I bought my Element used back in February. I noted it had the XM button on the radio but never pressed it because I figured, "Hey, I'd need the antenna and subscription to receive so it won't do anything anyway." About a month ago I accidentally hit that button and, lo-and-behold, I was getting programming. Been doing so ever since and I'm honestly wondering how this is possible? How long are normal XM contracts good for (maybe I'm just on the remainder of the previous owner's contract)?

I bought my Element used back in February. I noted it had the XM button on the radio but never pressed it because I figured, "Hey, I'd need the antenna and subscription to receive so it won't do anything anyway." About a month ago I accidentally hit that button and, lo-and-behold, I was getting programming. Been doing so ever since and I'm honestly wondering how this is possible? How long are normal XM contracts good for (maybe I'm just on the remainder of the previous owner's contract)?

Subscriptions cab go from a month to as long as 3 yrs....depending on how long the prvious owner prepaid for.

About a year ago, maybe longer, XM upgraded / changed their subscription database.

At the same time, I tried to move radios (consolidating accounts) and swap out a radio that had broken (so I replaced it).

The debacle that ensued was horrific. I mean utterly unbelievable. The kept billing me for radios I no longer wanted, I sent them checks but they applied it to the wrong account, and couldn't move it.

At one point they sent me a bill that stated that I had a credit, but that my service would be terminated if I didn't pay in full immediately.

Out of all of this, I either have a radio that somehow I may have paid for a really long time, or is in the same state as your radio. I have no idea.

Consider yourself lucky & enjoy it while it lasts. I remember the good ol' days when Cable TV didn't have any commercials (that's why it was extra).

See Ya!

--K