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XM Satellite Radio

Joe of Eden Prairie, MN November 1, 2006

Joe of Eden Prairie MN (11/01/06)
I am very upset with your company and DEMAND that my bank account be refunded. I received a gift card in March of 2006 for service with your company so I logged on to your website to activate an XM receiver. The service was turned off in June of 2006 for non-payment. I assumed that once the gift card was used service would end I didn't plan on keeping your service.

In June of 2006 I received a bill in the mail for 58.03 so I called your customer service line, because I didn't want your service nor did I ask to be billed for service I just wanted to use the gift card.

Joe of Clarks Summit, PA October 27, 2006

Joe of Clarks Summit PA (10/27/06)
I can't fathom why anyone would pay for satellite radio and why investors would buy stock in it. Consider the following: I have been listening to XM radio in a friend's car and had a free trial period in one of my GM vehicles that had a factory installed XM radio. Commercial free - well almost. Too bad one has to listen to the self serving plugs and jingles some XM radio stations put in for themselves. To me, pay radio is commercial free. Language - this retired citizen who may have his grandchildren with him does not want to happen upon the F word or any other bad words while scanning channels on the XM band. The 50's, 60's & 70's channels (our era of music) plays a lot of the original oldies and a lot of copy cat, not so original, and never heard of stuff.

For pay radio, I would think (hope) the music was genuine and original to the period. Every once in awhile there is an occasional annoying lag (moment of silence) when selecting another programmed channel. Likewise, sound quality seems to vary from super excellent to just OK. Dead spots - mountains, buildings, underpasses and maybe the weather (or sun spots?) often interfere with the XM signal. The signal drops but then comes back after a few seconds unless one is parked in a dead spot. I can get dead spots for free on my FM radio stations.

There are growing alternative technologies to satellite radio. CD changers are now common equipment on today's car/truck sound systems. Buy them and/or burn them or borrow them, the CD selection is endless. Ipods now can play (broadcast) music through the car system. Most aftermarket car radios that young people and audiophiles buy and install now have a USB port and in some case front mounted jacks for Ipod type devices. A USB stick or Ipod device can hold thousands of digital quality tunes.

Ipod type players can be used not only in a car, but anywhere, and USB works nicely in any computer. Despite the above, I was interested enough to pick up an XM brochure not to long ago. After reviewing the over 150 channels listed, the most I would ever select to listen to are 10 - yes 10 out of 150+ and one was CNN. Not such a bargain for 12.95 a month plus fees and taxes, plus the cost of getting an XM receiver (at least with cable TV I already had the TV - nothing more to buy). Now if satellite radio had a-la-carte where I could pick those specific 10 channels and only receive those 10 channels say for a buck or two a month I might be interested. You see, satellite radio, like cable TV gives, sells and charges customers for the whole farm wanted or not. And therein lies their Achilles' heel.

Jennifer of Reno, NV October 24, 2006

Jennifer of Reno, NV (10/24/06)
I bought a new car in July that came with XM Radio 3 month free trial period. After my trial period ended I decided to purchase a year of service.

Four days later UPS is at my door with a package from a distrubution center. Inside was a Delphi Roady Radio. I immediately checked my bank statement online to discover I was charged 96.34 for a radio that I did not order.

I been calling Jamica and they give you the run around. One supervisor told me that my card would be credited and to keep the Radio as a gift.  The next supervisor told me that my card would NOT be credited until they received the radio.  I was also transferred to Canada and was then hung-up on.

Not impressed with this company!!!

Cindi of Sandy, UT October 13, 2006

Cindi of Sandy, UT (10/13/06)
We have subscribed to XM radio since July 2005. When we installed the service on line, we had trouble so we called the support line who handled everything and assured us "No worrries".  No worries - they have been charging us for two units since then!

When you call customer service you get attitude and a foreign language. No one seems to want to help.  We were told each unit had a special code and therefore duplicating billing cannot happen. Well it did!

We are cancelling our service.  At least they should announce their mistakes and make it right with the consumer.

Henry of Richland, MI October 9, 2006

Henry of Richland MI (10/09/06)
I prepaid for my year of XM radio in my car for around 150. After selling my vehicle I received a bill for twenty some odd dollars. After calling and advising XM radio I had sold the car they said not to worry about the bill it was a mistake. Well the bills continued to come and finally I spoke with a customer care person who I could actually understand that clarified the situation. They don't tell you that you have to cancel your subscription after the prepaid runs out....they just keep billing you month by month at an elevated price.

Anyway I ended up paying the bill, but it just really upset me that their customer care people were not hepful at all and cost me an extra 20 dollars.

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