Sirius Satellite Radio Consumer Reviews - Page 2

Thinking of subscribing to Sirius or becoming a shareholder? Here's what you're investing in: I've been a Sirius subscriber since 2004 and I promise you that their customer service is the absolute worst of ANY company I have experienced! Worse than any airline, worse than any healthcare provider, even worse than any insurance company! I buy a new car every other year, and the WORST part of that experience is getting the Sirius service changed from one car to the next.

I've had service that I paid for unexpectedly cancelled for no reason, only to have to call and wait on hold for 45 minutes to speak to someone in India who BARELY speaks English. I've been scolded by Sirius employees FOR HAVING TOO MANY ACCOUNTS! I'm not joking; I've been told “If you didn't have all these accounts, you wouldn't have these issues”. I'm so sorry I spend so much money with your company!

Today I attempted to log on to my account to avoid the whole call center situation, and my password no longer works! It's the same password that I've used since 2004, oh well. So I called in to the customer service center. I waited on hold for nine minutes with “music on hold” intermittent with a ladies voice coming on every couple of seconds urging me to use the website. Very frustrating. But now, for the last 36 minutes, I've been listening to dead air. The call is still connected; I assume I'm on hold, but no music, no annoying message, nothing!

I decided to Google “Sirius Customer Service” to see if there was another way to contact while I waited in the dead zone. Hundreds of consumer complaints popped up. I clicked on customer service scoreboard.com. I read several of the consumer complaints and then one of the employee responses.

This clears up a lot for me. I never thought to look at it from the call center employee's point of view. We should just relax, it's only money and time, something we Americans have way too much of anyway! They have WAY too many customers to possibly give a damn about one customer's issues! They have a job to do after all, just be patient! If you don't like it, you can just cancel. Wait, you need to speak to someone to do that and then they actually have to do what you ask them to do! If you don't like it, what are you going to do, listen to free radio? That's just crazy!

This is the worst company by far that I have ever had to deal with. Their customer service is in the toilet. I bought a Sirius Stiletto 100 just over a year ago using gift cards given to me by my son. After 6 months the record mode started to malfunction in that the show I was recording, the Howard Stern show, was coming in all scrambled when I recorded it. When I try to listen without recording the unit gets too hot when it is not in its dock and the battery burns out within 15 minutes of listening unless the unit is in the dock.

Anyhow, I called numerous times and spoke to Tech Support and complained about it over and over and they never connected me with Product Support or Customer Service for a replacement. Then when I called August 1 they finally connected me with someone in Product support who told me, sorry your warranty has just expired and we can't do anything about it. I explained that I had been calling on and off for about 6 months about all the problems I have been having and all they did was put me off until just after the warranty expired. They told me my calls were not in their records. What?? I know that I called all those times so where did the record of it go.

It does not surprise me though because the caliber of people they have working in their tech support and customer service levels are a joke. They are unprofessional and downright rude! When I explained to one supervisor, and I use the term loosely, that I could not afford the unit to begin with as I am a senior citizen on a fixed income she replied in a sarcastic voice that "Well, I would not have bought it in the first place if I were you but, OK." I did not even bother to explain to this dolt that my son gave me the gift cards so that I could get it but that I can't afford to lay out the money to buy a new one just because the one I already paid for is a lemon.

And why should I pay for a new one when the unit, that costs almost $300 new was malfunctioning from the start, not to mention the lousy customer service I am subjected to by being a customer of Sirius. Forget it! They are not worth the aggravation and stress involved. They keep you on hold for hours at a time only to get a customer service rep who is rude and arrogant and unwilling to help you.

If you ask to speak to a supervisor they tell you there is none available. If you insist on speaking to a supervisor they hang up on you. Then after a whole day of trying to get to a supervisor, when you finally get one, they are rude and arrogant as well. There is something wrong with this picture!

What does it take to get Sirius Satellite Radio to provide Customer Service? I received a portable Sirius radio as a Christmas present, with docking stations for both my car and my home. I installed the radio antenna on the car exactly as specified in the instructions, but was never able to get the signal to come in clearly for more than 2 or 3 minutes. My in-home reception was even worse. I had initially signed up for a monthly subscription, to be charged to my credit card.

I responded to a survey re: my dissatisfaction with the radio and my comments were that it was absolutely a waste of time. Someone from customer care called but was unable to help me with the problem. She explained that the "lockout" might not be working, as there are several radio stations in my area (greater DC), but the process for determining whether that was the problem was so complicated that I did not want to take the time.

I was planning to cancel my subscription anyway, and then on April 6 my wallet was stolen (including the credit card to which the subscription was being charged). On April 29 I received an automated phone call from Sirius asking me to revise my credit card information. I pressed "0" to be connected with customer service, and after several minutes on hold I spoke with a very nice young woman who was completely unable to help me. She put me on hold four times so that I could be connected with the office that closes accounts - as she was apparently unable to do so - and ended up being cut off after I had waited on the line for 15 minutes.

I received subsequent phone calls over the next four weeks with the same result - no matter who I actually spoke with, they were not "able" to close an account. Each time I explained that the radio did not get good reception, and I was not planning to renew. Each time, I was transferred to another office but the call cut off after I had waited to talk with that office for several minutes.

Today, May 19, I received TWO calls from Sirius, and again was cut off while waiting to speak with someone to clear up the matter. I called back and was placed on hold for 12 minutes, then the call cut off. I called again and spoke to someone named "Brad" and I immediately asked to speak to a supervisor. He put me on hold for 5 minutes, and then the call cut off. I called yet again and spoke with "Mack," who put me on hold for 8 minutes after I said I wanted to cancel; then he came back on the line and told me that my account would be closed as of May 25. I then asked to speak with a supervisor, and after a 3-minute hold I spoke with someone named "Sulphy."

Sulphy immediately assumed he knew what my issues were, without giving me a chance to explain, but he did say that my account would be closed and that the charges that had accrued for April would be erased. He also said that I might still receive phone calls for a few days until the 'system catches up.'

I am tired of being harassed by these phone calls, and I am also incredulous that it took over FIVE WEEKS to reach a human being who had the ability to close my account. Are your 'customer service' staff not trained to provide the standard services for customers? Is there only one person who can do that among all of Sirius Radio's personnel?

If Sirius Radio's business model is to collect monthly fees from subscribers and then make it all but impossible for anyone to cancel the service, they have succeeded. But I'm wondering how long you can count on that for your revenue stream? I have thus far spent two hours either waiting on hold or explaining the situation to people who had no interest in my issue or ability to help me. I wonder how many other subscribers just give up in frustration and continue to pay the bill?

ORLANDO, FLORIDA -- My S-50 works fine in the car, but bring it into the house and you have about 1 minute of good sound then it comes in and out, then displays NO SIGNAL. So I call in and do the upgrade and check the device settings, antenna aiming option. It shows 3/4 for satellite, full bar for terrestrial, but it still displays NO SIGNAL. After 40 minutes on the phone with a service tech, they tell me it's the home kit that's bad, and they are sending me a new one. Problem solved right? Wrong.

The ticket was for Jul 16, it's August 9 and still no replacement has arrived. I call again, and after having to re-explain because no notes exist, the guy finds the notes then tells me that if the ticket was done right, there would be a warranty ticket, but there isn't one, so nothing was done! Nice!

Oh and I now have to call warranty at 866-257-7726 and I talk to Stephanie, who tells me their system cannot get notes from the Sirius side (they're just warranties) so I re-explain the story and the usual security questions again, only to find out the home kit is considered an accessory, and so it doesn't show on my account, so they can't warranty it! Very nice.

Well, they can but I must now dig up a receipt from Christmas and fax them at 812-258-4775 along with my name, address, a/c number and phone number on the account. ANYONE THINK THIS IS A JOKE YET? My girlfriend bought the whole system for me for Christmas, from wait for it...Sirius.com! Haha. But warranty isn't part of them, I'm told so I need to call 1-800-422-7142 and get a receipt.

I asked for a super, but was told everyone is on the same level at warranties and don't bother, it won't help speed things along. SO I call and get a nice guy Jeff, who after going through security etc again, and the story again, tells me to call, wait for it...1-800-422-7142 - the very same number. I'm laughing at my peon status in the customer service arena. Jeff didn't know why he was contacted or how the system got my call to him, but suggested I try again, and maybe I'll get E-commerce

So I muster up another call, get through, go through the usuals again, and get a way to view and print the original receipt, and write out all the extras needed and then fax to warranties! Oh but I am told to wait 2-3 business days and then follow up to see they received the fax. I'm calling now, 'cause I'm tickled about seeing if I can get the number to the number to the fax man or something like that.

Makes you wonder about how you could just shout to the world what a crappy company this is, and how much time you need to devote to getting SERVICE. Will someone please invent a mega loud speaker and tell the world to stay clear of Sirius? No commercials is great, as long as you have the time to make up for the missing commercials in phone calls!

My fiance bought me a Sirius S50 radio and a home kit for Christmas. There was a $100.00 rebate offer. I activated my service on 12/26/06 and Terri sent the rebate form in shortly thereafter. The terms of the rebate require:

"A subscription, paid by credit card (which may be combined with Sirius prepaid card), must be activated no later than 04/14/2007 and kept active for at least 60 consecutive days. Requires submission of receipt for combined purchase (either original or photocopy) for the purchase of the eligible Sirius hardware, the original UPC code from the hardware packaging, the electronic serial number of the receiver (either original cut from the box or photocopy) and a fully completed redemption form".

This was all sent in. Teri received an email on January 25, 2007 from Sirius stating that the rebate form was received, and another email that same day that the rebate was "processed". The terms and conditions on the rebate state the following:

Once the necessary documentation has been submitted, Sirius will verify that the required subscription has been activated and remains active for the required period and that the account is active and in good standing and mail a check for the appropriate amount to the name and address on the redemption form within 8 to 10 weeks. If rebate is not received within 10 weeks, check status at www.web-rebates.com/sirius or call Sirius at 1-888-539-SIRIUS.

The 60 days required was up on February 26, 2007. The check has STILL not been mailed or received. Terri sent several emails asking about the status of the rebate. She received one indicating that they needed the account information. Terri followed up again and got the following email:

" Dear Terri, Thank you again for contacting SIRIUS! We appreciate the time you have taken to email us regarding the current status of your rebate. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. We are here to help! Our records indicate that your rebate is stuck in the "required service period". We understand the frustration this has caused and we would like to submit your rebate for an override. In order for us to do this we need to verify the account that this receiver is on. Please reply with the following information:

• First name on Account
• Last name on Account
• Primary phone number on Account
• Address on Account
• Account Email address
• The last four digits of the credit card on file

Terri, thank you again for your patience regarding your rebate. We hope you receive it soon! We are committed to providing you with the best in customer care. If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact SIRIUS Customer Care. For your convenience, we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at: 1-888-539-SIRIUS (7474). As well as by email at: www.sirius.com/customercare ".

I followed up since they wanted my information (the radio account) and was told that they "didn't have to do an override", and that it might take 4-6 more weeks for the check to be sent. I HIT THE ROOF! We have done everything asked of us. We have followed all the terms of the agreement. We have provided all of the necessary documentation, account numbers, credit card numbers, addresses, etc.

The customer care rep told me that "part of the problem is that the name and address on the rebate is different from the Sirius account". I mean, really; does this mean that you can't buy someone a radio as a gift?? Do you have to give the radio and the rebate as a gift?? I asked to speak to a supervisor and was put on hold and then told they were "really busy". Well, of course they are. Busy with more frustrated customers like Terri and me.

It has now been 13 1/2 weeks since I activated my service, and more than 12 weeks since Terri sent the rebate form in. The lesson here: Sirius knows only how to take money from customers. They are unable or unwilling to expedite resolution of customer care issues. It is unwise to buy Sirius radios as a gift. They tie everything to the radio account. Their rebate processing and support is non-existent. Good luck!

CALIFORNIA -- I received an email regarding my existing Sirius account. “For an extra $4.00 per month, plus fees and taxes, you can stream Sirius radio everywhere, your phone, your computer…” Sounds great right?! Wrong! The fees and taxes add up to $15.99 per month! That puts the extra $4.00 per month to a whopping $19.99 per month, which comes to an extra $239.88 per year added to my already $208.00 per year for my regular subscription. What a scam!!

I have had a Sirius radio for about 6 years now and have always been happy with the service and content. I purchased a lifetime license about 4 years ago which includes online listening. Today, I went to listen to Sirius on my Android phone using the smartphone app and I received a message saying I needed to add online listening to my account to use the app and to call customer service. So I called and basically was told over and over (the service representative just kept reading from the same script) that my online listening package is considered the basic package and I need the premium package to use the app.

That's funny, because if you try to sign up for their online listening service there is no discussion about basic versus premium, in fact the page says with online listening you can listen anywhere, your computer, your iPhone or your android phone. There is only one option to sign up for, but I was told anyone who had a lifetime license was converted to a basic online service and that I could listen on my computer but not on my smartphone, if I want to do that I have to pay an additional $2.99 a month.

There is currently a proposed class action settlement against these guys for charging lifetime accounts the $2.99 fee for online listening so I guess their way around this is to now claim the lifetime licenses only get computer access and that smart phone access is a separate service (although not sold or offered that way anywhere on their site). These guys are really trying to put themselves out of business with their horrible practices, I guess they don't care about me since I am a lifetime member and they can't get more money out of me so who cares if I am not happy with the service.

They could not give me any further info as to why my "Online Listening" account which shows as active on my account is different from the "Online Listening" service they currently offer other than the service representative telling me I have to take his word for it that there are different accounts available, a basic and a premium but only they can see it. I would cancel my subscription if it wasn't already a lifetime license. I know I definitely will not be getting another SiriusXM radio again anytime soon, that's for sure. I would suggest that anyone reading this stay away from them as well, they only care about milking every last penny out of each customer before they lose them.

After buying a car equipped with ability to get satellite radio, I got bombarded with mail and phone calls advising me that I had a trial subscription. I tried to use it and found that I had 3 channels, all promotional. I don't drive all that much, so ignored it. Then I got a phone call asking for a subscription. I told them I wasn't all that interested and really didn't get to try the system. I got a promotional rate of $7+ a month if I provided a credit card for 6 months. I consented and gave them the card.

I couldn't get service (in a large metropolitan area) and called and emailed for weeks. On two occasions I drove for an hour or so trying to get the satellites to track. Finally one day I got service and I must say there were some interesting channels. A day or two later the service was gone, and I couldn't get it and decided to give up. Mind you I paid by credit card for 6 months. Then I get collection letters and threats to suspend service. I call them and ask what's going on and get people who are real idiots, one of whom tells me I need to reset the satellite reception every day due to my location!

I say when I did that it took me an hour and my drive is like 15 minutes, and I got the rudest answer, causing me to officially terminate. I can't tell the difference between terminate and not terminate as I had no service anyway. Well, they are trying to get $14 out of me with endless statements and phone calls while I am driving. The people who call are kids, who follow a script, trying to talk sense is like talking to a wall. I cannot see how this company can succeed. I guess I'm glad that they lost my credit card as I am sure I would be getting billed forever. Unless you love the service and get consistently good reception, don't bother with this company.

The complaints are true, stay far away from Sirius! After reading complaint after complaint about Sirius Radio billing dept. on various internet forums, I decided to subscribe, but pay by "MAIL INVOICE ONLY". That way, if they were as bad as people say, then they wouldn't have my credit card number to bill without my permission.

Later, I called to cancel my subscription about a month before the renewal date. They asked for my telephone number, and then told me that I couldn't cancel my account because I didn't have an account. Then I got a bill in the mail that had my account number on it. I called just before the renewal date, and specifically canceled by providing the account number.

A month later I got an email saying that I owed them overdue payment. I called and spoke with a supervisor: He said that he saw the record of my earlier call requesting to cancel the account, but that I had failed to ask for the "Cancellation Department" and that until I spoke with them, the overdue amount would continue to increase, and that they would hand the bill over to a collection agency. Then he hung up on me. (That was a Sirius supervisor!).

I called back and spoke with a different supervisor. I explained that I had been trying to cancel over and over, and he said that I didn't really have to speak to the cancellation dept. He said he would cancel the account and delete the balance due. (Thank You ** for at last canceling the account!) He also said I could verify that he had cancelled it and deleted the balance due by logging into the website, with a new ID and password that he provided. Finally, I'm done with Sirius, and my advice is the complaints are true, stay far away from Sirius!!!

PHOENIX, ARIZONA -- Each time I renewed my Sirius Radio service I would call and get their best price and specifically say, no automatic renewal, I will call and renew when the time comes. So my subscription expired last November, they sent me a bill, I phoned them, went through the half hour wait, a person came on the phone who I was unable to understand, I advised my car lease expires in March, thus I only need four months service, communication with him was impossible, he kept asking should I cancel your service, I kept saying I told you what I want, he did not understand, I asked to speak to an English speaking person, preferably an American, he refused to help, I terminated the call.

A couple weeks ago my phone rang, it was a recording. I pressed a button a lady came on saying "can I help you?" Again very bad English, I said "You tell me Sirius called me, I did not call Sirius." The language was so bad I asked her to have someone who speaks good English call me.

As my subscription expired, I switched the band to FM in November, today I received an invoice for $34. Then this evening I received a call from Sirius, an option was billing concerns, I hit #2, waited 30 min, then a person answered the phone, I explained that I received a bill for service for something that I did not want, my agreement was no automatic billing, when the subscription ends, based on the price I would determine if I wanted to renew. He said he did not understand me, so connected me with cancellation dept.

The lady I spoke to, ** spoke English and understood my request, she advised my preference not to be on automatic billing was in the system. However, she was unable to cancel my invoice. I asked to speak to her supervisor, again I waited for him, **, told him my story, he said he will cancel my account, but I must pay the $34 invoice, I advised I was not going to pay for something that I did not buy. I asked to speak to his supervisor. He said that he is as high as I can go with Sirius Radio.

Needless to say I am very disappointed with Sirius Radio's service, ** is the only person who saw my preference in the file, but was unable to assist me. I just Googled Sirius Board of Directors, and CEO, I have their names and will write to each person on their board of directors as well in the Phoenix and New York Better Business Bureaus, and the New York State Attorney General. ** was honest but the system would not allow her to cancel my subscription and the invoice, ** was just a dishonest mean spirited person.