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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Consumer ALERT - SPOT is a bad company!

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/13/2012 : 07:40:00

Just got an email from SPOT, turns out they charged me for last year because they had my card and I clicked a box.

I guess I have to read the terms and conditions before clicking the box... WTF? Do I need counsel for every ***ing move? Hilariously, I called and asked for the Public/Media Relations department, and the guy on the other end of the line said, "All we are allowed to give out is an email address. Dean.Hirasawa@globalstar.com."

I have an EPIRB, I only used the spot when actively cruising, and even then it didn't always work as advertised... I didn't want to renew it last year because I knew I wasn't going anywhere special. But they hit your card anyway and unless you pour over your bills like a hawk, you won't find it because it doesn't come up as SPOT... Anyone wanna buy mine? Or should I smash it with a hammer and put it on youtube?

One very pissed off VIKING!

PS. It takes years to find a client, and seconds to lose one!

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2012 : 07:46:44

Tell them you want a refund, and dispute the charge with your CC.

That ought to wrench 'em up a bit.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2012 : 08:30:05

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Joe Diver
 Tell them you want a refund, and dispute the charge with your CC.

That ought to wrench 'em up a bit.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It's a year old charge by now... they almost got away with charging me with another year!!!

Aaarrrggghhh!

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3477 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2012 : 08:58:57

I agree with the Youtube idea. Worth your efforts..

I'd love to see more youtube productions of the "Customer Service" experience also... I just went through one with cisco that could have been oscar material..

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2012 : 09:06:29

I had a similar issue w/ Consumer Reports...I believed I was joining for 1 month, and didn't notice until 2 months later that they were billing me monthly...not a huge sum of $$, but still...CAVEAT EMPTOR

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2012 : 10:58:37

It's common for companies to come up with a charge scheme that's small enough that people don't really care, or don't notice, and is hidden by not calling it what it's for. We had one of these show up on our CC bill a couple of years ago. The amount was something like $4.95/mo for something like IT Services. Fortunately Rita is a hawk about stuff like that and queried me on it. I'd never heard of them, and never signed up for anything with them, so I Googled the company, their site set off alarms, so I Googled for the company name & scam and got pages of stuff. Called our CC company & told them about it. New cards issued the same day, charges reimbursed. No idea how they got our card number.

I'm liking the Youtube & hammer idea...

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2012 : 12:02:06

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 Just got an email from SPOT, turns out they charged me for last year because they had my card and I clicked a box.

I guess I have to read the terms and conditions before clicking the box... WTF? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Duh! You do understand that you're pissed at them because you screwed up?

Edited by - John Russell on 08/13/2012 12:02:44

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2012 : 19:12:49

Uh yes I did screw up by not reading the fine print. Nonetheless, in Massachusetts there is a great law. 93a unfair and deceptive trade practices. If you click the I agree box without reading all of it, I guess they are off the hook. But it certainly could be construed as deceptive. How many of you have installed software or whatever and actually read the fine print? Why doesn't my cell phone carrier who has my card number on file NOT charge me automatically when I am late in paying them?

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2012 : 19:24:46

Back to Spot.

We have one, it has worked great for us, though we have never had to use either of the 'Help' buttons.

However, it is costly to have it sit in a draw between trips.

If they could work out a payment plan for turning it on during trips it would be greater.

We did look at the alternative, bit more expensive and the messaging feature quickly makes it's pricing stupid.

So for now we're keeping our Spot Account.

We do get alerts prior to them charging our account for the annual renewal.

Paul

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 08/13/2012 : 20:02:09

I got the alert this time VIA email. Last time I am pretty sure that I did not. Also, when testing it, I discovered that sometimes did not update our position... Dunno...

Edited by - on

hewebb
Admiral

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USA
761 Posts

Response Posted - 08/14/2012 : 03:58:26

I have had this issue in the past with On Star. Now every January I get new debit & credit card with new account numbers. Some companies get really upset when they cannot automatically charge me. As did the satellite radio folks.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4316 Posts

Response Posted - 08/16/2012 : 20:09:05

I vote for smashing it and putting it on youtube with an explanation as to why you're doing it.

Edited by - on

rrick
Captain

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USA
261 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2012 : 07:02:31

I harass Globalstar plenty. I call them on 611 and give my info and ask a question just to have the available voice satellites disappear; they gotta hate that all day long. I just call back on the 800 number on a land line.

Maybe this SPOT customer service has to do with Globalstar, Inc. finally becoming profitable. I still don't get the reception they promised, even after 3 or 4 successful launches of satellite clusters.

I was billed accurately for the 19.99 unlimited plan for 3 months then the bills became 24.99 without notice when some tax got added on. I know their plan has rolled over to the $40 plan, I just hope they haven't added another yearly contract.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 08/17/2012 : 08:08:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by rrick
 I harass Globalstar plenty. I call them on 611 and give my info and ask a question just to have the available voice satellites disappear; they gotta hate that all day long. I just call back on the 800 number on a land line.

Maybe this SPOT customer service has to do with Globalstar, Inc. finally becoming profitable. I still don't get the reception they promised, even after 3 or 4 successful launches of satellite clusters.

I was billed accurately for the 19.99 unlimited plan for 3 months then the bills became 24.99 without notice when some tax got added on. I know their plan has rolled over to the $40 plan, I just hope they haven't added another yearly contract.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Globalstar owns SPOT, which is why my SPOT was eratic and really not worth the money A. for the purchase, and B. for the service fees...

Hammer, here we come! Oh wait! I can be more creative than that! Cheap microwave from Wallyworld set up on the docks, fire extinguishers at hand, and nuke the POS!

sten

Edited by - on

TCurran
Admiral

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USA
588 Posts

Response Posted - 08/18/2012 : 05:37:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
Cheap microwave from Wallyworld set up on the docks, fire extinguishers at hand, and nuke the POS!

sten
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I might even pay (or drive across the state) to see that...

Edited by - on

rrick
Captain

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USA
261 Posts

Response Posted - 08/19/2012 : 13:42:20

SPOT has a GPS antenna in it, right? Microwave oven + microwave antenna...

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2012 : 06:28:18

Might work better then....

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 08/20/2012 : 08:41:18

Might work better then....

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