Judge: SiriusXM Made It Too Tough For Customers To Cancel

SiriusXM Radio will have to change its cancellation practices in New York state after a court said it created a burdensome procedure for consumers and subscribers, according to New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The Wall Street Journal reports the ruling issued by Justice Lyle Frank of the New York Supreme Court in New York County said the audio platform part of SiriusXM Holdings violated the federal Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act. Specifically, SiriusXM Radio created hurdles around cancellation that were more complicated than the sign-up process.

“While the court found some technical violations of a federal statute, it did not find that SiriusXM ever deceived anyone or committed any fraud. SiriusXM intends to appeal the court’s ruling as to those technical violations,” said the company.

“My office sued SiriusXM to protect consumers, and as a result of our actions, they will have to simplify their cancellation process to stop taking advantage of New Yorkers,” James said Friday.

James in December sued SiriusXM Radio over its subscription and cancellation practices. An investigation by the attorney general’s office at the time said it found that subscribers were forced to call or chat online with an agent to cancel a subscription, which was then deliberately drawn out as part of a strategy to prevent subscribers from canceling.

Due to the decision, SiriusXM will have to make sure that customers in New York state have a simple way to cancel their subscriptions and are no longer required to speak or work with a live agent to cancel, James said.