Sirius XM Radio review: Lifetime membership trap 49

I just got off the phone with them. we purchased 3 lifetime memberships in 2006 (2 cars, 1 business). this is the first time we tried to transfer our lifetimes to new cars with factory installed sirius. first we were told to wait until the 6 month trial period ran out, then call back. it ran out the other day, so I called today. first, there is a $75 charge, which I disputed and asked her to check on. then she came back and said I cannot transfer the "lifetime" account, as the computer said I have used up my transfers. what?! I told her to look at my account. this receiver was activated in 2006 and this is the first transfer. she said she still couldn't do it, so I asked for supervisor. the supervisor told me that sirius/xm had a policy change after 2006. sirius receivers that were factory installed in a vehicle and activated with lifetime memberships cannot be transferred. what?! he basically said he felt bad and this was not the first call he has handled with the same complaint. all he could do was offer me a discount on the yearly package that was worse than some other offers I have seen on-line. wow! he said he would elevate the complaint to upper management and we should receive a response in the next couple weeks. I won't hold my breath!

I also bought the stock back then (lost it) and invested in what I thought was a fantastic new musical and entertainment service of the future. I certainly understand limits to the amount of transfers. they say 3 now, but I am pretty sure it was 5 back then... and maybe a fee ($75 does seem excessive)... but to basically tell you that they cannot transfer my lifetimes at all now. I am pissed to say the least. the "supervisor" was basically quiet and said he understood my anger. he said if there was a way he could transfer them, he would. I am in shock and disbelief at this policy change that reneges on the "lifetime" membership in all ways possible... no transfer because it was initiated on a factory installed radio. just saying, you would think they would mention that when you sign up and they congratulate you on the new car and joining sirius radio for the first time as a "lifetime" member. at least I got 10 year out of it, but I am interested in fighting this first. just reading their own document... support center> is my lifetime subscription transferable? it says we should get 3 transfers with $75 fee.

For sure they are trying to not keep their agreement with the lifetime members at all. you should at least get the 3 transfers on the same account. obviously, they can get away with it for now, but I am wondering what the press would report if they did an investigation into these business practices. if this is happening to everyone, there should be enough anger and evidence to initiate a lawsuit. you would think it would be easier for them to just honor the agreements they made with their first and most enthusiastic fans and investors. I guess I will be back to terrestrial radio for awhile. thanks sirius/xm.

I too bought the "lifetime" subscription based on the representative's note that after "3 vehicle" changes the lifetime subscription would be
in - validated, that is fine by me. however, as i've read above - it's 3 radios, why would I want to have a radio from 2008 and not continue to purchase the next best radio? I didn't mind paying the $75 per se although to change a few serial numbers sounds extreme but each radio cost close to $200 plus the insurance (purchased from best buy)
So I want a computer from 2008 today and the same operating system, how's that sound

Time to contact the state's attorney in whatever state you live in plus new york as that is where they are located. 3 vehicle changes is a sound business decision hell maybe even 2 (since no one keeps vehicles for their life) but for radios is a ponzi scheme unless they cover the upgrades to any radio as it gets better

Consumer frauds and protection bureau

Here is the contact for the new york states attorney's office for the sirius (before the xm) merger or even for those who had xm (but would have lost it all anyway if not for the merger)

The bureau of consumer frauds and protection, part of the economic justice division, prosecutes businesses and individuals engaged in fraudulent, misleading, deceptive or illegal trade practices.

In addition to litigating, the bureau mediates thousands of complaints each year from individual consumers.

A large percentage of these complaints are resolved satisfactorily through the mediation process. as part of its mission, the bureau provides information to consumers and seeks to ensure a fair and vigorous market place. the bureau also drafts legislation and conducts studies and writes reports on emerging consumer problems and issues.

Consumer helpline: [protected]

I purchased the lifetime package back before XM merged with Sirius. There was no 3 transfer limit specified – that came later. I want what I paid for – I can understand (but not like) a fee (relay – $75.00?) but that came later as well. It was a classic drive for subscribers, and now that they have them they changed the rules – that’s call “bait & switch”..

We need a firm to do a class action lawsuit!

When the lifetime membership was present years ago, I jumped on it after I bought the radio. soon after, my radio broke down & 3 times since, each time was due to the "reconditioned" unit that was installed with the radio & yes, there was a $75 charge. on this 3rd time I was told that if I do another transfer (a replacement radio that again broke down due to the faulty part they install in their radio) i'd have to buy another lifetime subscription!

Scammmmmmm. no other way to say it.

What? That's crazy talk! Only $75 to switch your lifetime subscription over to a new radio? When I called, they told me it would be $480 to switch my lifetime contract over to a new radio when my original contract said only $60 if I ever wanted to switch it over. Y'all are getting a bargain. Granted, I know they decided not to honor their original contracts after the merger, but I told them I wasn't paying that much to have my contract violated so blatently for more commercial filled radio.

I bought a lifetime subscription in 05'. I sold my car in 2010 and left the stolleto removable unit in. (Included essentially). I havent used my subscription since. Anyone know if and or how i can activate a new unit or register the app with my lifetime subscription? Or is there a time-out period? Appreciate any knowledge on the matter in advance. Ive read a few of the comments above so i am aware of the negative. If you don't know or simply want to talk bad, is rather you didn't respond for that won't help me at all. Thanks. ...I did call and they have no record of me but i did not have an account #. I gave them the address i was living at when i subscribed but to no avail.

Why wouldn't sirius have a computer program that evaluates how long it's been operating and then slowly start targeting that esn (mac) with a weaker program signal as it would make you think the radio is no good. those are solid state radios and they practically last forever unless you drop them or go over bumpy roads. it seems they control that and why wouldn't they systematically cyberattack your radio. they told me my attenna was out but I popped in a new radio and my antenna was fine. then they told me I had service for 10 years and I realize now it was nothing wrong at all most likely with my two previous radios but a victim of their scheme. please help me identify this to the federal communications commission to investigate this deception. keep the old radios and lets' have an independent company test them or ask the fcc to do it. it's no way that many radios go bad. solid state radios last almost forever. this is an absolute game they have gotten away with most likely. whatever you do, don't ever give them your credit card number and if you do, cancel it the next day and record all conversations with them. these recorders are very cheap and put your speaker phone on open and record the conversation. make a statement saying you are recording it for training purposes. just like they do. their is no training. they do that to have evidence with the credit card commpany to ensure they can bill and cheat you. when talking to them put in your total price and put a clause in your conversation that you retain the right to cancel if you are not satisfied. fight back america. I told them I would not switch my radio but it fixed transferring the esn piece if needed. someone told me that knows about radios and my favorite electronics company best b^I that this the way they control the industry. we need a fair and honest satradio company in this country that is upfront, not deceptive and has good customer service. any company that outsources their customer support to india, beware. india has the hugest civil rights violations on the face of the earth. according to www reports, they have gang cartels that put families in slavery to work like robots and abuse small children, according to internet www reports. don't ever allow any computer tech support company to hook you up and allow 'one of them' to remote in to your computer either, as they copy your entire harddrive and use whatever information they find to their advantage. please let's stop as it's being repoted cyberwarfare (if true) and I suspect it is because no radio dies out that has a solid state card such as the probable hoax we have all fallen to sirius. I will contact the ftc and fcc to ask them to investigate radios that they claim are no longer working. only the fcc can monitor this. they program service in buckets what is tranmitted to it, if they think you have had it too long, then they broadcast under a bucket that is planned to slowly skip a bit, etc... until you complain then they give you some phoney baloney get your card number and the game continues. fight back america. record, refuse your credit card and get their information and report it to the proper authorities... we broke up att in this country because it was deemed they had a monopoly and it was unfair competition. well, it seems sirius/xm is in the same can of worms and have shut competition off. they need to be broken up. plus don't absolutely don't ever buy anything they sell as it's under no us laws and you will be cheated as none of the programs or gadgets work that's why they are on sat radio. no binding laws. buyer beware