I took your advice and tried this out because you seem so adamant and I was surprised that not only was it easy but "cancel my plan" is actually a voice activated option!  First I said "billing" and then "cancel my plan" was the last option under billing.  I then had a customer service rep that transfered me to a person who could ultimately cancel my account.  I really don't see any issue here at all.  I literally had a live person on the phone in under 2 minutes from the time I dialed. 

I invite anyone to try it as well.  You will see that it takes under 2 minutes and that is at 7PM EST when other service numbers are usually "experiencing a high volume of calls." 

I just put on hold one of my three subs.  I am selling my RX8 and buying a car for my daughter.  If I cannot get Sirius installed at the dealer I will reinstall the unit I just removed from my RX8.  The person I spoke to at Sirius recommended to put the unit on hold for 3 months to avoid paying the startup cost.  Oh by the way... it took a total of 9 minutes from when I started calling to when I hungup.  So lary the legend....you are full of shitsky. 

Here is the email I just got back from Sirius. 

Hello! 

I set the first radio on the account on hold for three months, the radio will activate on january 24th.  There is a credit of 36.61 on the account for putting that radio on hold.  The second radio on the account will be renewing on december 14th, 2007.  So the credit of 36.61 will go towards the amount due for that radio for another year sub.  on the second radio.  If you want to talk to me directly my ext is 269-5821.  You have to call 888-539-7474 first and whoever answers the phone tell them that you want to be trasnferred to my ext.  Thank you for your time and have a great day. 

I just put on hold one of my three subs.  I am selling my RX8 and buying a car for my daughter.  If I cannot get Sirius installed at the dealer I will reinstall the unit I just removed from my RX8.  The person I spoke to at Sirius recommended to put the unit on hold for 3 months to avoid paying the startup cost.  Oh by the way... it took a total of 9 minutes from when I started calling to when I hungup.  So lary the legend....you are full of shitsky. 

Here is the email I just got back from Sirius. 

Hello! 

I set the first radio on the account on hold for three months, the radio will activate on january 24th.  There is a credit of 36.61 on the account for putting that radio on hold.  The second radio on the account will be renewing on december 14th, 2007.  So the credit of 36.61 will go towards the amount due for that radio for another year sub.  on the second radio.  If you want to talk to me directly my ext is 269-5821.  You have to call 888-539-7474 first and whoever answers the phone tell them that you want to be trasnferred to my ext.  Thank you for your time and have a great day. 

Sincerely

Breanna

#1 - I would only be "full of shitsky" (to use your oh so mature language) if I had lied or misrepresented any of the information I posted...

That is NOT the case... The experience I laid out is EXACTLY what happened to me, and the links I posted featuring NUMEROUS people who had the EXACT SAME experience as mine were also legit. 

#2 - I would suggest there is small difference between "I wish to temporarily suspend my subscription" (with a set renewal date) and CANCELLING the subscription. 

Not that anybody should question the motives of somebody whose ID suggests they are an INVESTOR IN THE COMPANY! 

If your experience was a pleasant one, I'm happy for you... Mine was most certainly NOT a pleasant experience. 

And did I mention that I am FAR from the only person to go through this same customer service experience with Sirius Satellite Radio???  An experience that can best be described as a train wreck. 

By the way, I would actually think MORE of Sirius as a company if their customer service was a disaster ACROSS THE BOARD... The fact that they are so good in every single situation EXCEPT cancellations makes them look that much worse. 

#1 - I would only be "full of shitsky" (to use your oh so mature language) if I had lied or misrepresented any of the information I posted...

That is NOT the case... The experience I laid out is EXACTLY what happened to me, and the links I posted featuring NUMEROUS people who had the EXACT SAME experience as mine were also legit. 

I am not saying you are necessarily lying but it seems as though what happened to you is an isolated incidence.  Three people have tried what you have suggested and none of us had a problem at all. 

Originally Posted by larylegnd

#2 - I would suggest there is small difference between "I wish to temporarily suspend my subscription" (with a set renewal date) and CANCELLING the subscription. 

I would say that it is the same.  If someone can modify your subscriptions status, surely they can cancel it.  Even if it is different...how do explain what happened to me then? 

Again, sorry you experience was not a pleasant one but maybe you just ran into a bad customer support egg.  With a company the size of Sirius I am sure there could be a few and that would still be a very low percentage.  Like any other company, not everyone is perfect. 

That being said...it has been described across the board that XM's customer service is very shady, to the point that, when you do finally cancel customers are surprised to see that their subscription was never canceled at all.  In fact they were given free extensions to their current subscriptions. 

I followed the link you provided so see the issues that others were having.  First problem? 

Originally Posted by Brent

I just canceled by Sirius subscription after making several LONG attempts to do so by phone.  You are correct that you cannot cancel online.  Therefore if you want to cancel, you have to call them and expect to be on hold for 10-15 minutes or more. 

OMG!!!!  10-15 minutes!??!?!?!  That is horrid.  I take it you dont have Sprint cellular right?  Or just about any major credit card? 

Originally Posted by Denis

Went to cancel my Sirius Radio after they cancelled Fox (refused to renew contract)... they said tough - $75 cancellation fee...money hungry...

He did not say he had a hard time cancelling, he just sounds like he is pissed about having to pay a cencellation fee which was in the contract that he agreed to when he first signed up. 

Anyone thinking of buying Sirius should know that they have
HORRIBLE billing practices, and it's TIME CONSUMING AND ANNOYING TO CANCEL.  They are a model of corporate bull. 

Im glad he went into plenty of detail here so we knew what he was talking about.  But ok, we will give him the benifit of the doubt.  Here is legitimate complaint number 1. 

Originally Posted by Adam

I just called an cancelled my Sirius account and it took literally less than 5 minutes.  I called on a Friday morning and had no hold time whatsoever. ( Webmaster note: This is the most recent (December 2006) comment I've received on this subject, so it's possible that Sirius has improved the ability to cancel. 

So all of the previous comments were from before december of 06?  Glad you could post some relevent CURRENT information. 

Originally Posted by Jeff

Today is December 29, 2006 and I just spent 50 minutes cancelling my Sirius.  Clearly they are attempting to wait out the customer and hold us hostage to their bad business tactics. 

Imagine that?!?!  Only 4 days after christmas when a ton of people just recieved radios and customer service lines are busy?  Will wanders never cease. 

Originally Posted by Jeff

I received radio this Christmas,activated it but unfortunately I don't get reception at work.  Now I am trying to cancel subscription.  Customer care gives me a number of 866-527-6040 but the number just
rings busy.  Any help or ideas?  Thanks. 

Ok, here is information.  Legitimate complaint number 2. 

And thats all their is.  And this dates back at least over a year.  2 legitimate complaints in over a year.  Wow, you are right.  They suck. [ /sarcasm]

And before you turn around and attack me personally, yes I am an investor in the company because I beleive in the managment, and their services, and have never had a problem with their customer service.  I have cancelled radios, transfered services to other radios and suspended subscriptions.  Never once have I been given another number to call or been ping-ponged around to opperators the way you said you did.  I know it happens though, and I do not doubt your story.  But, as SiriusBuzz mentioned, there are bad eggs in the customer service department.  I know you said you talked to two different people, but how many times have you called ANYWHERE and gotten two people that said one thing and then two others that said something else?  It is the product of misinformation and outsourcing. 

And just an FYI: I spent a grand total of 2 days as a telemarketer before I gave it up because I found out that I wasnt an idiot.  The training for a telemarketer is quite a long process.  In my training session, cancellation is at the end.  They often do this because they dont want the rookie handeling these calls, because they think their experienced people can do a better job changing the customers mind.  So what did I have to do when I recieved a call from a customer wanting to cancel?  Transfer them to someone else.  Could it be that the first two people you talked to happened to be new to the company? 

Re: Sirius problems with Sirius

Ya, that breakdown is all fine and good, except that you ignored about half of what I had to say... I and many others have been SPECIFICALLY TOLD (myself by TWO DIFFERENT rep's) to call a specific number to cancel...

That SAME EXACT number has been listed here and other sites, as well... And again, has been reported by MULTIPLE parties spanning SEVERAL YEARS! 

Below are just three of the several posts on THAT site about Sirius and the way they handle their business.  The third guy actually wants to bring a class-action lawsuit against the company. 

I have NO IDEA if that's even a viable or realistic, but it does speak to the extreme frustration Sirius has caused MANY of their customers. 

7.  Eric Stauffer - September 25, 2007
I have tried to call the number the “Customer Care Specialist” told me to call to answer.  I have dialed at least 30 times, each time it is busy.  My solution was to change the credit card number on file to an older expired card.  My guess is that they will get ahold of me when the payment doesnt go through.  Wish me luck…

8.  Mitch Walsh - October 4, 2007
Man these guys suck.. sirius has charged my credit card for the past five months without authorization.  and managed to get my new card #from my bank dispite canceling three times.  Sirius SUCKS! 

9.  Dylan Turnbull - October 6, 2007
I hate Sirius as well, and from what I have read the fact that they have been billing us without authorization could constitute fraud.  I would like to investigate the option of a class action lawsuit.  If anyone is interested could you please email me at dylanturn@gmail.com. 

By the way, this has NOTHING to do with Sirius vs. XM... Hopefully, they will be one and the same before long anyway.  Moreover, while I have never experienced it for myself, apparently their are nightmares when you try to cancel a subscription with them, as well...

That should not be accepted as a legit excuse for the problems myself and many others have had with Sirius, however.  I mean, if XM wanted to jump off a bridge, does that make it OK for Sirius to do it???  Ridiculous. 

You posted a total of 38 complaints dating back to December of 05.  That is not all that bad.  Yes, there is obviously some people that are having issues with customer service.  I know that happens.  I do not doubt you are having problems. 

One thing I see in common amongst the majority of the posts is that they are mostly talking about a single unit: the S50.  It is very well known that there were issues with the S50, and it is also very well known that around this time period, Sirius Satellite Radio was going through issues with the FCC regarding a few of their portable units.  This is probably the cause of the long "back orders" taht are mentioned here. 

There is a reason I always do research PRIOR to purchasing a new product.  I never buy one that is just being released.  We have seen plenty of issues with XBox360s, iPhones, etc etc etc that are released with tons of bugs.  I also do my reasearch on the internet prior to buying for exactly this issue: See if anyone is having problems with that particular Item I am buying.  I know this has nothing to do with YOUR issue, but I am just throwing it out there for people to maybe pick up a habit. 

If Sirius bills your credit card after you have called to cancel, you can always dispute those charges and they will be refunded to you.  Be alert though, because most credit cards (including bank debit cards) only allow you 90 days to dispute a charge. 

One way to get "customer service reps" to listen and get you assistance quickly is to use my speech that I use when I am seriously pissed:

Hello.  As the recording stated prior to me getting connected to you, this conversation is being recorded.  It is also being recorded by me.  Can I ask who I am speaking with and your extension?  I am unhappy with your services and would like to cancel, effective immediately.  You no longer have authorization to bill my credit card.  Any attempt to do so will be disputed and the charges reversed.  Continued attempts will be considered credit card fraud, and I will press charges.  Can you help me now or do I need to speak to your supervisor? 

I can guarentee you, you will ALWAYS get a response from that speech.  I have used it many times, and almost always they take care of my issue immediately, because they realize that I mean business.  If you get transfered to a supervisor, go through the exact same speech again, and include the question "You are a supervisor for Sirius Satellite Radio customer support, am I correct?" 

I actually used this speech when I called Sprint PCS because I was pissed off about something with my cell phone bill.  I told them to cancel all of my phones, and that they did not have authorization to bill my credit card anymore.  I recorded the conversation using my computer.  The next month, a charge from sprint shows up for $197 or something like that.  I called customer service instantly, let them know that I was disputing the charges and that I was going to be filling charges with my local police department for credit card fraud.  I instantly got transfered to a supervisor, who asked me to email him the conversation.  I did so.  Within an hour, I was given the option of a free 6 months of service, or for them to credit my credit card back double the charges.  I asked them for 2 YEARS of free service.  The talked me down to 1 year of free service for all 4 of my phones, along with 4 new phones.  It works.  Trust me.