I bought a 3-year XM subscription in Sept 2008 for my RDX. It expires soon and just got a notice from XM that my credit card on file will automatically be charged a new 3-year renewal fee at $401.45 plus $43.36 Music Royalty Fee!? This equals $444.81 or basically $12.36/month. I paid like $380 or something back in 9/2008.

My issue is, I only listen to XM in the RDX and nowhere else. I love Opie & Anthony in the AM while driving to work plus some music channels but other than that I don't really listen to much else. Crap. What to do?

 

I don't think you can get around paying for that.

 

If you could possible do without for a while, I think you can call and cancel. I would bet they would come back fairly quickly (if not when you try to cancel) and give you a shot at a lower rate. They renew for the same period you originally sign up for, but there is nothing that says you have to renew. When our Wagon reached the end of the trial period we renewed for 6 months at less than $5 per month. Good luck.

 

Hey, the basic price has gone up less than inflation. And the royalty fee is something they've been forced to pay so they're passing it on to the customer--can't blame them for that. Bottom line--if you feel the XM is worth the price then pay it (which is what I do) and if not then cancel.

 

I phoned and cancelled. Within a couple of weeks I had an email from them with an offer of $5.99 a month for six months. (XM Canada). I've done this before and it's always worked. The downside is that you have to be aware of the renewal date and proactively cancel. You have to decide if the nuisance value is worth it.

 

OP - BTW, does that price include best of Sirius and Online? that's about what I pay for XM plus the other two per year....

 

I did same thing when I first bought my Acura....bought into a three year plan. I let it cancel (didnt have the CC they had on file anymore anyway...lol) and beyond a few weeks, I never missed a thing. Wasnt worth it IMO.

 

I haven't had XM in a car for years now (since before they merged with Sirius). I was in a loaner the other day and was surprised at how many commercials there are now. I didn't mind paying for it back when it was 100% music.

 

it was never commercial free, there were and still are some commercial free channels.

 

Thanks everyone for your replies/input. I still have until September 25th to cancel/renew/change, etc.

I may call XM to see if they'll throw in Howard Stern at no extra cost as that would probably be the only "extra" channel I'd want to listen to and then I'll renew at their asking price of $444.81 for 3-years for XM "Select" package.

 

Wrong. It was 100% commercial free music.


"2004

• January through March: With the sale of Hughes Electronics from General Motors to Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., DirecTV's interest in XM Satellite Radio is sold off on the market.
• February 2: XM Radio announces 100% commercial free music lineup.
• March 1: XM Radio launched Instant Traffic and Weather Channels for major metropolitan markets in the United States."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XM_satellite_radio

 

If you have a smartphone, you can download the Sirius/XM app. That way, you can listen to it in your RDX, via your smartphone. I do this all the time with my iPhone...but I also have an unlimited data plan.

 

FYI, Howard is only live 3 days/week, the rest are re-runs