A telematics service subscriber is a vehicle owner (the term “owner” also includes users) with a telematics unit installed in his or her vehicle. An active telematics service subscription allows the vehicle owner to utilize telematics services from a telematics service provider through the telematics unit. Many times, a vehicle owner's subscription lapses, and the vehicle owner's telematics unit is consequently desubscribed from the telematics service provider system. After desubscription, the desubscribed telematics unit and the vehicle owner do not receive any further services from the telematics service provider.
However, it is sometimes desirable to restore connectivity to a desubscribed user. For example, it may be that the desubscription occurred in error, or was responsive to a condition, such as nonpayment or other issue, that has since been resolved. At any rate, when it becomes necessary or desirable to restore such connectivity, the inventors have observed that present systems do not allow seamless and efficient restoration.