I purchased a new XM Radio and called to activate it. I understood I was purchasing a 2 year contract and as a result, would receive 5 months service free as well as a $75 VISA gift card. My first invoice arrived and it was more than twice what I was quoted and agreed to. I have logged over 6 hours of phone calls to XM trying to resolve this and been told on multiple occassions that I would receive a call back with an answer and no one from XM ever calls. Even this evening I was told 2 different things by 2 different employees at XM Radio. I have even been given their "confirmation number" to escalate my concern and no one can assist me. How many others have this same problem or similar? Why don't they return calls? Why is no one at XM Radio held accountable for their statements and promises. I have names, dates and times of phone calls logged. They record conversations and the one where I agreed to the contract was recorded and if someone listened to it, they would hear what I was promised and what I agreed to. I will almost guarantee that by the time someone tries to listen to it, my evidence will be destroyed. This will be the last time I deal with XM Radio and I encourage others to be very cautious of their business practices and lies.

How do I effectively fight an unfair collections claim? I have tried numerous times to cancel XM Radio. I have been using their service since 2005. I always renewed my yearly contract. I kept a credit card on file. In 2006 I bought 3 additional radios for family. In 2008 I choose to only renew my radio and cancelled the others. I requested that xm only charge renewal for the original radio. They charged me for all of them. I could not remove my credit card from the account when I went to my profile. I cancelled that card and called them and told them I would not renew for 2009. They were going to cancel my service on the spot. I told them I deserved the rest of my contracted service and they could cancel me at the end of my term. they said they could not do that but they could give me 3 months free. I said OK. At the end of that period I received a bill. I called and told them that was a free period since they over charged my credit card. They continued my "free period". I removed my radio and ignored their letters since they always had the same response. I kept getting bills for approximately $25 and requests for my credit card. They told me they were inactivating my account. Then they sent me 2 letters. One asking me to give a credit card the other telling me they were sending me to collections. I called again and asked them how could they send me to collections for 93.91 when I never renewed. They said when I renewed for 1 year there was some fine print that claimed I would pay a deactivation fee if I didn't remain a client for 2 years. Never mind I was a client since 2005. I told them there was no why I would pay that bill. I realize that is a small amount to ruin my credit rating over. I think they count on that. I feel I am being shaken down. I have unfortunately thrown away all the letters i received. I couldn't imagine they were going to do this. I thought they were just bugging me to resubscribe.
What choices do I have? Thank you.
P Habisohn

I subscribed to XM over 3 years ago when I got my car. I paid for 3 years up front. I assumed after 3 years, they would send me a bill to renew or dissconnect my radio. What do they do? Send me a collections notice in the mail. First I have seen from this company in 3 years. I called and told them nothing in the original agreement (Yes, I still have it ) said my account would auto renew, and inquired why this was the first I have seen from them in 3 years. I was told I must have been throwing the bills away. Nice, real nice. I told them I was not paying for this, I haven't used the radio, and I am pretty sure they would have to disclose to me in some way that it would auto renew. Their response? It's on their website. Sure, that makes a lot of sense. I told them to send my account to collections, I will not give them a dime. Save your self the trouble - this is one sketchy business.

I have been a fan of xm radio for 2 years now and this year i sold the car with the xm reciever in it. The xm radio had be pre paid for 1 year. After that year expired the xmradio reps began calling for renewl and i told them i did not want to renew. Sure enough i am now getting calls from a collection agency saying i owe them 48 bucks because they kept the radio on for another month as a grace period. They said i had to specifilly call and ask for it to be turned off to avoid this charge. Im furious. This company is ripping me off. From what i've read they are doing this to a lot of people and we need to get together and form a class action case or something. I pre paid for 1 year. Then they keep it on and charge me but send the bill straight to collections. I was told it was in the terms of service that is posted online. Who reads the 8 sections of fine print. I didnt sign anything. I didnt even order it online. This is a joke. Im never going to be an xm customer again. Very bad buisness practices. Dirtbags.

Wendy of Boise, ID August 18, 2009


I initially cancelled my XM subscription in March 2009. On August 17th, I received a letter from their collections department. When I spoke to Patrick he said there is no way they are going to drop the charge even though the record show I cancelled.

My husband and I have been on the phone for hours trying to get help. I've already been hung up on twice when I said I want to get the charge waived. I understand from what I've read on the internet that this is a very common occurance. People will get frustrated and pay the bill, try to cancel and get billed again. It's a scam and XM is ethically bereft.


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