renewing XM after the trial period

Their "list" prices are wayyyyyyy too high- it's like paying the cover price for TV Guide magazine.

If you want to get (possibly) their best pricing- when calling- press whatever button required to get you the cancellation department- tell them you want to cancel- then negotiate from there...

Last time I needed to actually cancel service on one of their units (I sold that car) they didn't believe me and in the end offered me six months free service and the remaining six months at $6.99/month. That's a full year of service for $42. Shame was- I really did need to disconnect that particular unit...

My 3 month trial service on my Five is up in about three weeks- I don't care to use their service any longer, I prefer local HD radio and music off the USB stick. Wonder what they'll offer me this time to stay with them?

 

Great advice so far and it has mirrored my experience. Call to cancel (they will automatically re-up you at full subscription prices otherwise) and their cancellation dept will innocuously ask you why you are cancelling. When the term $$$ comes up, they will knock down the price.

I hate playing that game, but it is the game they set up.

It's kind of like paying MSRP instead of invoice on a "not very popular" car.

 

I just came off of mine on Mother's Day, which was a few days after I owned the car for 3 months. I got a letter in the mail and I think they offered me $86 for the year. The thing is that I very rarely use it. Only on weekends when my wife is in the car. In the mean time, I have been using Pandora when she is with me. If I got it for $5 a month for a year, I would think about it.

Let me know how you make out on it!

 

The only reason they set the game up that was is that a majority of the subscribers will pay retail prices. For those of us that wouldn't pay the crazy monthly charge, we have to call back every 6mo-1yr and spend the 15 minutes on the phone to get half off or more.

 

If you keep your Prius a long time, you might want to check out a "Lifetime" subscription. I signed up a few years ago, and the price was a little more than a 2 year subscription. That was on our 2007 Prius with a "add-on" XM tuner. When we got out 2011, I was able to transfer that "Lifetime" subscription to the new car (for a one time fee of $75). One caution though, you can't transfer a "Lifetime" subscription in a Factory Installed car radio from that car to another radio. (There are provisions that if the radio is damaged, fails, etc. that the subscription can be transferred to the replacement).

 

Just renewed my XM subscription for the third time since my free trial offer expired. Never have paid more than $4.99 per month. Next time I may go all the way and cancel since I really don't listen to it that much.

 

They're offering my $95 for a year. Is that the best deal?

 

I did it about a week ago and for 6 months the total came to something like $27 and change. I told them not to put me on automatic renewal.

 

Upon negotiating with the cancellation representative, set your price. If they do not agree ask them the check with their supervisor.
It is amazing what you end up with if you hold firm. $4.99 sounds like a good monthly price but you never know unless you ask.

 

Thank you...my 3 m0 term is ending soon and I wondering how to handle this....

 

I just got the exact same deal today... $25 plus tax for 6 months and just like you, I told them not to put me auto renewal. I rather them cancel it and be without it for a short period of time until I get around calling them to renew then to have them automatically renew me at their regular high prices.

 

Do you have anything in writing that says they will not auto-renew you? Their Customer Agreement (PDF) specifically commits you to auto renewal at full price:

"2. Automatic Renewal: Your Subscription will continue for the length of the initial term you select on your Plan ("Subscription Term") and at the end of your prepaid Subscription Term, it will automatically renew for additional prepaid periods of the same length unless you choose to cancel prior to that renewal, or your Service is cancelled, terminated, or discontinued by you or by us, or you select a different Plan. Your account will automatically
be charged (or you will be billed, as applicable) at the rates in effect at the time of renewal. We may, at our option, process your renewal on a month-to month basis instead of your chosen Subscription Term. "

 

i'd repeat the previous posts concerns.. mark it on your calendar, set a automatic alert, and remove yourself prior to auto renewal. I highly doubt they'll automatically remove you.

 

Thanks!!! I of course don't ever trust or believe anyone in a situations like that. I have learned my lesson a loooooong time ago. I asked her when my subscription was going to expire and I immediately put it in my iPhone with an alert to call a week before it is due to expire. The CS rep when she was taking my credit card info she asked me if I wanted auto renew and I told her no. But again I don't trust them. Especially since a few months ago, before I got my prius, I signed up for the free trial internet service so I could listen to a concert they were simulcasting and I called to cancel before the free trial expiration date and they of course auto renewed me even after I called and canceled. . So when I saw the charge on my credit card bill I had a cancellation conformation# Amex removed the charge. Then the same charge appeared again the next month. I was going to just keep disputing it with Amex but I was afraid in the end the XM would mess with my credit. So I called XM again and they cold see the cancellation request from the month before so they credited me back the charges and really cancelled my service. So yes I know better then to trust XM (or 99.9% of other companies) what they say.

 

My week old 2012 'Brid came with working SiriusXM enabled. I provided my credit card to no one at the dealership. Is this the free 3 months? Is it on the dealers sirius account or mine? I've never created one.

 

All I know is what the dealer told me, since I just renewed my service before my 3 month trial period. I was told by the dealer that it would just turn off after the 3 months free if I didn't renew.

 

XM is notorious for this, that's why I never activated it! I refuse to pay for radio, I download what I want and stream it.

 

All I get is a lot of hissing break ups. Crappy reception. So I'm never going to activate or use on my credit card as part of a free trial.

 

I took the same deal a couple weeks ago, but the customer disservice rep refused to proceed until I dropped the no-auto-renew request from my recorded acceptance of the deal. The written offer very clearly requires auto-renew, and a call to 1-800-XMRADIO to cancel. So the expiration date is posted on my bill calendar.

Another service hit me with an undisclosed (or very well hidden) auto-renew a few months ago, 30 days prior to the expiration date. I promptly cancelled.