SPOT Tracker Issues

[happyPuppy]

I just was doing my online banking , and noted a new $170.00 dollar charge from SPOT LLC. I had signed up for service a year ago via the AMA offer. They will auto renew your account and services unless they are notified 5 days prior to expiration. This was told to me by Customer Service, and I was told I had "agreed" to it when I signed up (not). I looked at the site and it is indeed in the Terms and Conditions dated 9-9-2009. I had never agreed to the new Terms and Agreements and was never notified of a change. I forced SPOT to rescind the charge as I had never agreed to it, and notified my Bank to void the transaction. I hate companies that pull this crap :angry:

 

[SilverHound]

Not sure I understand your issue...Did you agree to it and not realize it when you signed up or did they change the policy after you signed up? When I signed up last Spring I read the terms & conditions and saw that they would auto renew but I have no problem with that as I tend to procrastinate if I have to do it myself.

My AMA, AAA, Sirius Radio and probably some other things I can't remember all auto-renew and I am happy for them to do it so I don't have to remember.

Different strokes for different folks I guess.

So you don't like the SPOT device and won't be using it anymore?

 

[happyPuppy]

I got it when it first came out. It was not in the terms and conditions at that time ( and cannot legally be changed during the term without consent, they changed the terms 9/9/2009) , as a rule I do not like auto renewal, as the prices may change or the service terms. I really do not like people taking money out without my consent.

 

[SilverHound]

I got it when it first came out. It was not in the terms and conditions at that time ( and cannot legally be changed during the term without consent, they changed the terms 9/9/2009) , as a rule I do not like auto renewal, as the prices may change or the service terms. I really do not like people taking money out without my consent.

I agree, that's a bad practice if they changed the terms without your consent. Looks like you got it rectified though. Hey I guess they needed some way to fund the development of the SPOT ll device. :blink:

I like the device but their customer service does leave a bit to be desired. I e-mailed a question to them once and it took three weeks for them to reply...and it was a really simple question.

 

[Geezer]

I don't like any company to automatically charge my card or bank account without me explicitly approving it, each time. When I use a credit card online I use my Discover card with a 'secure online account number'. Each secure number is generated online upon my request and is good for only one use so they can't save the number and use it later for a renewal.

 

[7xray]

I don't like any company to automatically charge my card or bank account without me explicitly approving it, each time. When I use a credit card online I use my Discover card with a 'secure online account number'. Each secure number is generated online upon my request and is good for only one use so they can't save the number and use it later for a renewal.

That's a pretty cool thing. I wonder if any of the other cards do that?

 

[SnowAviation]

I don't like any company to automatically charge my card or bank account without me explicitly approving it, each time. When I use a credit card online I use my Discover card with a 'secure online account number'. Each secure number is generated online upon my request and is good for only one use so they can't save the number and use it later for a renewal.

That's a pretty cool thing. I wonder if any of the other cards do that?

Yes, it's an option with my PayPal Visa. I suspect others offer it too.

 

[johnny80s]

I don't like any company to automatically charge my card or bank account without me explicitly approving it, each time. When I use a credit card online I use my Discover card with a 'secure online account number'. Each secure number is generated online upon my request and is good for only one use so they can't save the number and use it later for a renewal.

Not to get too far off the topic but if you that is secure you might want to listen to this.

The Broken Browser Model.

 

[FJR Flyer]

I don't like any company to automatically charge my card or bank account without me explicitly approving it, each time. When I use a credit card online I use my Discover card with a 'secure online account number'. Each secure number is generated online upon my request and is good for only one use so they can't save the number and use it later for a renewal.

That's a pretty cool thing. I wonder if any of the other cards do that?

I do the same thing - every time, for every online purchase. Easy as pie. One of the best things about Discover.

 

[Big-D]

That really sucks when you get screwed by some company. I have learned to NEVER pay for any membership or magazine with my credit or debit card, because they will continue debiting your account until you finally have to cancel that account and reopen a new account. Then have to take them to court to get your money back. Most people just eat-it to avoid the hassles of litigation and the companies know this.

My wife worked as a loan officer for the banking industry for over 20 years and would come home bitching about these customers that would constantly complain about their account being charged and not being able to get them to stop. One of the worst are Gym memberships and magazine subscriptions.

Of course, not all companies or businesses have these practices, but many do.

Buyer beware!

 

[FJR Flyer]

Not to get too far off the topic but if you that is secure you might want to listen to this.
The Broken Browser Model.

That's why I always use Firefox.

 

[LDRydr]

Not to get too far off the topic but if you that is secure you might want to listen to this.The Broken Browser Model.

More on this today: LINK

 

[Fairlaner]

But why have a spot if you ain't gonna have the service?

R

 

[BikerGeek99]

But why have a spot if you ain't gonna have the service?
R

oster_stupid:

 

[wheatonFJR]

But why have a spot if you ain't gonna have the service?
R

oster_stupid:

I understand the anger about the unannounced rate increase, but that's kinda like buying a TV, but not plugging it into the wall cuz the utility company raised the rates.

 

[bmwhd]

I just was doing my online banking , and noted a new $170.00 dollar charge from SPOT LLC. I had signed up for service a year ago via the AMA offer. They will auto renew your account and services unless they are notified 5 days prior to expiration. This was told to me by Customer Service, and I was told I had "agreed" to it when I signed up (not). I looked at the site and it is indeed in the Terms and Conditions dated 9-9-2009. I had never agreed to the new Terms and Agreements and was never notified of a change. I forced SPOT to rescind the charge as I had never agreed to it, and notified my Bank to void the transaction. I hate companies that pull this crap :angry:

Do you have a copy of the original agreement? Just because the current version is dated 9/9/09 doesn't mean those terms were added on that date.

I got my SPOT when they first came out and I'm fairly certain that auto renewal was always in the agreement unless you opted out at sign up.

 

[happyPuppy]

I just was doing my online banking , and noted a new $170.00 dollar charge from SPOT LLC. I had signed up for service a year ago via the AMA offer. They will auto renew your account and services unless they are notified 5 days prior to expiration. This was told to me by Customer Service, and I was told I had "agreed" to it when I signed up (not). I looked at the site and it is indeed in the Terms and Conditions dated 9-9-2009. I had never agreed to the new Terms and Agreements and was never notified of a change. I forced SPOT to rescind the charge as I had never agreed to it, and notified my Bank to void the transaction. I hate companies that pull this crap :angry:

Do you have a copy of the original agreement? Just because the current version is dated 9/9/09 doesn't mean those terms were added on that date.

I got my SPOT when they first came out and I'm fairly certain that auto renewal was always in the agreement unless you opted out at sign up.

yes I have the box and the TOS agreement it came with too, that is how I got the charge removed, as auto renewal was not mentioned. I did find out the TOS has been changed 3 times in January , April and September. I really dislike business practices like these. They also put the TOS online and change it dynamically as they see fit. Try to find a cancel service online button anywhere. If it worked satisfactorily it would have been one thing as far as renewing , but the SPOT 1 does a poor job IMO in the heavily wooded mountain areas I ride. Customer Service when I complained told me about the new SPOT 2 to "fix" the problems. I am waiting to see if another product comes on the market. ADV Riders has some interesting stories about SPOT in actual use that causes concern also.

 

[SilverHound]

yes I have the box and the TOS agreement it came with too, that is how I got the charge removed, as auto renewal was not mentioned. I did find out the TOS has been changed 3 times in January , April and September. I really dislike business practices like these. They also put the TOS online and change it dynamically as they see fit. Try to find a cancel service online button anywhere. If it worked satisfactorily it would have been one thing as far as renewing , but the SPOT 1 does a poor job IMO in the heavily wooded mountain areas I ride. Customer Service when I complained told me about the new SPOT 2 to "fix" the problems. I am waiting to see if another product comes on the market. ADV Riders has some interesting stories about SPOT in actual use that causes concern also.

Yeah, funny how a lot of companies let you do just about anything on-line except cancel your account or service. I have seen that a number of times. They probably hope that it will be too much trouble to call and you'll just keep it. They should just have voice prompt that says, "if you are calling to cancel your account, please press 4 and be prepared to wait for a couple hours on hold". <_<

There was a big discussion on the STN board as well about the actual value of the SPOT as compared to a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) in a real emergency situation. I have also noticed gaps in the signal when using the tracking function but for me it works ok overall and fills the gap between having nothing or a PLB which are more expensive initally and really are for emergency only in that they don't provide tracking, OK check-in or non-emergency help notification. I figure for what amounts to less than 50 cents a day I'll roll the dice and hope that if I ever have to use it for an emergency it will get a signal through. In the meantime...my wife can track me while I'm out and see that I am not stopped for suspiciously long time...at a questionable establishment.

 

[happyPuppy]

Right now I am using the tracking site that is free https://www.instamapper.com/fe It is not a satellite, but I am not going to be riding the mountains for a while. Knowing the TOS agreements is helpful, they always put in the wording that they can change it at anytime, but you do not have to agree to any changes on any item of your original agreement. Cell phone companies are well known for changing the TOS and it is a loophole that can be used to get out of early termination fees.