Cancelling my XM radio was fun. Not.
I called last saturday to cancel and was told to, “call back in one hour because we are having a problem with our system and cannot cancel you at this time”. That sounded like bull, but whatever, I called back today.
After giving all my info to the first rep, I was transferred to the “deactivation department”. After explaining about 10 times why I was cancelling, the guy asked a whole wonderful script of qustions, “what is your favorite XM channel?” “what can we do to keep your business?” (my answer. cancel my account). “what if we offered you 3 months of service at a reduced, $4.99 rate?” (no, not interested). “what if we offer you two free months?” (interesting, but no).
Lesson? If you want 2 months of free XM radio, pretend you are going to cancel. It’s actually a pretty funny experience listening to the script the guy went through. It’s cancelled now. Another $15/month saved.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Since my XM service was expiring in December, and how this merger has been handled, it was an easy decision to cancel.
However, the actual act of canceling is another story. XM lines are so overwhelmed with people complaining and canceling they cannot keep up.
The arrogance of SiriusXM is overwhelming. They list Channel A = Channel B on the programming list but rarely is there an equivalent. I bought satellite radio to hear an eclectic display of music — not hear the same Sirius playlists recycled a la ClearChannel every 4 hours.
At any rate, when you call XM, you'll have to tell the first CSR your life story as to why you're canceling. Then they'll transfer you to the "cancellation department". If XM doesn't hang up on you at this point, someone will try to sell you a year at half off. "No thanks, I'd like to cancel." Then they'll try to give you 3 months for free. "No thanks, I'd like to cancel." <– just keep saying that if you enjoy a clean credit rating and no charges on your bankcard. Then, they give you the fine print on the 3 months for free:
If you don't call back before the end of the 90 days, XM WILL CHARGE YOUR CREDIT CARD AUTOMATICALLY. "No thanks, I'd like to cancel." How many people do you think XM banks on to forget to call back in 90 days???
The moral of this story… block out about 2 or three hours to get through and just keep repeating "No thanks, I'd like to cancel" no matter how frustrated you will eventually get at the CSR.
So I am actually on hold right now with XM radio trying to cancel my account. Granted, I see my timer on my phone ticking past 10 minutes, but I am not sure if I am actually being connected to anyone. The CSR said she was transferring me to the cancellation department and that I may not hear any music or sounds.
This is actually my second call. The first time I called and connected through the "cancel queue" the guy asked why I was canceling. I explained that I didn't see the value any more and that I did not like the fact that I could not manage my account online the way I expected. He then laughed at me. I responded by telling him to just cancel my account. He then said "sure thing" and hung up the phone.
No wonder this company is going down the drain quick!
15mins 24 seconds on the phone with XM. I love XM but they would not let me cancel. I sold my truck and now I drive an old farm truck… no need for XM. They offered me a replacement radio $49.95 I said NO just deactivate then they said "OK we will handle that and for being a good customer they would give me the next 3 months free" I said no thanks I sold my truck just cancel my service" Then they came back with "Oh you sold your vehicle so we will just send you a replacment radio for free" (I maybe should have taken it) but at this point I just want to cancel. So I tell the girl "No Thanks just cancel my service" The she asks what can she do to keep my business. Well I said the first thing that came to mind(and no it wasn't nasty) I said give me $40,000 Chevy Tahoe and I will keep my service. She told she could not do that. then there was more pleading and another effort the keep me signed up with free service. At this point I say "CANCEL MY SERVICE NOW" Finally they agree to cancel. Who know if they actually will stop billing me.
i tricked them today! after being hung up on 5 times! tell them u sold your car and havent bought your new car yet but you love their service and cant live without xm radio. they’ll try to get you to keep the service on anyway in order to keep your account open so you can add your new radio to it at a latter time. tell them that you are not sure when you are going to get your new car and that you are sure you’ll be getting xm radio for free for 6 months when you do so you would prefer to cancel the account. (call the rep ‘honey’ when you talk to them to sweetened them up!) it worked !!! i finally got to cancel my account without getting hung up on!!!!!!!
They upped the ante for me. Called to cancel service mainly because I just don’t listen that much anymore. They took off the traffic & weather (which sometimes save me hours avoiding traffic) and the axed a couple shows I liked. Times are hard, fair enough. Anyway, they gave me 3 months free (customer loyalty they say). I can call then and cancel if i no longer want. Still a good service (sat. radio). just never caught on to the masses. What a shame. Oh..and i got thru on the first ring, and they were very friendly.