio have been caught monitoring homes through their smart TVs. It recently came out in that murder trial that Amazon Alexa records and saves everything it hears, not just what is prompted by "Alexa". Trump signed S.J. 34 which removed laws stopping ISPs from selling your user information and internet history... there is probably more I'm forgetting.

Too many political figures represent their bank accounts and not the people Then again, a lot of people don't seem to care. Convenience has surpassed privacy.

 

Most of the above is just idiots being idiots. Can't fix that in a free society.

People today post every stupid and reckless thing they've ever done on an open www (FB, instagram, etc), they put devices (Alexa) in their homes that, BY DESIGN, listen to every word spoken, and sends some or all of it to a giant corp that TELLS you right up front that they sell your info.

And yet, AND YET... it is the fault of "Trump" and "politicians" when that SAME data is used against the idiots who willingly and knowingly provide it?????? They are shocked, SHOCKED I tell you that all that might be used against them. Zero cares given that idiots get bitten for being idiotic.

:rof l:

 

It probably doesn't matter that much as I'm sure these cars have a "black box" somewhere inside.