Complaint Review: XM Radio - New York New York

" But for those that love talk radio, or comedy and shock jocks..or
commercial free different styles of music..and hate the static and
cutting out of conventional AM/FM..then to those millions and millions
of people it is apparently well worth the price since they are paying
it without complaint..would you not agree Ashley? Or do you wish to
speak for them too since you know more then anyone on earth about
everything? "

I listen to talk radio a lot, and my local talk radio stations are just fine for that. I also listen to a lot of music on the radio, my local stations are just fine for that. I get to hear about local promotions, local entertainment, local events, all of that for free on my radio every morning. If I was a truck driver, or someone who travelled from state to state on a weekly basis I could see it being useful , but i commute an hour from work and back every day. Local radio is good enough for me, and well the majority of this country. 18 million huh? so 4% of this country uses it? I guess the rest listen to nothing.

No, I don't claim to know everything about everything. I just know a little about a lot that I've picked up from my jobs over the years. I've worked pizza, grocery, convience stores, and done general office work. I'm a chemist now, and will probably be in a lab the rest of my life.

Sirius XM does not have any international subscribers...because that would be impossible. Due to the location of the satellites, the transmissions can not physically reach any receiver to about 100 miles outside the continental United States. They have roughly 18.6 million subscribers. They may lose some due to fee increases..but that is a small inconvenience compared to never using a bank again..would you not agree Ashley? I know your view is "if you don't like the banks policies..just don't use one"..but for most of us we were raised to use a bank..it is supposed to be safe right? Our money is protected by the US government and insured by the FDIC..am I wrong?

Now there is no doubt..Sirius XM is struggling like most other businesses during a crisis. and they are getting hurt because auto sales are down..and many new vehicles had the service available.

So they are trying other ventures..like iphone apps..you know..offering more services to increase business. And sure they need to raise fees and revenue..but it is how they go about it which will make or break them. If they can keep the customers happy and not resort to deceptive tactics to "bring in a quick buck" they will survive in the long haul. If they do resort to deception..or overcharge unjustly..they WILL lose subscribers and will eventually go under...the choice is theirs how to conduct business..UNLESS they are potentially bending or breaking the law..in which case they will be shut down fast, no taxpayer bailouts or tarp money for them.

Now even you have to admit for the sake or argument..that people have become more dependent on their bank and need them more then they need Sirius XM. It's not quite the same as just leaving the banks and resorting back to cash only..and mailing money orders to pay your bills because the banks in order to survive can't figure out a business plan or do anything but resort to unethical tactics to fleece their customers until it ends up in courtrooms and in congress for legislative actions.

But I guess it is a feasible option. I actually wish people would leave their banks and close their account in droves. Because then the few left standing would have to offer incentives to bring in new customers..right? And if everyone was leaving due to their unfair and unethical practices..I bet that is what they could offer to entice people back in..I can see the ad now.."The NEW Bank of America..fair and ethical". But unfortunately people will continue to trust the bank..but by enough complaints and exposure... changes will happen..as they are starting to currently. If chronic overdrafters continue to overdraft and take no actions to protect them from themselves and the banks fees...then at that point I can only blame those customers.

As far as your opinion of Sirus XM...no one cares really. Personally although I sell and install it..I don't have it myself other then I can listen to it at work for free..not because I don't think it is a charge..I just have no desire for it..I don't need that much entertainment in my car..I focus on driving and a CD is fine for me to listen to. If I was a fan of radio SIRIUS XM would be a "must have"..because if you listen to radio these days..you will find it is awful in so many ways..too many commercials and too much cut out and static. Most of the musical formats are horrendous..unless you like hip hop or Latin (most stations are Latin in LA now)..it is a waste to listen to unless you like it.

But for those that love talk radio, or comedy and shock jocks..or commercial free different styles of music..and hate the static and cutting out of conventional AM/FM..then to those millions and millions of people it is apparently well worth the price since they are paying it without complaint..would you not agree Ashley? Or do you wish to speak for them too since you know more then anyone on earth about everything?

I do not respond to every bank, walmart, and target posting. Only the ones where its obvious that the customer could have avoided the ripoff they are complaining about. Go ahead and search walmart and banks there are plenty I don't respond to. Yes, I do respond to a lot of the retail ones. I managed different retail stores for 10 years before graduating college. 

I don't think you can compare a system that delivers entertainment and news to a bank. Sirius XM has no control over our money. The banks certainly do. Now if you don't feel the charges or fees that Sirius XM is charging are fair and ethical..you don't have to pay them ..that simple..no contracts or obligations..it's 100% fair to both parties.

If the bank on the other hand has applied charges and fees we don't feel are fair and ethical..sure we can choose to leave that bank..but they are going to take the money from your account..or take legal action against you..only fair to one party.

Both "businesses" have a right to turn a profit..agreed..but that doesn't give either or any business the right to use shenanigans in order to survive..as that is a sure sign the business needs to either change it's polices and tactics...you know..write a new "business plan"..or fall to the wayside. We may not see eye to eye on this..but it seems apparent to me.

Now it is fine and dandy that you don't see the point to Sirius XM..but as of February (over 7 months ago) when the "merger" took place..the count was 18.5 million subscribers, could be a few million more now..so some people do see a point to it.

I understand you try to only respond to the reports you feel are not legitimate..such as EVERY single report against a bank, Target or Walmart.

I do not see them as apples and oranges. They are both companies selling a product. They are both companies trying to survive in a bad economy. I do not need either one to live my life so neither is a necessity. Granted, banks are a bit more important but they are still private for profit businesses.

Everyone has a right here to post here if they honestly believe they were ripped off. I feel in some cases there was not a rip off, and in some cases there is a rip off...you seem to feel in EVERY case..there was never a rip off..and everything is always the customers fault..regardless of articulate rebuttals that make sense.

The banks do have every right to make money (which I thought was supposed to be by "fair" lending...perhaps I am wrong), as well as Sirius XM..and any other business. Now what constitutes a  legitimate rip off can often be debated..and some are far more apparent..by the results, the actions of the company..and by the number of reports.

Now..since you stuck your nose into this posting..and even admit you do not understand about Sirius XM..let me teach you...ahh..and the student becomes the teacher..ironic..

Sirius XM is not a bank..they are not responsible for protecting customers money. They are simply a form of delivering news, sports, weather, traffic, comedy, music and several other forms of entertainment. The difference between satellite radio and AM/FM..and why there is a fee of 12.95 a month is you receive over 130 channels, including 100% commercial-free music, plus all of SIRIUS' sports, news, talk and entertainment..

You don't lose the station regardless of where you were to drive in North America and parts of Canada, and if on a boat..up to 100 miles off shore. It is portable which means you can use it in a car, boat, house, office, the beach, a picnic..it has it's benefits. All you get for free with AM/FM is tons of commercials..it cuts out and static..and then you drive for a while and lose the station. Heck I remember driving from Florida to California..in parts of Texas I could only get one FM station..and it sounded like the banjo player from the movie "Deliverance". I wouldn't have minded if the vehicle we were using had Sirius XM..it would have been worth every penny.

With that said..this poster apparently is having trouble understanding the billing or package plans..fees etc..or has not yet spoken with the proper person that can assist. And if Sirius XM is doing anything illegal, misleading or deceptive, or the customer feels this way..such as many of us believe the banks are doing, then they have a legitimate reason to post it here..and we have a reasonable right to agree, rebut it and/or offer help in any way...would you not agree Ashley?

Any company will do what it has to for survival purposes (although I didn't notice Sirius XM use a PENNY of tax dollars when they were failing)..but when the banks we depend on and trust are doing anything shady...it will be exposed. And thankfully we are seeing positive results from it.

Most Sirius XM customers are happy..but you can't please everyone.  I think we see enough ripoff reports coming in every day that any reasonable person can possibly come to a conclusion that something is something to it...right?  And aren't the banks starting to change some policies now?? Perhaps if enough customers are to complain about SIRIUS XM..maybe they will change some policies too..would you not agree?

If they want to stay in business, then perhaps they should stop ripping off their customers.

I too would think that the responder is not in any way shape or form connected with Sirius XM. It's bad enough that most of the jobs were outsourced to India..but the few workers from India I have spoken with..are far more skilled in English communication then the so called "tech" who responded, and I can barely understand them.

The company is struggling as many others are during a crisis..but they have MILLIONS and Millions of happy subscribers who tell me on a daily basis..they couldn't live without it. No company can or will ever please everyone..and some people will never be pleased with anything. But the sad truth is, the company needs every subscriber it can hold on to (other then ones who do not pay)..and has to take any and all measures legal in order to survive..well it's that, or they fold and then no one gets the enjoyment of the service anymore.

If this joker really is a technical support rep for this company, his response gives good support to never using this service.

You have to bypass customer service and the tech department at Sirius XM.  The CSR's are not permitted use of the proper tools or have the authority to solve your problem. 

The best way to handle this issue with Sirius XM is to contact the BBB and file a complaint.  Sirius XM has a special department (Corporate Customer Relations) that handles complaints from the BBB.

Sirius XM is very quick to respond and resolve BBB complaints.

Sirius XM is notorious for this type of behavior and attempted to do similiar to me.

Hey my name is CHRIS i am pretty sure i am the rep that you mentioned. I worked in duffield VA for xm radio. I was a tech and billing dept. I hear your problem. If you called me i should have done everything i did to fix that problem. Butt they give us limited resourses to fix the issues. if you want your rpoblem resolved then you gotta know hot to to this and how to talk to dumb f**ks. I gotta tell ya that most normally when i got those calls the bills owed were bills owed i just had to take the time to explain the totall bill. I have seen xm over bill people numerous times. what i would do if i were you is call the  1800xm-radio number and get the corp number and call that. when you do call thelm you wanna use extention "0". If you don't it will xfer back into the tech dept. ounce you get on the phone with thelm they should help good. they are in usa. If they don't help email mew back and i will help you anywy i can. i don't like the company anymore cause they closed us down to move overseas. if you wanna join my new boycott at boycottowl.com, but yeah email me back at chris.28645@ YAHOO.COM   and if they continue to give you a prob ill call myself.

I work for the countries largest retailer of Sirius/XM and I can tell you the reason the person you spoke to sounded like they were from India is because that is where the person you spoke to is. The calls for issues are handled in India. You mention you first spoke to a tech guy named Chris..I don't understand why you would speak to a tech over a billing issue..I think you may be calling the wrong place which is why you are not getting a solution.

Normally if you have a technical issue you get transferred to India..where someone who has NEVER in their lives even seen a Sirius or XM radio (it is only available in North America) simply reads off a sheet of paper which is a checklist...example..Is the antenna on the roof? Is the unit powered on?..stuff like that. They really do not know ANYTHING technical and are generally no help at all unless it's something very simple. If you keep at it..or just out of luck you may get a real tech..but they don't handle billing issues.

I would try calling them again and ask for someone in billing..if you get India ask them to transfer you again until you get an American that handles billing. I know in this rough economy and the trouble they had financially they do not want to lose a subscriber. So give them another try and follow my advice.

On a side note XM and Sirius did not "merge"..Sirius bought out XM..and subsequently
Sirius was "bailed out" by Liberty media when they were almost bankrupt. Liberty holds 40 percent equity in the company,  Sirius XM's largest single shareholder.

If you want to buy a share of Sirius XM I do not know if you can just buy one share since it is currently trading at around 70 cents a share, there is a minimum for purchasing stock. The scary thing is when I first started selling satellite radio and XM was independent..5-6 years ago.... if memory serves me right the shares were worth 35 dollars each at one time..

Best of luck with this issue.