bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

Today I had great difficulty canceling my SiriusXM subscription because their employees are required to prevent you from doing so at all costs.

Today I received a letter from SiriusXM Radio informing me that my annual subscription was about to automatically renew at a cost of $228.53 for their minimum service. Last year I paid just under $100! I called to cancel because I am retired and I am no longer in my car long enough at one time to make it worth even a token amount (I have driven less than 2100 miles since January 1) and that is absolutely true.

The first person I talked to didn't have the ability or authority to cancel it and tried to, over and over again, convince me that I should not cancel (10 minutes of my time). I kept telling her, "...No! Please just cancel it...." several times and finally asked to speak to a supervisor. She argued with me some more for several minutes and then transferred me to a non-supervisor who proceeded to repeat the process for a full thirty-minutes. Time after time I told her I did not want any more sales pitches to just cancel my order. I finally told her that I would not renew my subscription and that if she did not immediately cancel it, I would report SiriusXM to both state officials and the Federal Trade Commission. After a few more sales pitches over my protests, I made it clear to her that I would never again do business with Sirius and that I would let everyone know about how I was treated. She finally reluctantly relented and processed the cancelation.

I talked to my wife afterwards and she reminded me that the same thing happened to her when she tried to cancel her subscription last year. This was obviously their company policy that was being followed.

Consider this a warning before you agree to even a trial offer from SiriusXM.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

Sorry you had an unpleasant experience. In the future, pre-paid services are paid by a credit card, simply call the credit card company and deny any charges by the company in question if you have a problem of this nature. Since you had such a difficult time with SiriusXM, I would suggest that you contact your credit card company anyway just for security.

Murray Loc: New Westminster

I find that kind of thing best done in writing by registered/delivered well.

SueScott Loc: Hammondsville, Ohio

We went through a similar situation when we cancelled and are still receiving email and snail mail offers - these folks simply can't take "NO" for an answer!

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Thanks. I recently got a deal for a six-month subscription--knowing full well I was probably making a mistake.
I am now warned what I will face in six months.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

Six months ago, I bought a new-to-me late model used Jeep, and the factory radio is set up for SiriusXM. I have no idea whether or not the previous owner bought into SXM's programming, but maybe they did since the 'subscription' --I was told (by SXM)-- could be passed along to me for the low, low, LOW rate of a hundred bucks (or something like that) per year. Continuing in that vein, SXM bombarded me with both snail-mailed and e-mailed notifications on an almost daily basis, up until fairly recently. I never responded or replied in any fashion. Now, I only get notifications once a week or so. I figure by 2020, the notifications will drop to being only monthly, but I'll have to wait and see whether or not that does or does not happen. I don't want SXM, thanks. Have no need for it. Either I listen to my local radio station or I plug my iPhone into the radio/sound system and use it as an MP3 player of sorts, and I'm more than happy with that. When I told a friend about SXM's offers and onslaught, he said, 'what? Man, you gotta get SiriusXM! Its great!!!' He later mentioned that he owns stock in the company, and bought it when they first came out. Apparently, it's UP almost 3% (or something) at this point, and the dividends --my friend assured me-- are just staggering! (Which I take to mean they cover the cost of a 6-pack now and then.) Does he have SXM in his own vehicle, you ask? Nope.

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

I canceled SiriusXM (it wasn't easy) when I bought a new car and they didn't transfer the service over to the new car. That was two years ago...I still get letters from them saying...WE WANT YOU BACK!!!

repleo Loc: Boston

New Toyotas come with a free 3 month subscription to Sirius XM. We bought two new Toyotas last year. I found Sirius totally unsuited to my listening habits so I didn't sign up at the end of the subscription. They started 'offering' it to me for $10 a month, then dropped it to $5 a month. I told them I wasn't interested when it was free, but they kept contacting me.

After your experience I glad I held my ground and ignored them. Thanks for the warning.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

I wish I had read this thread a week ago.

Vietnam Vet

We have sirius in three vehicles and haven't had any problems

SueScott Loc: Hammondsville, Ohio

Try cancelling!

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

Thanks for sharing! However, and I don't enjoy doing this, but I'm poking a hole in your theory that Sirius/XM has effectively made this policy for at least a year. I became an XM subscriber in mid-2005 but upon moving back to my hometown last fall, I saw no need to continue it. So I called and cancelled it last January without any difficulty whatsoever.

I don't doubt the shenanigans that both you and your wife for a nanosecond had to endure, but I wonder if you and I had our toll-free calls routed to different calling centers?

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

But that costs both time and money. I favor the credit card company as a back up.

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

Not necessarily will it be a problem then. I had an altogether rapid experience canceling my subscription last January. You might to see my reply to the OP himself.

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

I favor your concept in general; however, AMEX always asks me if I have actually contacted the merchant FIRST to dispute a charge, cancel a subscription, etc. If I haven't done so, they won't do a thing. So I find it best to first do my biz with the merchant, and if I get the runaround, THEN I call AMEX and put a DISPUTE on the record.

I don't know how other credit card companies handle these matters.