Starlink Mini Standby Reactivation Delayed Until Billing Cycle

[Heli_av8tor]

We started a trip from Illinois to the southeast on the 9th. I logged in to my StarLink account to take my mini off of Standby only to learn that the change won’t become effective until my next billing cycle (the 13th). They no longer make the change immediate and prorate the charge. To add insult, the system detects motion and shuts off even the low data mode of standby making it totally useless.
I been spun in circles by their chat bot and by a live “Customer Service” human. The best I could get was a support ticket generated and a promise of a call back.
Thankfully I still have Mobley lol.

 

[NY_Dutch]

We started a trip from Illinois to the southeast on the 9th. I logged in to my StarLink account to take my mini off of Standby only to learn that the change won’t become effective until my next billing cycle (the 13th). They no longer make the change immediate and prorate the charge. To add insult, the system detects motion and shuts off even the low data mode of standby making it totally useless.
I been spun in circles by their chat bot and by a live “Customer Service” human. The best I could get was a support ticket generated and a promise of a call back.
Thankfully I still have Mobley lol.

I took my Mini off standby a couple of weeks ago, and back on standby a week later. With both changes, there was a choice of the next billing cycle or immediately, with next cycle the default.

 

[NY_Dutch]

 

[Domo]

... Sadly, our expectations often mask the reality of the contract we end up signing. Happens to us all waaaaay too often.

 

[murphysranch]

After an 18 day trip, I went to put my mini on standby. It would not do it, else it would charge me an exorbitant amount. GRRRRRR

 

[DonTom]

We started a trip from Illinois to the southeast on the 9th. I logged in to my StarLink account to take my mini off of Standby only to learn that the change won’t become effective until my next billing cycle (the 13th). They no longer make the change immediate and prorate the charge. To add insult, the system detects motion and shuts off even the low data mode of standby making it totally useless.
I been spun in circles by their chat bot and by a live “Customer Service” human. The best I could get was a support ticket generated and a promise of a call back.
Thankfully I still have Mobley lol.

After I read that, I am glad I have been keeping mine activated even when not in use.

I cannot explain why, but I somehow didn't trust the deactivation, so I left it activated on the cheap $50.00 per month plan.

I canceled my in-Reach, since I no longer had a use for it with the SL mini and had to pay every month even when not using the inReach. So not much difference in monthly pay with my StarLink always kept activated, which is still a much better deal. The 50 buck plan works well for me because I use my Version Hotspot until I am in an area with no cell service.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Heli_av8tor]

NY_Dutch, if that option was there I certainly missed it.
StarLink’s Chat bot and Live person (as far as I could tell) told me it wasn’t possible to switch before my billing cycle.
Oh well, tomorrow is the 13th.

 

[NY_Dutch]

NY_Dutch, if that option was there I certainly missed it.
StarLink’s Chat bot and Live person (as far as I could tell) told me it wasn’t possible to switch before my billing cycle.
Oh well, tomorrow is the 13th.

I don't know why it would be different for you than for me, but it is Starlink/SpaceX, so who knows. I made the screen shots by starting the process to reactivate my Mini, and then canceling before taking the next step. That's the same screen I saw when I did make the changes though.

 

[Heli_av8tor]

Well, it’s likely then that I missed it. But why couldn’t customer support tell me that or fix it for me.

 

[NY_Dutch]

Well, it’s likely then that I missed it. But why couldn’t customer support tell me that or fix it for me.

It probably wasn't on their script.

 

[Lou Schneider]

After an 18 day trip, I went to put my mini on standby. It would not do it, else it would charge me an exorbitant amount. GRRRRRR

You could always switch to that other satellite provider ... oh, wait.

 

[MN Blue Skies aka Max]

Good info and we'll have to plan according as we ease back into RVing. We discovered early on that customer service for Starlink is ... ( insert your opinion} We think it's none existent.

 

[NY_Dutch]

Good info and we'll have to plan according as we ease back into RVing. We discovered early on that customer service for Starlink is ... ( insert your opinion} We think it's none existent.

I've never needed Starlink's CS or TS, so I can't comment on it.

 

[Heli_av8tor]

Well, today is the 13th, the activation date for my mode change. So I checked and find that I’m still in Standby.
I followed up with their A.I. Chat that the 13th starts at 8 pm EDT.
I asked if I could have chosen an Immediate change of plans and the Chat said yes, and I could still change it, maybe. I tried that the other day and though it looked like it would change the final step to complete wouldn’t work. Makes me wonder if it actually would have worked if the I’d chosen the “Now” option shown by Dutch.
I gave up after the chat computer told me that it was truly sorry for my frustration. Imagine that, a computer feeling emphathy.

 

[SargeW]

What plan were you on when you first activated the pause?

 

[NY_Dutch]

Well, today is the 13th, the activation date for my mode change. So I checked and find that I’m still in Standby.
I followed up with their A.I. Chat that the 13th starts at 8 pm EDT.
I asked if I could have chosen an Immediate change of plans and the Chat said yes, and I could still change it, maybe. I tried that the other day and though it looked like it would change the final step to complete wouldn’t work. Makes me wonder if it actually would have worked if the I’d chosen the “Now” option shown by Dutch.
I gave up after the chat computer told me that it was truly sorry for my frustration. Imagine that, a computer feeling emphathy.

The "Now" option worked ok for me in both directions. I made the first change the day before getting to our rental cabin, and the change was showing on my account when we got there.

 

[Heli_av8tor]

If I remember correctly it was a 50 gig plan with automatic blocks of data as needed.

 

[Jayhawk 29]

Starlink is as close to an automated system and close to being fool proof as any product sold on the open market. While many have grown so frustrated with call center operators in the product rep business, Starlink's computer Q&A center has been the most satisfying service , sometimes better than talking to a service rep in person at most phone or internet stores.

 

[garyb1st]

We've been charged prorate when turning StarLink on mid-month. However when turning it off, we're charged for the entire month regardless of the day it's turned off. So we watch it closely and use our Verizon MiFi or phones when it's turned off. Sounds like a change of program. I understand the need. He lost $300 million a few days after becoming a Trillionaire.

 

[SargeW]

Just curious, I had my account paused for about 9 months for a while. When I finally went to activate it my original plan was a residential plan that I could take with me and reactivate for $25. I was shocked to learn that didn't exist any more. That was before the "roaming" plans were introduced.