[NY-Rob]

I admit, it's shame on me for not closely examining my CC statements for the last three months, but after the initial six month free "Navigation"package from OnStar they automatically started charging my Discover card $35/month for the Navigation package.

I purchased my Bolt In April, the $35 (almost $39/mo with taxes) charge started showing up on my CC statement exactly six months after that... so beware and start checking your CC six months after you sign for your Bolt.

FWIW- I canceled the $35 Nav package with OnStar this morning- they tried to sell me the $35 package for $19/month as a "customer retention" special deal, but I don't need/want it. The free 5-year basic OnStar plan that's included with the Bolt is good for my needs.

 

[martinknutson]

I admit, it's shame on me for not closely examining my CC statements for the last three months, but after the initial six month free "Navigation"package from OnStar they automatically started charging my Discover card $35/month for the Navigation package.

I purchased my Bolt In April, the $35 (almost $39/mo with taxes) charge started showing up on my CC statement exactly six months after that... so beware and start checking your CC six months after you sign for your Bolt.

FWIW- I canceled the $35 Nav package with OnStar this morning- they tried to sell me the $35 package for $19/month as a "customer retention" special deal, but I don't need/want it. The free 5-year basic OnStar plan that's included with the Bolt is good for my needs.

This bit be too, although i noticed it with the first statement. Didn't get a refund, though. I clearly recall the rep telling me it wasn't an auto-renew when I signed up for the 3 month extension of the promotional period. My bad for trusting them.

The $35/moth charge is just ridiculous. Maybe if it included an unlimited, unthrottled data plan. I got all sorts of safety "but, what about the children" baloney when I cancelled.

 

[NY-Rob]

^ I did ask the rep about what happens if I press the red SOS button without a paid plan... she said "you may be connected with an activation agent vs. a regular agent". Like I told her... at least there will be a human on the other end.... so let's go ahead and cancel that $35/month plan!


FWIW- if you pre-paid for hands free minutes for the Bolt's built-in Onstar Phone, it still works with the free/included 5-year Onstar Basic plan, you don't need one of the paid OnStar plans to use the built in phone as long as you keep funding minutes.

 

[Cehjun]

Inglorious Useless Btards

This thread brings back a bad taste. A previous new Chevy I bought: just after purchase I called OnStar and told them I wanted only the ‘safe & sound’ plan after the first six months ‘directions & connections’ plan expired.

Was told by OnStar oh no sir you have to call back in six months and make that plan choice. I forgot to call them back in the six months. After that I paid for navigation on my credit card for a year and never used it and never questioned the charge on my credit card. Thieves ! Key learning: never give OnStar your credit card number.

When OnStar navigation first came out I had a demo car and one day I called OnStar for directions to West Marine near the Lakeshore in Toronto. ( I was a few blocks away from the store and couldn’t find it ). OnStar couldn’t find it… did they have a phone number for West Marine ? Nope. Useless Btards. I’ll never pay OnStar for anything ever.

I feel better now 0

 

[NY-Rob]

The only reason I even caught the $39.85 charge this month was because it was at the top of my Discover statement this morning in bright orange as "Pending".

So they got me for two months at $39.85/month, but they reversed the new charge that went in to Discover today for Jan19th -Feb 18th service.

I think they got my Discover number when I originally purchased the car I bought 300min (IIRC) for $20 for the built in phone.

 

[shotel]

Key learning: never give OnStar your credit card number.

Never give anyone your real credit card number. Ever.

You may want to consider using a card such as: https://getfinal.com/
(Some banks and other card issuers have a "virtual credit card number" (VCCN) feature as well.)

Basically, using such a card you can generate a unique virtual CC number for that merchant, or individual
transaction. You get a receipt instantly on your 'sail foam' (that's how us Southern folk pronounce cellphone) when
the merchant executes a transaction. This way you won't do what these companies are hoping for:
forget about the the trial expiration date...then let it fester by continuing to rack up small charges you don't notice.

Furthermore, you can give these VCCN's for a trial, and then immediately cancel and destroy that VCCN
when you hang up or once they accept it online. These types of VCCN cards are also good
for general fraud protection as well.

 

[Jim Fallston Md.]

I never let anybody I deal with do automatic payments when they feel like taking them. If I want to pay someone it takes about 20 seconds of online banking.

 

[XJ12]

yeah, they said I'd get 6 months instead of 3 month free if I gave them my credit card number. didn't happen, my three months is almost up. I get phone calls, letters in the mail, e-mails, OnStar voice calls, etc... I'm not going to cave.

 

[NY-Rob]

I canceled the $35/month plan today as the next month term started today. I'm going to wait a couple of weeks to be sure it's canceled and I'm going to press the red SOS button and see what happens/who answers....

 

[Cehjun]

yeah, they said I'd get 6 months instead of 3 month free if I gave them my credit card number. didn't happen, my three months is almost up. I get phone calls, letters in the mail, e-mails, OnStar voice calls, etc... I'm not going to cave.

Yeah, upon delivery of my Bolt when I was placed into their forced-OnStar signup. When I refused to give my credit card number I think the threat then was "if you don't supply your credit card you'll forgo the added 3 gigs of data that comes with yer data trail", or something like that.

It took me a nanosecond to respond. Scrw u. Inglorious useless btards.

 

[photonburst]

I don't remember giving a CC number at delivery, nor is there on one on my.gm.ca account listing.


should I phone in?

 

[Cehjun]

I don't remember giving a CC number at delivery, nor is there on one on my.gm.ca account listing.


should I phone in?

Think you can check your profile online. Do you remember your OnStar password ?... I think that was part and parcel of the forced-OnStar signup.

 

[TimBolt]

I never signed up, and there was no “forced” sign-up, at least there wasn’t when I leased my Bolt.

OnStar is a very expensive service of very limited value.

My unlimited cell phone plan has a cheaper monthly cost than a month of OnStar, and provides a lot more benefit.

 

[TimBolt]

yeah, they said I'd get 6 months instead of 3 month free if I gave them my credit card number. didn't happen, my three months is almost up. I get phone calls, letters in the mail, e-mails, OnStar voice calls, etc... I'm not going to cave.

OnStar contacted me once in my Bolt, I politely told them to add me to their do not contact list and remove me from all marketing communications. I never heard from OnStar again. I did get a letter or two, but the way junk mail works those letters were probably getting generated before I told OnStar to stop.

Nothing from them for months now.

 

[Cehjun]

I never signed up, and there was no “forced” sign-up, at least there wasn’t when I leased my Bolt.

Then either 1.) your dealer did the OnStar sign up on your behalf, or 2.) you rejected the "free" 3-months data plan and 6-months OnStar safety nav etc plan.

Most people accept the freebies. Which requires an OnStar signup in order to associate you with the vehicle.

In my case the dealer threw me to the wolves. And I thought I'd like the freebies. So I talked to OnStar directly for the signup. Inglorious useless btards.

 

[Sean Nelson]

Then either 1.) your dealer did the OnStar sign up on your behalf, or 2.) you rejected the "free" 3-months data plan and 6-months OnStar safety nav etc plan.

My dealer sat in the vehicle with me for the initial OnStar setup. When they asked me for my credit card number I just said "no thanks".

 

[quirkySquirt]

^ I did ask the rep about what happens if I press the red SOS button without a paid plan... she said "you may be connected with an activation agent vs. a regular agent". Like I told her... at least there will be a human on the other end.... so let's go ahead and cancel that $35/month plan!

Not always. I had researched this in the past thinking the OnStar module is like a deactivated cell phone where 911 must always be callable even without an account (cell service? Then allow 911 through). Some OnStar modules were remotely disabled such that pressing the OnStar button (unsure if it was the SOS) resulted in no actual call to OnStar, but just a prerecorded message stating something along the lines of "OnStar has been disabled on this vehicle, please call xxxxx for activate it).

Never give anyone your real credit card number. Ever.

You may want to consider using a card such as: https://getfinal.com/
(Some banks and other card issuers have a "virtual credit card number" (VCCN) feature as well.)

Basically, using such a card you can generate a unique virtual CC number for that merchant, or individual
transaction. You get a receipt instantly on your 'sail foam' (that's how us Southern folk pronounce cellphone) when
the merchant executes a transaction. This way you won't do what these companies are hoping for:
forget about the the trial expiration date...then let it fester by continuing to rack up small charges you don't notice.

Furthermore, you can give these VCCN's for a trial, and then immediately cancel and destroy that VCCN
when you hang up or once they accept it online. These types of VCCN cards are also good
for general fraud protection as well.

I had researched this a while back too. Took a while but did run across an anecdotal account of an ebay seller forcing an additional charge through the virtual CC number despite it "expiring" already.

Virtual CCs are great tools, but still keep an eye on your statements. It's literally just a few minutes. Also sobers you up when you notice you've been hitting the vending machines a bit much. >_<

 

[Eriamjh1138]

OnStar is disturbing trend towards “monthly service income” that GM created to smooth out their revenue and create more when people do not buy new cars sooner.

On the Bolt, it’s all but useless. The navigation is pure garbage compared to your phone (Mapless navigation? Seriously?).

The emergency OnStar has become nearly worthless since we all have cell phones. It will only help you if you are in a crash where absolutely NO ONE calls 911 (like off a ravine in the mountains at night) where no one can see you or find you. And that’s only if you are in cell range. There is nothing worth paying $20 to $40 a month that you do not use like OnStar.

Cancel it. DO not even accept the extra three months. You don’t need it. The myChevy app will work with the minimum for five years. After that, I’m expecting the an iOS update or lack of GM update to support the Bolt to render it dead in one form or another.

GM will not update the car when iOS 15 breaks CarPlay, either.

 

[captivabolt]

Upon my purchase in Oct, 17, I was explained clearly that to extend the On Star from the free 3 months to 6 months , just give them my credit card numbers.
I did, and noted on my calandar to review the need 2 weeks before that time. I don’t see the true value for it, so I am sure I will cancel it.
Can’t blame GM for trying to create a safety based model.

 

[NY-Rob]

Can’t blame GM for trying to create a safety based model.

Let me fix that for you...
"Can’t blame GM for trying to create a revenue stream based model.