Bought a used 2013 Malibu. The dealer has called me maybe 3 times begging me to press the onstar button to start a free onstar trial. This wouldn't void any of my bumper to bumper warranty? Not interested in onstar so should I continue ignoring them?
Dealer begging me to press onstar button
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Sounds to me that the dealer earns some kind of bonus if you start the free trial. Free trials often have some kind of "hook" in them that is hard to get out of. It's your car, your decision. If it were me, I'd ignore them.
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The free onstar trial is just that, free. You do not have to give them any credit card or any other payment info. Also you can get 3 free years of the basic service which includes use of the OnStar app.
No reason not to do it, won't cost you a dime. Well unless you are one of those conspiracy theory people that think OnStar will spy on you and tell your mother if they catch you parking with a girl. In that case don't do it.
No reason not to do it, won't cost you a dime. Well unless you are one of those conspiracy theory people that think OnStar will spy on you and tell your mother if they catch you parking with a girl. In that case don't do it.
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I ran the trial on my truck when it was new and then I got a free trial offer in the mail a couple of years ago and ran another 6 months free, but with no billing info, they can't charge your card. I found I could use a magnetic hide-a-key and keep a door key on the truck a lot cheaper than using the service for anything important.
One thing to know: Some insurance companies give discounts for having an active account as it allows them to trace the vehicle in the event it gets stolen. Mine is not one of them
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One thing to know: Some insurance companies give discounts for having an active account as it allows them to trace the vehicle in the event it gets stolen. Mine is not one of them
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It is a factory installed option so activating OnStar wouldn't void any warranty on the car. I like the OnStar services and like everyone else said you don't need to give them any payment information to start the service. It will just expire at the end of the trial.
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The possibility to spy on you exists. Will they spy on you is another question.
I found out that rental car companies will use it to spy on you. I dropped a GM car off after renting a few months back and, because there are few affordable gas stations near the airport I was travelling out of I usually stop a gallon or so worth of gas prior to the airport.
Turned the car in and got my receipt. A week later I get an additional charge for 0.9 gallons of gas, at $8 a gallon, that I believe OnStar reported I was short when I turned the car in.
I found out that rental car companies will use it to spy on you. I dropped a GM car off after renting a few months back and, because there are few affordable gas stations near the airport I was travelling out of I usually stop a gallon or so worth of gas prior to the airport.
Turned the car in and got my receipt. A week later I get an additional charge for 0.9 gallons of gas, at $8 a gallon, that I believe OnStar reported I was short when I turned the car in.
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rental car companies have done this since before OnStar...sometimes they just take your car and see how much more gasoline they can get into the tank and charge accordingly, they could have checked the gauge, they could have checked gallons used and gallons remaining if so equipped...I wonder how you concluded OnStar reported you...seems a bit far afield for me to believe.
Bill
Bill
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I highly doubt that was OnStar's doing. What was the rental company?
What most likely happened is one of the employees took it to their pump to top it off and charged you for it. I've rented plenty of GM vehicles from Hertz, Enterprise, and Avis with OnStar equipped; had to drive a ways from refuel to drop off and I was never ever charged for a drop of gas when required to return "full."
I have to agree with the two responses above. I have to doubt that On* "spied" on you or provided information that was not specifically requested by the company. Reaching that conclusion seems to me to have a little too much paranoia of "Big Brother" mixed in. Not saying it doesn't or can't happen, but quite often the simpler explanation tends to be the most likely.
I have to give you credit, though, for saying that whether they do or not is another question. Yet the very next sentence goes past the suggestion and claims that it has happened. While it may be true (see my comments above), I'm of the mind that I'd like more proof than just an anecdotal post.
I've taken a few rentals back and the gauge was close enough that no other charges were incurred. Check the contract where they circled or indicated the fuel level when you took the car. It may have been off just enough that an astute employee noticed it, resulting in your bill.
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You may have taken your tin foil hat off too soon. When returning a rental car, make sure you only take off the tin foil hat after exiting the car, the car has been locked and any courtesy lighting has went out, otherwise it still has an electrical connection and non blocked pathway straight to the OnStar spies.
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I guess you already made up your mind. But I used a 1 year free trial and it really was good. I have been paying and anual subscription since and feel really OK with OnStar service, from p2p directions to engine checks, they even arranged my flat tires situation without me having to do anything! (from calling the insurance company to sending a guy to fix 2 flat tires at the same time)
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OnStar has been used to catch people in crimes. Cops tapped into an Onstar car a few years ago and made a bust. I am sure that they are still doing it. Hell, they can tap into your smartphone as well.
They did have to get a warrant to make it hold up in court. Its easy to disable it for good anyhow.
Seriously who really needs it with smartphones so commonplace now? I use a Garmin traffic GPS with voice activation and a camera for navigation and to take pictures and video, in case of an accident. No need for Mylink or Onstar and it transfers to my old Chevy pickup too.
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how do the police tap into OnStar to catch people in crimes???...beyond being able to use OnStar to track a car after it has been reported stolen by the owner who contacts OnStar himself I don't see any way this could be done...and it would be news to me if it could...
Bill
Bill
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I wanted OnStar hooked up so I could continue to receive the Basic Plan free for 5 years.
With the Basic Plan I can unlock my doors or start the car from my smart phone from anywhere.
I can also send a destination to my in dash navigation from my phone. This is faster and easier than typing it in on the dash.
https://www.onstar.com/us/en/help-support/basic-plan.html
With the Basic Plan I can unlock my doors or start the car from my smart phone from anywhere.
I can also send a destination to my in dash navigation from my phone. This is faster and easier than typing it in on the dash.
https://www.onstar.com/us/en/help-support/basic-plan.html
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