OnStar offers a variety of features and services for GM vehicle customers, with several different monthly plans available at various price points. However, for those OnStar customers that wish to cancel the service, the OnStar remote app doesn’t offer a chance to do so. We think it should.
At the moment, there are only two ways in which a customer can cancel their service. The first is to contact OnStar directly with a phone call, while the other is press the blue OnStar button in the vehicle to connect to an OnStar operator.
In both of these scenarios, customers are likely to receive offers to remain connected to OnStar and one of the monthly plans. A few of the offers could include limited-time subscription rebates, which would be offered from the OnStar representative with whom the customer is speaking to cancel the service.
Alternatively, we think there should be a way to cancel OnStar directly using the mobile app. Of course, this would mean circumventing a conversation with an OnStar representative and missing out on any possible deals that may be offered, but that’s part of the point.
According to the OnStar website:
“If at any time you wish to cancel your OnStar service, push your blue button to speak with an Advisor or call 1.888.4ONSTAR (1.888.466.7827). You cannot cancel your service online.”
The statement continues by saying that if a customer allows the service plan to expire or they choose to cancel, the OnStar system will be deactivated, and with it, the various services which it includes, such as Automatic Crash Response.
“Your vehicle won’t be able to connect with us for help, even in a crash,” the website states.
Further features offered through OnStar include roadside assistance, stolen vehicle assistance, the remote key fob feature, vehicle location, vehicle status, and remote personalization.
But we want to know – do you agree that OnStar customers should be able to cancel the service through the app? Let us know by voting in the poll, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more OnStar news, GM technology news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
They and Sirus are the worst at trying to cancel service. We were in a bad accident several years ago in new Escalade and called for help from OnStar. They couldn’t even help us find a hotel to stay in. Police helped us.
I just wish OnStar would work like it is supposed to work. I’ve been a customer for 25 years and love the service. In the last year I’ve contacted them to straighten out issues on my 2 GM vehicles more than 40 times and have been referred to “level 3 customer service” 3 different times. I’ve had to uninstall rad reinstall the app 20 times and have spent hours on the phone and on in vehicle communications.
They take your credit card number in advance inorder to activate service. Daughter emailed me monthly reports for her car and I realized I was being charged $43 monthly for tire pressure alerts after her free 3 month new car subscription expired.
It is a hassle. We only sign up for the wifi when we are going on road trips so the kids have access. But we don’t need it any other time. It is such a hassle to call and get the sales spiel, that we tend to just leave it now. Maybe that is part of the strategy from Onstar. If people find the cancellation process too difficult or annoying, then they give up and just pay more.
JT I agree with you. I think corporations use this customer service strategy by Design.
The person is polite and professional with an accent that’s hard to understand. In the end you get no satisfaction and just give up. It’s a win-win strategy for the corporation. So they think.
You can use your cell phones hotspots without OnStar
When you live in the country, there are no hot spots.
I understand they have to generate revenue to keep “OnStar” viable. Perhaps that’s why it feels so much like someone wanting to sell you something you don’t want. Obviously for those that find it useful, It is not so burdensome however It shouldn’t be so hard to opt-out or cancel if the customer should wish to do so.
A good product will sell itself. People will seek out a good product.
A poor product won’t remain viable no matter how hard a Salesman tries to shove it down your throat.
Poor products and inept business strategies will eventually fail in the end.
Now GM plans to force everyone to pay $1500 upfront for Onstar as a forced option. What idiot or group of idiots decided to piss off customers for this unwanted service? It might be time for this salaried retiree to buy Toyota now.
An Ala-Carte option to select when to use the service, may be better that subscription for some customers.
It’s become like so many other subscription based services. They make it as hard as they can to change or cancel a service. Due to this issue and some others with OnStar I’ve dumped them. The app has been made less than user friendly as well.
First, understand that you are switched to a vendor when you call to cancel. The vendor is paid commission if they sell you on keeping the service.
Second, without the phone, the service is grossly overpriced. When the phone was included with only minutes extra, it had some value with the hands-free ability.
Understand what overpriced service is BEFORE you sign up.
Agree with ACZ. I cancelled my subscription on my 17 Silverado after onstar took away my handsfree phone minutes. They claimed that the phone companies were going to go to 5G & it wouldn’t work when they did, but it was working fine when they cancelled my minutes. I would gladly have paid a reasonable price for an upgrade at the dealer if they had offered.
I dropped everything. I’m fed up. A customer in several cars since the inception of the service.
Whoever runs onstar should be fired. Worse by the year. Only Mary can screw this up so bad
i’m cancelling mine also….enjoyed the service they USED to offer, but not now