I do understand some of those pointing out the dealer lack of responsibility, however I feel that given the situation and circumstance there was some negligence. My wife simply asked if the cx5 had remote start from the factory and the young (and I assume new) salesman said "Yes we have a new MMS mobile starting system that costs $xxx.xx installed. You can use your phone to start your car! Should we add this accessory". There was no info or marketing literature (which obviously does list the subscription fee) ever handed to us until a week later after it was installed. It seems likes pretty vital info to mention the subscription fee. I would even take the blame if I had been handed literature about the system the day I purchased and I simply didn't read the info. However that never happened and it was never verbally communicated. If I had said "I want the MMS remote start system" then yes, I agree, that since I initiated the purchase of that accessory it shows a level of research and the salesman could assume I knew about the subscription fee (although he still should communicate that info and probably be trained to do so).
This consumer issue came on top of 2 other ones I've faced this month (the Mazda one if the most benign out of them by far though) so I am admit to already being irritated. Thanks for the feedback, it's good to see a new perspective and I'll keep on trying to come to an agreement somewhere in the middle. It's very unfortunate that it sounds like the MMS system might have a one VIN use. If the dealer could simply remove and use on the next customer than I am sure they'd be willing to work with us more.
Again, I know this is not what you want to hear but legally it is your responsibility to know what you are buying. Full stop. The only way you would have a case is if the sales person said explicitly that there are no other charges but there were. And most likely it would have been nice to have that in writing.
I'm not sure that the dealership was being shady by not explaining that to you. It honestly just sounds like you made a honest mistake while researching this, and missed the part about the monthly fee. The price averages out to about $5.42 per month, which is comparable to other, low data, cellular devices. You can try making a big fuss about it, but you probably won't win.
Based on your original post, it sounds like you are the one who went to the dealership, and asked them to install this. It's not like they tried selling it to you when you purchased. That would be like me buying an iPhone from Apple, then complaining later that they never told me I had to pay a monthly service fee. It's kinda just assumed that you know that already. Don't get me wrong, your frustration is 100% justifiable, and it's a mistake anyone could have made, I just wouldn't place any blame on the dealership.
Or its like being offered TPMS for new wheels and then being told after they are installed that there is a required monthly subscription fee. That would be unacceptable if the customer weren't informed in advance.
That's simply not true dougal, if the dealer misrepresented what they are selling, they are responsible.
How are you defining misrepresentation? The lack of disclosure of a yearly fee at a later date is not misrepresentation.
OP - this is what I would do: customerexperience@mazdausa.com Email reads: I have no more any need for MMS. What are my options? I am being told by dealer once installed even if its removed its effectively a paper weight. I find that hard to believe. I want to remove it and re-sell it at my own risk. How or what I need to do to de-register it from my VIN?