Chekov

Some of you may recall that I ordered a free radio from Sirius-XM last December with the intent of installing it in my wife’s car. I did have to pay for a 3-month subscription for $47. I later decided not to install the device and never activated the radio. I thought that when the three months was over the issue was closed.

But I just noticed today that I’m being charged an additional $32.21 on my MasterCard statement. I immediately called XM who told me the radio was pre-activated and that I’m on a yearly plan and that was the next scheduled charge. I told them to cancel my subscription and credit my account for the $32.21. They were glad to do that but told me I would now be charged a $75 early termination fee. In other words, this “free” radio is nothing of the kind.

I spoke to the XM supervisor and told her I signed nothing and agreed to nothing more than the three months, and have no intention of paying neither the $32 nor the cancellation fee. She agreed to investigate the situation and get back to me.

It appears to be a clever scam. They give you a free radio but clandestinely hook you for a hidden annual subscription that was not requested, and they tack on an early termination fee if you back out. I have no intention of paying, but in that they have my credit card number there’s no guarantee that I’ll succeed. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

Black Betty

iTrader: (60)

They have been scamming folks since day 1. It's good you caught it early. I was being billed for a second radio and service (that I never even had) at my business. I didn't catch it for months, after I'd sold the business. They would not issue a credit for a service I never ordered nor received. It was past 90 days to dispute the charge with my credit card company. I got screwed out of a few hundred dollars.

Also beware of the scam where they offer you a rate $20 for 5 months to come back to them after you've discontinued their service. Even if you specifically request the 5 months offer only and NOT elect to auto renew, they will auto renew at a much higher monthly rate.

They are scumbags. I hope they go out of business and someone takes over with a better business model.

4drScreamer

Better Business Bureau? Can they help in this situation? I'm sure this wouldn't be the first complaint against them.

cereal2k

iTrader: (10)

wow.. that is a scam for real.

kmp

If on AMEX just call and refuse the charges. It's great AMEX is like a mad dog with places like that.

JohnnysG

iTrader: (14)

Hey...don't talk back my Sirius radio like that... me and my mom have shares in their stock at 70cents ..... ._____.

gimpy

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the heads up on their sneaky methods of scamming the customers. I bought a two year subscription in March of 2010 after my free 3 month subscription just about ran out, so I'll be watching my credit card statements more closely towards the end of the two years so they don't slide a fast one on me. Again thanks for the info.

Romeo0119

Lol i hope u bought those for less than that per share, time to sell...quickly!

carz

funny you mention that.......the first thing i read was the fine print and that it said it will auto renew. I signed up for it in the beginning of April....I have it set on my calendar to call and cancel in Sept

Poe408

carz,

they will not let you cancel in 5 months. if you try to deactivate the radio before hitting your 1 year mark, they will charge you $75 early termination fee. i JUST went through this a couple of days ago with them. spent about an hour on the phone with multiple supervisors. i had the same 5 months for $20 plan and was thinking exactly what you thought... i'll just cancel in 5 months. but they say if the radio is activated less than a year, there will be a $75 charge. they are thieves.

soundmike

iTrader: (6)

I don't know guys, i've bought and sold radios several times in the past, for various vehicles (and for home). All of them had the $75 cancellation fee disclaimer somewhere on the purchasing pages, if not on the product page itself.

Chekov

Well, I’m not a lawyer, but I feel I’m on firm ground here. When I bought the 3 months over the phone, it’s now a “he said-they said” regarding activation. Certainly, unlike cell phone contracts, I signed and agreed to nothing beyond the three month activation, nor would I have knowing that I was buying activation for a full year on a “free” radio.

Furthermore, in the user guide for the radio (which I just re-read) there’s a chapter on activation. All it says is that after installing the radio either go on-line or call them to activate. There’s no mention that the device is “pre-activated” like they suggested to me yesterday.

If my credit card people (MasterCard) do not take my side, I just can’t refuse to pay, lest my credit rating, which I hold in high esteem, would suffer.

Black Betty

iTrader: (60)

I made this transaction over the phone and specifically asked that it not auto renew. I was told I could do it without auto renewing so I agreed. Silly me for taking them at their word.

ONEighty

iTrader: (15)

<3 sirius... my free trial just ran out, gotta scheme them out of another 3 month trial. lol

surfjax87

I went with 1 year for $77 after my trial expired and told them I didn't want auto rebilling. I checked it the day before my 1 year was up and sure enough it was set to auto rebill at something like $20 a month. After being transferred around countless times, I was finally able to get another year at $77. How do these people sleep at night?