Onstar free?

[Dirt55]

They will activate it for you, trust me. Resistance is futile. If you have the MyLink radio you will know the moment it's activated because the OnStar icon will proudly glow white instead of being greyed out.

Yeah, you are right, the onstar light on stereo is lit now.
However, my wife just bought a Sonic, and she went through about 15 minutes on a call with onstar and did give her credit card number for a few minutes.

I never did that at all, so I don't thing they have any of my information.

 

[Stew]

Yeah, you are right, the onstar light on stereo is lit now.
However, my wife just bought a Sonic, and she went through about 15 minutes on a call with onstar and did give her credit card number for a few minutes.

I never did that at all, so I don't thing they have any of my information.

OnStar has ALL of your information, I went through this when I bought my Sonic. Made it very clear to the dealer that if they activate OnStar they will be keeping the car, and in fact I refused to sign the OnStar agreement paperwork. The dealer didn't activate it although they did give me the sob story about how activating it is part of their rating on customer satisfaction.

When the paperwork gets pushed through to wherever it goes and they see OnStar isn't activated, well clearly that was a mistake because everyone wants OnStar and they activate it for you.

Turns out that in the OnStar agreement you agree to OnStar merely by buying a new car equipped with OnStar, even if you don't actually sign any OnStar paperwork.

OnStar is like the Borg.

 

[Swordsmith]

Good to hear that sticking to my guns would have been futile, since I didn't.

Time continues to march on and Onstar remains silent about time running out or asking me to renew. Knock wood. If the service is free, I'm getting better than I asked for, which is that they not bother me ever and charge me very little and are around in case of really serious need. Nothing is very very little!

 

[poncho167]

6-months free, the rest is optional. No commitment.

 

[Eric Smit]

6-months free, the rest is optional. No commitment.

unless you give them your credit card info when you activate it. then they will happily renew it without your permission.

 

[MrSnuggles]

unless you give them your credit card info when you activate it. then they will happily renew it without your permission.

That's what they did with my dads cruze, and tried doing that to me, but saying they need me to update my information, because they don't seem to have my credit card information, but they keep sending it to my dad instead of me... Also my light stays lit on MyLink and mine ended just recently on April 22. I already knew the green light on the mirror is the battery life of the Onstar buttons, but its still showing up white on the MyLink. I've received great quality service when I used it, but trying to stay down on bills, so if i decide to activate it, it won't be for sometime. And i've got AAA as well, so that's a two for one anyways (+) i get discounts at different places including restaurants. Imagine that, for the price of Onstar, they should make an official Onstar customer card, and gain discounts at places.

 

[Natesriv]

On a side note to the Onstar assistance in emergencies...don't our Sonic's come with 3-years roadside assistance standard??

 

[poncho167]

On a side note to the Onstar assistance in emergencies...don't our Sonic's come with 3-years roadside assistance standard??

Yes

 

[sonic13rs]

Got my call last night to keep the service. I had just taken an online survey. In survey I said I would pay $5 a month and so I told person from OnStar same thing. Lower to $5 and I would keep service on Sonic and put back on 2012 Suburban. Nope, can't do it. Sorry/Bye

 

[rondoman]

Make sure they're not billing you. If you gave them you're info you might have had to cancel or they could he charging you.

 

[rondoman]

I had to tell the Onstar guy like 5 times I was not giving him my credit card info.

 

[Natesriv]

For those of you with the 6-months still free (and it's better with Mylink)...give it a try. I like the turn by turn navigation. Even if you know the route like the back of your hand, it's pretty nifty to try it out. YES, most phones do that now, but free is free..
It's more than just emergency service, it's concierge service. They can call ahead for you, make reservations, etc..

 

[HADES20]

They sent me an email and my dealer told me but I let it go out but I'm going to renew mine Siri is like a ditz when it comes to navigating plus it eats my data which I could use for pandora

 

[Swordsmith]

FSM you guys were right, the reason they never called or emailed me to ask if I wanted to start paying is that they just freaking went ahead and took the money. Seems the dealership gave them my banking info as part of "setting up the car for me"

Called them today to ask when my free service will run out and they said it ran out in April. I had to sit through several long speeches about what the service is, what I'd be missing, had to agree that i understood that if I got in an accident they were gonna let me freakin bleed to death rather than call for help... they offered to cut the fee to 18.99 per month for emergency service only. Finally let me off the hook.

((Added note, just dug back through, found out which account they were using, and they have hit me twice, for 28.90 each time. So the non-emergency part was costing $10 a month and I literally never ever used it. I arguably used the "peace of mind" of the emergency service even though I never actively used it... but there's no way you can argue I used the navigation, concierge, or once a month diagnostic readout services))

Then they said something really really funny. If I ever change my mind all I have to do is hit the little blue button. That means... I'm still connected. At no charge. If I ever have an emergency where I need help and can't get to my cell or it has stopped working, I will simply push that button. I A) will happily pay for a months' service at that point in order to get help and B) can't believe that any actual human is going to let me die because I didn't pay up in advance and C) am pretty sure that if they didn't help I could sue them into bankruptcy because it's juries, not laws, that deal with this sort of thing and juries don't appreciate people who just sit by and watch people die.

What they -should- have done is disconnect the thing entirely so they can't hear my screams and sobbing pleas for help. As it is, I'm afraid they're still my plan B, for free. I'd have gladly paid $3 per month for this... or even $5, but they can't offer the service for that little... just for free.

What an interesting company.

ps thanks by the way for suggesting I check this. It might have been months before I bothered going over my bank account with a fine tooth comb and discovered I was being charged.

 

[Shinrin]

I wonder if you hit the button without being subscribed, if they make you read your credit card number out before they send anyone to help.

 

[OnStar Advisor]

FSM you guys were right, the reason they never called or emailed me to ask if I wanted to start paying is that they just freaking went ahead and took the money. Seems the dealership gave them my banking info as part of "setting up the car for me"

Called them today to ask when my free service will run out and they said it ran out in April. I had to sit through several long speeches about what the service is, what I'd be missing, had to agree that i understood that if I got in an accident they were gonna let me freakin bleed to death rather than call for help... they offered to cut the fee to 18.99 per month for emergency service only. Finally let me off the hook.

((Added note, just dug back through, found out which account they were using, and they have hit me twice, for 28.90 each time. So the non-emergency part was costing $10 a month and I literally never ever used it. I arguably used the "peace of mind" of the emergency service even though I never actively used it... but there's no way you can argue I used the navigation, concierge, or once a month diagnostic readout services))

Then they said something really really funny. If I ever change my mind all I have to do is hit the little blue button. That means... I'm still connected. At no charge. If I ever have an emergency where I need help and can't get to my cell or it has stopped working, I will simply push that button. I A) will happily pay for a months' service at that point in order to get help and B) can't believe that any actual human is going to let me die because I didn't pay up in advance and C) am pretty sure that if they didn't help I could sue them into bankruptcy because it's juries, not laws, that deal with this sort of thing and juries don't appreciate people who just sit by and watch people die.

What they -should- have done is disconnect the thing entirely so they can't hear my screams and sobbing pleas for help. As it is, I'm afraid they're still my plan B, for free. I'd have gladly paid $3 per month for this... or even $5, but they can't offer the service for that little... just for free.

What an interesting company.

ps thanks by the way for suggesting I check this. It might have been months before I bothered going over my bank account with a fine tooth comb and discovered I was being charged.

Hi Swordsmith -

I am sorry for the confusion and any frustration. If you let your subscription expire or choose to cancel it, your OnStar system will be deactivated and your two way connection will be severed. All services - including Automatic Crash Response and Emergency Services - will be shut off. The only way to reinitiate the connection is by pressing the OnStar button and having the unit reactivated. Hope this answers your question.

- Sara, OnStar Advisor
Social Media Team

 

[Eric Smit]

they hit my account unauthorized one time, for the same amount, and I went absolutely ballistic on the poor girl on the other end. There is no reason they should have your information, just so they can charge you and keep you connected, regardless of if you want to be or not.

 

[Swordsmith]

Hi Swordsmith -

I am sorry for the confusion and any frustration. If you let your subscription expire or choose to cancel it, your OnStar system will be deactivated and your two way connection will be severed. All services - including Automatic Crash Response and Emergency Services - will be shut off. The only way to reinitiate the connection is by pressing the OnStar button and having the unit reactivated. Hope this answers your question.

- Sara, OnStar Advisor
Social Media Team

Yes that is exactly what I am saying. I would pay $3 to $5 a month in order to leave the Onstar Button working, and If an emergency happens and my cell phone won't work, have you as a backup. BUT I would not pay $20 a month for that plus the automated system that could kick in If I was unconscious.

Meanwhile as you just admitted, the service I am willing to pay for is... free.

I am not upset about this it just seems silly.

I am upset about being slammed, charged for two months by a service I never agreed to pay for, that my dealer signed me up for against my express wishes. That was out and out theft. it was merely petty enough that I am not going to bother pursuing it. Your "let the subscription expire" implies that this is possible but the truth is at least in my case that was not an option I would have been charged again and again without so much as a by your leave.

 

[OnStar Advisor]

yes that is exactlu what I am saying. I would pay $3 to $5 a month in order to leave the Onstar Button working, and If an emergency happens and my cell phone won't work, have you as a backup. BUT I would not pay $20 a month for that plus the automated.system that could kick in If I was unconcious.

Meanwhile as you just admitted, the service I am willing to pay for is... free.

I am not upset about this it just seems silly.

I am upset about being slammed, charged for two months by a service I never agreed to pay for, that my dealer signed me.up for against myo express wishes. that was out and out theft. it was merely petty enough that I am not going to bother pursuing it. Your "let the subscription expire" implies that this.is possible but the truth is at least in my case that was not an option I would have been charged again and again without so much as a by your leave.

Hi, Swordsmith -

We hear you and we would like the opportunity to work to resolve your issue. We are able to refund you the most recent 30 days of charges. Can you please provide me with more details here - We want to help, but we need a little more information. | OnStar Connections. Thanks, I hope to hear from you soon!

- Sara, OnStar Advisor
Social Media Team

 

[Stew]

Hi Swordsmith -

If you let your subscription expire or choose to cancel it, your OnStar system will be deactivated and your two way connection will be severed.

All services - including Automatic Crash Response and Emergency Services - will be shut off. The only way to reinitiate the connection is by pressing the OnStar button and having the unit reactivated.

Either there is a logic fail somewhere here or you are not counting the OnStar button in your two way connection. You are never truly deactivated. You aren't, or the OnStar button would do nothing.