The "New" GM Scores Another Win

When I bought my 2009 HHR SS, I made sure the dealer did not activate the complimentary subscription.

I got the standard fear mongering letters for a couple months before I decided on a more permanent solution.... there was a nice big fuse marked "ON STAR"... problem solved, box has no power it can't do anything.

Luckily on that particular car, I didn't lose any functionality that I cared about... the OnStar box provided Bluetooth for the phone and XM radio, neither features that I cared about.

Shortly after I pulled the fuse, I received one more letter from GM that stating that my vehicle had stopping checking in to the OnStar system, and I should have it serviced immediately." :ughlaugh:

I can understand why people may want this service, but I don't understand why it has to mandatory. Well... I do understand... think of the value of the data.

All, for the record On Star has reverse its policy on this matter. Now a customer has to opt in to have it continue to monitor.



But would you really trust them?

Good that they reversed their policy, Bad and sad that someone high up thought it was good idea in the first place.

They absolutely had to know that there would be a huge backlash if this information got out, which is exactly what happened.

My guess is that they fully knew the risks and decided to chance it anyway, hoping to cash in on selling the collected data before the chickens came home to roost.

A black eye on an otherwise good system for those like it. If you guys buy a car with Onstar, it is very easy to disable it without affecting anything else on the car. The new systems have a battery back up built in, so if you just unplug it, you'll have to wait a few hours/days/not sure for the backup battery to run out.
You guys are probably a little more paranoid than you need to though. Like a lot of "tracking," Onstar claims their data collection gets anonymously combined into statistical research to better help future products and services. It kinda like giving the cashier at Best Buy your zip code. Anonymous research. That is...if you trust Onstar is actually doing what they say they are.

I never give my real zip code or phone number to cashiers

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Originally Posted by Zinergy

I never give my real zip code or phone number to cashiers

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Ha ha! Me too. Even back when I used checks, I kept my phone number off of them. The cashiers would always ask for it and I'd tell them, 'if I wanted to give it to you, it'd be on my check. So no' :)