XM Satellite Radio Consumer Reviews - Page 10

CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE -- I had read about how difficult it is to cancel an XM account and how they are skilled at gouging you with extra charges, but I had no idea how bad it could be. I had ordered an extra receiver to put into my shop, located next to my house, where we have our main receiver. The additional added $9.99 a month to our existing account.

Well, I could not get a signal at the shop, and being frustrated and not wanting to cut down the 200 year old tree blocking the signal, I called to cancel all of it. Long story short, I was cut off three times, and they charged me $100.00 cancellation fee. THAT was cheaper than paying for a radio that I couldn't use!! I was livid and helpless to their scheme!! I would never recommend XM to anyone!

After listening to XM Satellite for 2 months, I decided to cancel due to satellite radio dropouts and programming song content was lacking. So I called customer service to cancel. The customer service people would not listen to me when I said "I wanted to cancel my service right now". They first asked me 20 questions why I wanted to leave. I said "no more questions, I want to cancel now". Then said they would offer me a $4.99 rate for 3 months then go back to the full rate. I said "no I want to cancel now". Then they said they would give me 3 months free then go back to the full rate. I said "no I want to cancel now".

Then they said they would cancel on Aug 20 when my 3 month subscription ended. (It's July 20 now). I said "no I want to cancel now" and I wanted pro-rated refunds based on time not used like the customer service person said when I first signed up. Then they started asking me 20 questions again as to why I wanted to leave. I said "no more questions I want to cancel now".

Finally they agreed to give me a pro-rated refund. I think. I'll have to see if it is really refunded. Also, I first signed up for only 1 month at the beginning but when I checked my credit card bill, they had changed 1 month to 3 months and billed me for 3 months. Obviously, I can't recommended XM radio or the customer service people. I would stay away.

Horrible, Horrible, Horrible! And what a ripoff! Damn thing doesn't even get good reception. I have had the worst experience with XM. I could write a book about my experience with them but I refuse to waste any more of my precious time with them. By far the most unprofessional company I ever dealt with.

I have been overcharged various times and every time I call customer service they tell me "it's been fixed" only to have it happen again the following month OR the charges still remain. I have called at least 20 times and to no dismay. Transfer after transfer, manager after manager... nothing. They are true idiots over there. I will never do business with them again and I will tell everyone I know not to either. Hundreds of dollars just wasted. Damage Resulting = hours of time dealing with them over the phone and at least a couple of hundred dollars just wasted...

I just got off the phone with XM radio because they charged my account for a full year. I called them and told them that I pay monthly and they denied it. I read the exact date of my last payment on 11/9/07 and they said they would change it. Before they could finish the conversation with me they hung up.

This is not the first time. The last time I got rid of a car and wanted the radio taken off my account. They repeatedly said they would transfer me and each time hung the phone up. I had to call and tell them I wanted to put a new radio on. When they finally got on the phone I told them I lied and that I wanted to disconnect one radio. They finally took care of it. This is not an isolated incident - it happens every time you try to complain or disconnect a radio.

LA VERNE, CALIFORNIA -- I own a Honda Accord and had paid the 12-month pre-pay subscription for XM-Sat radio. I decided to let the service expire and not renew my annual contract after the 2nd year. 2 months later I received a notice from "CCA", XM's collection agency saying that I owed $23.76. I attempted to contact CCA on 2 separate occasions and was disconnected after an extended wait time. Both times I was told to "call back later".

I went ahead and called XM directly and got transferred to their billing department. They explained that the program is on auto renew and I would be charged for the 2 months past the original end date of what I thought was a 1-year contract because I did not notify them that I wanted to cancel. They would not credit my account. I will never do business with XM again. May the executive who thought up this ridiculous scam to extract a couple of extra $$ from past customers one day wake up and find themselves out of a job.

HENDERSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA -- I really enjoy listening to XM but have had so many problems with their customer service. I canceled long ago but they continue to bill me, trying to get them to cancel the account is impossible, and I can't stand the outsourcing to India. It is nearly impossible to get someone to understand me and the representatives are impolite to the point that I canceled my subscription as a matter of principle.

Also, even though I had canceled my subscription, I got phone calls about 5-6 x per day at least, including Sundays from India, harassing me to pay the money I didn't owe. Then they sent my account to a "collections agency" also in India. I have had countless problems with XM. In fact I hate XM and will tell everyone I know not to get it!

My car satellite radio quit working and I called XM Radio to purchase a new one. I described the one I currently had and the rep recommended I purchase the special offer radio for $20 with a one year subscription, which I did. When the radio came it offered SIGNIFICANTLY fewer features than the one I was replacing. I called to request an exchange. First I was told it had the same features and, after talking to 3 people, I got an admission that it did not but that it could not be exchanged. When I attempted to cancel the service, I was told there would be a $200 cancellation fee.

I have had XM in my car for a while without issue. I purchased two portable radios for my household, one as a gift. I called XM's customer service to order these two items. Firstly, they couldn't find me on their system as a customer. I felt like I had to scream my personal information slowly into the phone for this person to understand. Once the radios arrived, they were not activated as stated. Nice gift, eh? Once I pulled up my account online, they had added the two radios, PLUS one more that wasn't mine!

The rebate from Pioneer for the radios required an XM invoice stating price. After three calls and one e-mail, I finally got a response that XM doesn't create invoices, just packing slips. OK, false advertising on the rebate and poor communication with their own corporate partner, Pioneer! So now I am out $100, $50 for each radio. I work in customer service at my own job. If I treated clients this poorly I would be fired.

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI -- I tried XM after hearing it on a buddy's radio. Sound quality is not great but all those selections! Well I paid up front for 1 year of service and soon found out the claims of 100% commercial free were ridiculous. And then after 5 months I started getting bills. I went to my online account and guess what? Balance zero and service paid until Feb '07.

So I called... numerous times. IF you get someone who speaks English (good luck) they can not tell me what the bill is. They can find nothing in their records. I get calls every few days now from them to give me my credit card number and they'll re-activate my service yet it's the same story every time. They show a past due account but apparently can't tell me why I have a past due account. I've e-mailed "customer care" twice/no response.

They are a joke. They couldn't care less about your complaints. I'm not even sure anybody is in charge over there. Maybe Sirius is better but I'm through with Satellite radio. I've contacted my Attorney's General office here in Missouri and filed complaints with the BBB.

Cancelling a contract is next to impossible. I will not pay them and will not do business with them until they correct my account. They have a tried and true way of avoiding your cancellation of their product. You simply cannot get there. It is the most irritating company since AT&T.