FrOregon

My 90-day free trial for XM Nav Weather and Traffic I believe just expired since I no longer can get traffic and weather report. I check the XM site and I don't know if I want to pay for this. I do subscribe to XM Radio (got a good deal for $77/ year) but I think the added cost for Nav Weather/Traffic on top of this is just not worth it, especially since my Blackberry Curve has a free Googles Map that shows real time traffic. What are you guys going to do or have done once free trial expires?

soon4tsx

I paid $247 for a 2 year prepaid deal a couple of months ago (without Weather or Traffic).
You got a good deal for $77 year.
FWIW, I just read last night on NYTimes that Sirius/XM went Chapter 11. WTF?

MMsTSX

I would just do nothing.
I wouldn't pay to subscribe to it personally.
I don't even like the XM radio at all.

kristy7911

where did you get the $77 a year deal from?

Bunkie111

XM was ok at first, but it's getting a little repetitive. The weather and Traffic just aren't that important to me either.

FrOregon

So I called XM and got a $3.99 per month (paid $47.88 for a year) to get Nav and Traffic. For those wondering how I got the $77/year for XM Radio, I read somewhere that if you say you can't afford to subscribe, they will connect you to customer specialist and offer the $77/year. THis is my second year at this rate so I am sure they are still offering.

MMsTSX

^yup.
it's like a little secret with them or whatever.
just call them up and ask for it basically. tell them you can't afford it and
you have to cancel, but you did hear about the $77 deal, and would pay that
if they would offer it to you.
and they will.

they need money BAD.

traffic

After my 90-day free trial, I renewed XM radio but also got rid of the XM NavWeather and NavTraffic. I also have Google Maps on my cell phone and I found that it is much easier to use (and also free) compared to the XM service. In the car, I use Google Maps to check the traffic and check a web site such as WUnderground.com for detailed reports and radar maps.

First, let this be clear: Sirius XM is a company that is in a lot of financial trouble right now. They haven't declared bankruptcy yet but some news reports are saying that Sirius XM might do so as soon as next Tuesday, 2/17. Not sure what that will mean for service, but in the past few months they have already made major programming changes (including merging and cutting back some channels) and announced plans to start charging for previously free services such as online listening.

Anyways, if you need to call XM, use this number: 1-800-335-6800. Unlike other numbers on some XM mailings, with this you will get transferred directly to a customer service rep without going through a prompt.

Even so, the first person that you get to talk to (the CSR) cannot help you. She'll just run through the regular prices for XM services which range from $499 for lifetime XM + Best of Sirius to $39 for a 3-month XM extension.

Ask to cancel, and eventually you will get transferred to a cancellation agent. Without me asking, she immediately offered me the 1 year XM deal for $77. If you balk at that she'll come back with 3 months of XM for $15. If you refuse that offer, she'll give you 4 months for $15. I settled for 4 months. If you've been paying your XM bill by mail before, you can provide a credit card number instead and they will give you an additional $13 credit on your account.

I called these guys last month and it looks like I timed my extension just right. A co-worker of mine recently upgraded to a lifetime subscription. Doesn't seem like such a good deal at the moment but then again I doubt they'll shut off service entirely even if they are bankrupt. Who knows, maybe they'll get lucky and get some sort of bailout.

nj2pa2nc

I tried to get a deal with sirius-they would not budge on the price so I cancelled it. They told me they would shut off my service immediately. They have not yet.

FrOregon

Correction! So I thought they gave me both Traffic and Weather at $47.88/year but I found out it is just for the Traffic. The Weather is additional $3.99/month so there is no way I am going to get that. I will call them to see if they can just add Traffic with Weather for this price, otherwise that I will cancel. If they don't do this, I'll just get a refund for the Traffic.

TheGoodGuy

The traffic is useful, i have an iphone that i can reach traffic websites but its useful to have traffic in the car, but not at what they were trying to charge of 9.99/mo , they brought it down to 3.99 but wanted it bundled in with XM radio - screw that.

The management should be shot. If people want a la carte pricing then let them have it.

RigaTony82

Just a heads up, don't give them your credit card number. They will automatically renew your subscription once it runs out. They did it to me, even when I called and canceled two separate times. Each time the rep said they would cancel my service, but never actually did it. Finally the third time I got it canceled, but they billed me for the x amount of days I had it on, even after I though it was canceled. A complete pain in the ass.

ccarbajal08

I heard that Sirius-XM is filing for bankruptcy anyway.

traffic

It's true, they will continue to bill you after your subscription ends. But they will do that regardless of whether or not you provide a CC#. I called a couple weeks after my first subscription ended, and they had already continued my service at the regular price, even though they had no CC# on my file. Eventually, I was still on the hook for that billed amount even though I signed on for an extension under different terms.

If you haven't provided a credit number before, I would still recommend doing so next time you re-up (if there is a next time) so you could just get the $13 account credit.

And the CSRs at XM aren't the best. It is a pain in the ass but calling afterwards to follow-up on any account changes is definitely a good idea. Verify when your subscription ends so you know when you have to call again.

Robert418

Has anyone had any luck getting a promo price on just then navtraffic service without the XMradio?

btw....i called to cancel and got transferred to a CSR who took his sweet time to tell me that there was no promos available for anything. I told him to cancel and never ever call me. The next day I got a phone call from XMradio to offer me a promo. I took the name and number and reported them to the FTC for violating telemarketing laws. And told her that I didn't want her frigging promo if she wouldn't respect my privacy.

Harijan

Contact your credit card company and dispute the charges. They will normally be reversed.

nj2pa2nc

I gave them my debit card information. Before the year has ended I cancel that debit card and get a new one. (No charge for the new card and no new charges without me knowing)

kristy7911

I wouldnt bet on the cancelling card thing always working, there are some companies out there (i believe aol was one) that will try to push the charges through anyway.

nj2pa2nc

sirius did try putting it thru-it was rejected-invalid account