Sirius XM Satellite Radio How to get free (and even) New York, New York
If you're reading this, it's because you too have been abused by Sirius XM Satellite Radio. My first tip would have been, "Don't subscribe!" But, now that the damage is done, you need to know how to get out of their clutches. As inspiration to persevere in your complaints, keep in mind that Sirius XM Satellite Radio CEO Mel Karmazin is earning $43,000,000.00 (yes, thats forty-three million dollars per year) to abuse you. If you gave Sirius XM your American Express card, have Amex do the dirty work for you. They did for me and were great about it. The listener "care" reps (who are usually nice enough) probably get fired if they accept a cancellation, so don't "cancel." Here are some options: 1.) Tell them you're transferring your account to a new car and need the paperwork straightened out before connecting to the new auto. (Yes, this is lying.) This way, they can check the "transfer" box on their records rather than record a cancellation. 2.) Tell them the account holder has died, and you're representing them in probate and need a written confirmation (email will do) of the cancellation. 3.) Tell them you are recording the conversation. You can do this legally as long as you tell them at the beginning of the conversation; youll be surprised how polite they become. Then, register your complaint as a service to others. Contact (and you can use the same message in each of these): Your state Attorney General's office (http://www.naag.org/current-attorneys-general.php ); the FCC (http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm); your local Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.org/us/list-all-bbb-locations/); and the national Better Business Bureau (https://odr.bbb.org/odrweb/public/getstarted.aspx ). Let your car manufacturer know how youve been treated and that you wont buy another car affiliated with Sirius XM Satellite Radio (google e.g.: customer service Honda) [I wrote a letter to Honda via U.S. mail and got a personal phone call about the issue.] ; Register with http://www.carcomplaints.com/newreg.shtml ; Contact your state representative [no, really! Youll be surprised at the response to this, also but youll be on their mailing list] (https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml); Google satellite radio complaints and register and complain on every customer complaint site you can find youll also discover that many, many, many people have been treated as badly as you. Now, what to do without satellite radio: get an iPod installation in your car (about $100 but its not a recurring fee!); subscribe to Pandora (http://www.Pandora.com ) (free); listen to the radio (free); find free streaming music sites (google sites like Pandora); buy Sonos (www.sonos.com) expensive but youll get access to every radio station in the world no kidding!). Good luck!!!
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Ronny g
North hollywood,California,
USA
Is your only complaint that it was hard to cancel?
#2Consumer Comment
Tue, September 21, 2010
..or was there something about the service or programming you did not like? Sure the CEO is taking a hefty earning, but this is because they have millions and millions of subscribers..the money is not growing on trees. Sure they have complaints..and sure they don't want people to cancel..but if you compare the number of complaints (and people LOVE to complain), vs. the number of subscribers, I think you would find they are not that bad.
Your suggestion of an ipod is a good option for some, but not everybody wants an ipod/iphone or to pay for downloading music. Not everyone has the capability to steam Pandora in their car (care to tell us how you did it?). I imagine that would require an i-phone or similar (how much is that plus service for internet streaming?)..a little more then 13 dollars a month I would imagine. And..does Pandora have sports, news, traffic, comedy, talk etc?
I don't know much about Sonos, but does it also require an iphone or similar plus internet to use in the car? And..you say every radio station in the world...does that mean the music from radio stations will have commercials as well, or is it mostly commercial free music like with Sirius/XM?
Not to say Sirius XM is for everyone..and not to say they have the greatest customer service record in the world since it is outsourced to India..but most people that subscribe love it..and hence have no reason to cancel or deal with India anyhow.
For anyone who wishes to cancel..here is a tip. I do not work for Sirius/XM, but do sell and install a heck of a lot of it. I do Ipod installations as well, so I am not biased. I just know some options are better for some consumers then others.
When you call the main # which is 1-888-539-7474 and request to cancel, they will give you another number to call. Tell whomever answers the main number that you wish to cancel and the other number did not pick up..or you got hung up on etc. Ask to speak to a supervisor (this should get you an American BTW), and in a few minutes you will be canceled.
Now you can go spend 200-700 bucks for an iphone depending on service/GB plus the monthly data plan service..and whatever adapters and installation you may need to stream internet radio in the car... and maybe that can be a better option for some.
If you really want "free", just listen to good old FM and deal with the commercials and static. HD radio is another option which still is local stations and commercials but has more range, stations and better sound quality on both FM and AM. No monthly fee but you need to buy an HD radio or add an HD tuner to an HD ready radio. You could use a modulator to play HD radio through a non HD head unit..but it won't sound much better then your current radio does, you will just have more stations and more range.