FYI Starlink offering $5/mo emergency service subscription

[Neal]

It's not that much but it's the principal. It's not how it was sold is the problem. It's now a "lease" or subscription at $60/year to just have it and I have two now. It will only get worse, not better, both monthly active use costs and this "pause" mandate. The question is what happens if you cancel a "line" as they call it now, and what is it to reactivate that "line"??? Is that the viable option of what we once called "suspend"??

 

[JBright11]

Well, I bought mine very recently as well, and one of the major selling points was the ability to pause when not travelling. I'll have to admit being quite disappointed with this change.

 

[DennisT]

Got the same email. We bought one due to our plans to travel places where TMobile home probably won’t work. Used it for the first month for verification and paused.

The pause when not using was a great option since we won’t be using that often in the big scheme of things.

Another expense we hadn’t counted on during retirement but there are not a lot of options if it is really needed. Not that $5 a month matters just a change to a service with no other options - not real happy about it either.

 

[Neemer]

I think Starlink’s use of the term “cancel” does not align with mine. Interesting chat bot exchange a few minutes ago.

 

[Neal]

Interesting...thanks for sharing that. Who's gonna test that water??

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

That is their chat bot saying reactivation doesn’t cost additional beyond the actual monthly charge.
Since chatbot/AI is known for hallucinations I am not going to bank on the AI opinion.
Not happy about how EM businesses now have a long history of changing. Stability and integrity is important to me. This change along with the lack of clarity and ability to speak to a real person is not a positive feather in Starlink’s cap.
I submitted a ticket asking for a human to provide clarity on reactivation costs.

 

[Neal]

That is their chat bot saying reactivation doesn’t cost additional beyond the actual monthly charge.
Since chatbot/AI is known for hallucinations I am not going to bank on the AI opinion.
Not happy about how EM businesses now have a long history of changing. Stability and integrity is important to me. This change along with the lack of clarity and ability to speak to a real person is not a positive feather in Starlink’s cap.

Yep, when he had his fallout recently I cancelled my X premium subscription. I subscribed solely to support X and him. I cancelled and when it asked why during the cancel steps I put in "Elon's behavior".

Starlink is a good thing, we don't have choices right now. It's just principal...

 

[DennisT]

Yep, it is the principle.

Although the low speed data would make it easier to keep things updated even when not actually using the system.

Probably not going to test the water myself but will follow the journey of anyone else that does.

 

[JBright11]

I'm likely to just eat the $5 month.
I'll just hook my stuff up at least once a month or so to let it update.
Maybe it will serve as an incentive to get on the road more often and pay the $165/month unlimited......until that changes................

 

[MemoriesByTheMile]

I'm likely to just eat the $5 month.
I'll just hook my stuff up at least once a month or so to let it update.
Maybe it will serve as an incentive to get on the road more often and pay the $165/month unlimited......until that changes................

“Serve as an incentive…”

My bride and I just had this discussion, we need to use this more if we are paying more.

 

[Neemer]

Interesting...thanks for sharing that. Who's gonna test that water??

I’ll dive on that grenade. I use it two months a year max. If it screws me it will go into the dumpster as I exit the park.

 

[Neal]

I opened the SL app to cancel my Gen2. It shows Paused. No clue how to cancel it.

Gen3 shows paused, leaving it alone.

Mini shows active. I went to the area to pause it and I'm only offered the new Suspend option.

So how do you cancel a subscription so I can see the option to reactivate it???

 

[DennisT]

I opened the SL app to cancel my Gen2. It shows Paused. No clue how to cancel it.

Gen3 shows paused, leaving it alone.

Mini shows active. I went to the area to pause it and I'm only offered the new Suspend option.

So how do you cancel a subscription so I can see the option to reactivate it???

According to the email I received, if I don’t do anything by 9/13 it will auto cancel

 

[Neal]

According to the email I received, if I don’t do anything by 9/13 it will auto cancel

I didn’t see an option to change the Gen3 to standby. It’s paused and only option is to reactivate it. I smell a trap. Maybe just let it cancel. Maybe there’s more than one grenade to share @Neemer

 

[DennisT]

I didn’t see an option to change the Gen3 to standby. It’s paused and only option is to reactivate it. I smell a trap. Maybe just let it cancel. Maybe there’s more than one grenade to share @Neemer

Yeah I haven’t clicked the link yet to see what happens. I haven’t the gen3 also.