I purchased a new vehicle in 2006 and paid for a 3-year service contract with XM Radio though the dealership. Initially decided not to renew in 2009 after the 36-month obligation was completed. Without my consent or approval the service continued for 2 months and I then received a bill for $38.00.

Called their customer service and explained that I was being billed for a service that I did not request. Also mentioned that I was now considering a renewal of my service but that would not happen until they either removed the charges or provided me with a copy of a binding contract under my signature that allowed an automatic continuation of service.  After some hesitation, the bogus charges were removed. That took 2-3 weeks.

I then renewed the service by phone. (Never give these crooks your credit card or bank account information.) In renewing, I made it emphatically clear that I was authorizing only a three year obligation and that I would not allow an automatic extension unless I specifically approved it at that time. The agent acknowledged and concurred. Also, I required the agent to give me the total cost-plus taxes and fees. Then I wrote the figure down just in case I needed it in the future. Sure enough I did. Surprise! I received a statement that included an additional unmentioned fee of $56.00 Music Royalty fee. Again, I called their customer service: had a short discussion and demanded a supervisor. Same song, same verse as before. Believe I mentioned The FCC and my State Attorney General and once again the bogus charges were removed.

Unfortunately, I cannot take my business elsewhere to get satellite service so I will pay these unsavory merchants for another 3 years service so I can listen to Fox/CNN while I travel.

What can we do about companies like this?
1.  Never trust them
2.  Never ever let them have your credit card, personal, or SSN information
3.  Pay by check or, better yet, Money order.
4.  Never accept their sham service and bogus billing
5.  Always report them to the FCC and your state Attorney General if they persist in illegal billing
6.  Never use profanity, be firm, tough and threaten the agents with personal accountability and liability (always get their name before starting the conversation)
7.  Follow through, always!
8.  Never let an unauthorized charge on a credit card or billing statement go unchallenged.
9.  Demand a copy of the contractual document that supports their billing if they continue to demand payment. Never pay until this is provided.

I have used this technique repeatedly and found it generally works, particularly with corporations that are licensed or incorporated in the US. If everyone, who is a potential victim, would get aggressive, these collective crooks might clean up their act.

Update-20-Oct-09-Suddenly, my XM service was terminated. Called 800-967-2346 and had a lovely chat with a young lady in the Philippines. She informed me that my account was not paid up. Informed her that I have the cancelled check for my recent 3-year subscription renewal. After additional research she agreed and told me how to reactivate my service- (15 min satellite reconnect). Then asked her to recheck my end of service date and found that once again I am slated for automatic renewal after 3 years. Supposedly, she has corrected that error. Anyone want to wager the outcome? In the meantime it is time to see what the FCC and my state Attorney General think!

I’ve never felt the need or either of these services since I am more of a videofile. Unfortunately, that’s the downside of capitalism. There are only two player and I’m sure soon to be only one. A bad situation for the customer.

I cancelled 2 months ago for a few reasons:

1) The new Bubba format is awful
2) They will probably be out of business by 2010 and I do not want to pay a subscription for something that will no longer be around
3) I can plug my MP3 player into my new car to listen to music and the talk stations on Sirius play way too many commercials to call themselves commercial-free radio…......

Also, they now call me everyday, sometimes 3 times a day trying to get me to reactivate my account.  The other night they offered me 3 free months for resigning.  This is a tell tale sign that the company is in dire straits.

Cancel now because when they file Chapter 11 in May it might be too late!!!!!!!!!!

I canceled my subscription to XM a few months ago.  Customer service is awful and the company’s arrogance is beyond belief. 

For some reason they turned off my receiver and cut off my internet access, in spite of the fact that my contract with them was still in force and was paid in full, in advance.  When I tried to get them to refresh the receiver, they wanted to charge me an additional fee—in other words, they wanted me to pay more money for something I’d already paid for once and wasn’t getting!

Never has a company so richly deserved to fail.  Satellite radio is a brilliant concept that failed in execution due simply to the greed, stupidity, and arrogance of individuals running the company.

XM/Sirius Billing policy is sheer scumbaggery!  I called yesterday, to inform them that I do not want “Auto Renewal”; and that I want the sub to run out at the end of my 1-Year contract in April.  They said I would have to call on the EXACT DAY of the contract, otherwise I would have to cancel it now.  I hope they go down in a painful and ugly manner…