OnStar ignores elderly mans request for emergency assistance because he's not a subscriber. - Polidicks

Ugh fuck OnStar indeed. BestBuy got some deal going with them to install aftermarket OnStar mirrors, which were essentially just a telematics gateway, allowing the basic OnStar services, but not vehicle specific ones like operating the doorlocks, reporting a check engine light code, etc. Stupidest thing ever, I absolutely hated installing them and dealing with their service. When you press the button it's basically just a phonecall. I was put on hold once when I pressed the button even! That's good if you're flipped over in a ditch. The subscription that includes verbal turn-by-turn directions if I remember right was $27 a *month*. Holy shit. Even without turn-by-turn it was $17 or so. So here's the condundrum. OnStar is great for elderly who want to have it 'just incase.' However, elderly are on a fixed income and generally don't have a ton of extra money laying around. $17 seems kind of steep for something you essentially hope to never use. Hell, the insurance on my car costs LESS than a turn-bu-turn package from them monthly. Absolutely ludicrous pricing unless you're upper-middle class or above.

[QUOTE=sgman91;49395713]Right, you seem to be arguing that less choice is better if it makes everyone equal in not having the choice.[/QUOTE] The choice should be there to have the system to be installed in the vehicle, not to have the lack of choice in it being pre-installed.

[QUOTE=LordCrypto;49394721]onstar does, not the driver reading comprehension really is gone [editline]26th December 2015[/editline] they just call 911, giving the regular info you'd give but not a "here's where the car is down to 3 feet" [editline]26th December 2015[/editline] nice ninja edit fact of the matter: onstar (as an overall entity) isn't at fault. if you don't subscribe to the service and the legality of onstar being able to locate you, they can't just activate it whenever the fuck they want the operator possibly failing to call 911 and just say "hi there's a person lost here" is a fault of the individual person, not onstar as an organization[/QUOTE] from a legal perspective that's not how this works, crypto if the operator didn't contact the authorities, a legal case can be made that the reason they did not do so was because they were not properly trained to do so, thus bringing onstar into direct liability regardless of that fact, an individual operator is a component of that business and by extension that business is liable

[QUOTE=BrickInHead;49399414]from a legal perspective that's not how this works, crypto if the operator didn't contact the authorities, a legal case can be made that the reason they did not do so was because they were not properly trained to do so, thus bringing onstar into direct liability regardless of that fact, an individual operator is a component of that business and by extension that business is liable[/QUOTE] this was a call from a deactivated car which means only the advisor button works (no emergency button or anything else) so no, the operator wasn't properly trained for an emergency call because his job is to handle your renewal of the onstar service and take your credit card and isn't even allowed to touch anything else in the onstar program or know how for that matter, like i said he may have been able to transfer the call but i can't even transfer calls from my department so who knows, the extent of my power and alot of advisors power is honking your horn, flashing your lights or unlocking the car for you.

fuck even all the android phones can call 9/11 without having any type of subscription.

[QUOTE=Megadave;49399788]fuck even all the android phones can call 9/11 without having any type of subscription.[/QUOTE] All phones can, Android or not.

I can't wait till the tech giants like Apple, Google, and Samsung start getting into the auto industry (like actually being able to buy consumer versions it's rumored that it's being worked on) and completely fuck over these big corporations where they'll actually have to compete. It will be a whole new world going from so called smart infotainment systems to actually fucking smart cars. The auto industry really needs more competition and innovation. Also no pay walls for safety/security features.

[QUOTE=BrickInHead;49399414]from a legal perspective that's not how this works, crypto if the operator didn't contact the authorities, a legal case can be made that the reason they did not do so was because they were not properly trained to do so, thus bringing onstar into direct liability regardless of that fact, an individual operator is a component of that business and by extension that business is liable[/QUOTE] Except Crypto is right. OnStar is not criminally liable for anything. They have no duty to provide services to a non-subscriber since they're a third party service. Unless theres some precedent set somewhere that OnStar has a legal duty to call 911 to nonsubcribers, they are in the clear. Could get sued in civil court.

[QUOTE=gufu;49398085]The choice should be there to have the system to be installed in the vehicle, not to have the lack of choice in it being pre-installed.[/QUOTE] Why? There's no difference to the person who doesn't subscribe beyond a couple small buttons that don't do anything. I get that you personally would like it that way, but how is it more than that?

[QUOTE=Megadave;49399788]fuck even all the android phones can call 9/11 without having any type of subscription.[/QUOTE] theres a built in phone with its own phone number subscribers can use but you need minutes like a prepaid cellphone to use it not sure if you can dial 911 without minutes on the account which seems pretty crazy tbh

[QUOTE=Code3Response;49400318]Except Crypto is right. OnStar is not criminally liable for anything. They have no duty to provide services to a non-subscriber since they're a third party service. Unless theres some precedent set somewhere that OnStar has a legal duty to call 911 to nonsubcribers, they are in the clear. Could get sued in civil court.[/QUOTE] i think there's an obvious moral impetus here that says onstar should have done something in the same manner that if someone calls your company (thought experiment, obviously not really possible if you're calling 911 or 999) when looking for help, you should probably pass them on to the police

[QUOTE=sgman91;49400925]Why? There's no difference to the person who doesn't subscribe beyond a couple small buttons that don't do anything. I get that you personally would like it that way, but how is it more than that?[/QUOTE] to be fair there's a bunch of really useful features, stolen vehicle assistance is awesome because if you report your car stolen to the police it can be automatically slowed down and prevented from being restarted

[QUOTE=Arc Nova;49400928]theres a built in phone with its own phone number subscribers can use but you need minutes like a prepaid cellphone to use it not sure if you can dial 911 without minutes on the account which seems pretty crazy tbh[/QUOTE] Pretty sure phones are required by law to always allow 911 calls, even with no sim or contract. [editline]27th December 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Cloak Raider;49401082]i think there's an obvious moral impetus here that says onstar should have done something in the same manner that if someone calls your company (thought experiment, obviously not really possible if you're calling 911 or 999) when looking for help, you should probably pass them on to the police[/QUOTE] The problem is that a guy was lost. This is not an extreme emergency. If he was in an accident OnStar has an obligation. Getting yourself lost in the boonies is not. That's why the service exists. Surely if he gets an exception, everybody with a minor problem on the road gets an exception. Then the company makes no money because they can't charge anyone for their service. Then they fold because nobody buys their service because they have a "moral obligation" to help everyone who calls. Then nobody gets the service.

[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;49401617]Pretty sure phones are required by law to always allow 911 calls, even with no sim or contract. [/QUOTE] Yeah I'm just wondering how it works because if they could just call 911 themselves what are they paying for

[QUOTE=Arc Nova;49401668]Yeah I'm just wondering how it works because if they could just call 911 themselves what are they paying for[/QUOTE] I think they're there for non-emergency situations. Like getting lost in the boonies, or having a flat tire. You don't call the cops when you get your ass lost.

[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;49401687]I think they're there for non-emergency situations. Like getting lost in the boonies, or having a flat tire. You don't call the cops when you get your ass lost.[/QUOTE] yeah but if they could use the phone to dial 911 without having a subscription/trial or paying for minutes then whats the point of paying for onstar right

[QUOTE=Arc Nova;49401794]yeah but if they could use the phone to dial 911 without having a subscription/trial or paying for minutes then whats the point of paying for onstar right[/QUOTE] To help you with non-emergency situations that the cops, ambulance, and fire department shouldn't help with, like tire changes and directions. Pretty sure I already said this. You can call 911 on any phone, but not AAA.

[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;49401840]To help you with non-emergency situations that the cops, ambulance, and fire department shouldn't help with, like tire changes and directions. Pretty sure I already said this. You can call 911 on any phone, but not AAA.[/QUOTE] onstar is an emergency and safety service all the other features are pretty much gravy and only avaliable on select plans

[QUOTE=Cloak Raider;49401082]i think there's an obvious moral impetus here that says onstar should have done something in the same manner that if someone calls your company (thought experiment, obviously not really possible if you're calling 911 or 999) when looking for help, you should probably pass them on to the police[/QUOTE] If you're here to argue morals then America is not the place for you. Companies dont give a fuck about morals. They care about a few things: Not breaking the law, breaking the law and not getting caught, and the bottom line.

[QUOTE=Code3Response;49402460]If you're here to argue morals then America is not the place for you. Companies dont give a fuck about morals. They care about a few things: Not breaking the law, breaking the law and not getting caught, and the bottom line.[/QUOTE] what about making the law?

[QUOTE=zakedodead;49402482]what about making the law?[/QUOTE] oh right that too: Buying politicians to protect their interests