SPOT alert! - Bad business practices

terrykohler · #1 10-12-2009, 06:48 AM

Yesterday I received my credit card statement, which indicated an annual renewal fee for my spot messenger. I called this morning to cancel service (haven't used the unit in at least 8 months) and was told that my new service cycle began 8/1 and was billed on my credit card on 9/1. As SPOT does not allow cancellation/refund 30 days after the cycle date, I was SOL (even if I looked at my statement on a daily basis, I probably wouldn't have caught it in time). I told the service guy this was not reasonable as no alert had been sent to me. His response - Too late for a refund. Read the contract. Just a warning to anyone using this product.
Terry, CFI
RV-9A N323TP

L.Adamson · #2 10-12-2009, 07:05 AM

Then I'd have cancelled eight months ago. We use our SPOT on a weekly basis and appreciate what it's capable of. It's a device we really WANT!\

P.S. ----- And like I said two weeks ago...............SPOT followed through on their end of the contract, when my wife accidently set her headphones on the 911 button after landing. The unit was still on, and the response from SPOT's emergency assistance was within two minutes.

L.Adamson ---- RV6A

RV8R999 · #3 10-12-2009, 07:10 AM

what is a SPOT??

L.Adamson · #4 10-12-2009, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV8R999

what is a SPOT??

A small satellite tracking device. It will overlay a footprint on a Google map. Sends a coordinate every 10 minutes. Was designed with hiking in mind, but works excellent in airplanes. It also has a 911 & I'm okay buttoon to alert friends or assistance. We use ours on every cross country.

L.Adamson --- RV6A

MNForrest · #5 10-12-2009, 07:43 AM

Terry -

If you don't use it, sell it and the account. There'll be some way to change the settings and make it work 2nd hand.

F1Boss · #6 10-12-2009, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terrykohler

Yesterday I received my credit card statement, which indicated an annual renewal fee for my spot messenger. I called this morning to cancel service (haven't used the unit in at least 8 months) and was told that my new service cycle began 8/1 and was billed on my credit card on 9/1. As SPOT does not allow cancellation/refund 30 days after the cycle date, I was SOL (even if I looked at my statement on a daily basis, I probably wouldn't have caught it in time). I told the service guy this was not reasonable as no alert had been sent to me. His response - Too late for a refund. Read the contract. Just a warning to anyone using this product.
Terry, CFI
RV-9A N323TP

Hey Terry:

Call your credit card company and get the charge removed. They will not argue, and the SPOT folks (or any CC vendor for that matter) will have to make it right with you (quickly) as their card machine account will remain closed till they do. Believe me, with their income shut off, they will be motivated to make you happy!

Good luck!
Mark

pierre smith · #7 10-12-2009, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV8R999

what is a SPOT??

....for detailed information and how to operate the unit.

http://www.findmespot.com

Regards

Ironflight · #8 10-12-2009, 09:15 AM

Hey Terry, I feel your pain - I hate finding out that I've paid for something I didn't intend to....and I have my own questions about SPOT as a tracker (an RV goes a long way in ten minutes!), but do you really think it's fair to slam them when YOU didn't read the fine print on the contract that you signed? There are TONS of companies that use automatic resubscription billing - newspapers, for instance. Of course, you can usually opt out of automatic billing, which is what I do on just about everything, having had nasty surprises in the past.

I'm not slamming you, we all get frustrated with this kind of stuff - just pointing out that if you hadn't been using it for 8 months, you had plenty of time to call them and retract your automatic renewal....

bradrobinson · #9 10-12-2009, 09:53 AM

Hi Terry:

Sounds like you have three options:

1. Dispute it through the credit card company
2. Sell the unit (and prorated service) to someone else
3. Use your Spot

Having coordinated search and rescue efforts for years, I can tell you without reservation having a valid "Last Known Position" is an absolute key to a quick and successful outcome. Without it, a search is largely based on luck. Even a LKP that's ten minutes old is better than none at all. Compared to older ELTs, a 406 ELT are a great step forward in that way, but it's still a passive device and you have to crash to get it to do it job, assuming it survives the crash. Since the Spot is an active system, there's always a breadcrumb left behind, even if the crash consumes everything. I'm still convinced the search for Steve Fossett would have ended much sooner if he had access to a Spot. My wife has actually gotten into the habit of watching me on my longer trips and it gives her a sense of security when she can sees that I've reached my destination.

Personally, I'd recommend you go with option 3. It's really cheap insurance.

Brad

RV10Man · #10 10-12-2009, 01:44 PM

I've never looked into Spot. I don't really go anywhere to speak of, but how much is the annual subscription?

Marshall Alexander