Smart Start
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417 Smart Start Consumer Reviews and Complaints
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Only works a quarter of the time. You can have full bars on app and get error codes and won’t start vehicle. Report problem to company takes two to three days each time you send a report to them then they tell you it looks like everything ok on their end but still won’t start vehicle by phone. Try to start vehicle three to four times a day. If you're lucky might get it to start from phone once. Better to stay with one star for what it cost for the Smart Start and don’t work right.
Update on 01/14/2019: I clearly overpaid them on the date that my device was taken out on December 8th and was told today that I have already received my refund. I advised Mr. Fernando ** that he was mistaken when stating that the $120 credit was all that I was due. I reminded him that he should review my account starting in October and to contact me back. He has emailed me since stating that I will receive a $65.00 credit... I won't be recommending this company to anyone that has to deal with the court systems with DUI charges.
Original: I had to have the device in the car for a year longer when it was installed. The installation was great but whenever it came to remove the device, I had already overpaid the account by $120.00 as there were 2 Violock fees that were paid and should have been returned. Then I was told by corporate that they did not have the requests for repayment since November and when taking out the device I had to pay the $60.00 removal fee and the $70.00 fee as the one credit that was given for the last Violock could not be credited. I've been waiting since December 8th for my credit back for the overpayment since December 20th and have had no response. The email was sent to Fernando ** who claims to be able to credit my account.
I would like to say first and foremost I take complete responsibility for my mistakes (2 DUIs) and actually appreciate the idea and lesson the automotive breathalyzer provides. It legitimately teaches people how to NOT drive drunk. I will also say I did have a few legitimate violations, one was the morning after drinking and one was from letting my car run after jump starting my car, and missing the prompt to test.
I also want to express genuine appreciation to the garage where the unit was installed and is calibrated. They are a caring mom and pop garage who NEVER treat their interlock (breathalyzer) clients any different than their other customers. They listened if I had a problem, and if they were able to provide a solution, always offered it.
On that note, the initial customer service with Smart Start was excellent, again, never treating me like a criminal or as if I had done anything wrong. That was basically where the courtesy ended. I had one time (as mentioned above) that I received a violation because my battery had died and I was allowing the car to run for a bit to charge it after the jump start. I went inside to go to the bathroom, and missed the prompt. Fine. Went next day to get recalibrated, and the garage owner told me to file an incident report and request a refund, since I didn't violate because of drinking.
I filled it out, emailed it, and although the email confirmation says response in 5-7 days, I had to call after 2 weeks, where I was met with ignorance, and the representative informed me my request had not need reviewed, and to email it again. I did so and received a response of no refund. Ok, so I accept that because I made the mistake of leaving the unit w the car on. HOWEVER, in the recent few weeks the unit has been acting up, (taking an extensive amount of time to analyze, asking for immediate retreats etc). Tonight I had gone to work, driven on break, drove home from work (all with more than one prompt for testing, and passing). I stopped home, picked up laundry, and again started car with no problem (note: not eating, drinking, touching or applying anything).
About 5 min later when I pulled into parking lot of laundromat, requested test again. No problem. Used to it after 7 mos. VIOLATION. For no reason. Requested a retest after 1.5 min, which I thought might clear the violation. Nope, I PASSED and still was left violated with a 4 day time limit to have it calibrated. I started my laundry, started car, again with no issue. Also was prompted to blow again before I got home, also no problem. Called customer service, explained what happened, even offering to go to my local police to be tested and documented that I was sober. Was transferred through 5 or 6 people, telling each the story, each telling me they were unable to help me, but "maybe this department/person could"...
Basically all of the representatives/operators telling me it's "not their problem". Finally after customer service, troubleshooting/service dept, credit/collections, and back to customer service, I was told I would not have a choice but to pay to have it calibrated (even though I made it clear that was financially impossible), and to file an incident report, requesting a solution, or if I paid for calibration, a refund. This company has ABSOLUTELY no fail-safe as to how a client could make a case and prove that it was device error, not a mistake or violation on their part. While we ARE advised in the beginning that certain foods or drinks could show up as a false positive, this has NEVER happened, and I eat and drink MANY different things.
I have, in fact violated due to residual alcohol in my system the day AFTER drinking. Again, I take responsibility for my genuine violations. However, receiving a positive reading when I had done nothing to trigger it, and all the while ALL the other tests this evening I PASSED (except for one at the end of the night, where it requested an immediate retest, which I also passed. I feel like this system/company has no availability for an innocent person, who is TRYING to do the right thing and is paying a RIDICULOUS amount for Smart Start's SERVICE to be able to legitimately plead their case in the event the device malfunctions or tests incorrectly.
Basically the client is stonewalled and told they have no choice but to pay for the extra calibrations (even if they are unable), or they receive more violations, vehicle lockout, or worse, additional punishment from the DOT if they violate too many times before removal. I feel as if we are being scammed, stolen from, and being taken advantage of. And we have absolutely no representation to defend us. I intend to continue to call the company and speak to every representative, every supervisor, every technical support person until the very last minute before I receive a lockout. I admit and take the punishment when I do wrong, but if I am innocent, I will fight tooth and nail to prove myself right.
On the same level of slime as payday loan shops, pawn shops and everybody's approved car dealerships...you have Smart Start. Take people who maybe made a mistake in life, have fell on desperate times and bend them over dry while making it seem like you're doing them a favor. I have had absolutely nothing but problems. For somebody who doesn't drink (or consume anything else that sets it off), I sure get a lot of warns and fails. As well as warning messages, random charges...and zero customer service unless you owe them money. Clearly, don't drink and drive. But if you are a person who has already made this mistake and are reading this, my advice to you is this...
You've already adapted for a long period of time without a car...keep acting like you don't have a car for another year. This program will teach you no lessons, it will just be a continuous nightmare in which they profit. Drive the minimum mileage, bring it in on time...get it out and move on. The more you drive, the more problems you'll have...the more it will cost and longer you will have it.
I have had my device for about 3 months. Viololo 71 hrs. every month before my appointment... Blow longer... 5-minute timeout blow longer. 5 minutes... blow longer. Replaced my battery yesterday... still at 11.75 percent. I can't trust this device at all. It said when you have to get up 2 hours early for work and try it and find work. I get the truck started Finally and rolling test and blow... nope blow longer 5 mins. Blow... 5 mins. ** today after my AA. After 10 attempts it put me in Violock71hrs... this is a new one... then it asked for a code... Please help anyone have any answers... I'm about to let the truck sit there until my time is up for it to be taken out. Nothing but issues with this ** thing. This device is ridiculous.
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Updated on 01/14/2019: Vehicle was totaled and sent to a salvage yard, Smart Start has no vendor or mobile vendors to remove the device to transfer to other vehicle. Their option was to tow the vehicle to a vendor for removal and tow back to salvage yard. Costing around $800 for a flatbed hoping that the service station could remove it quickly so I wasn't stuck with the $80/day yard storage fee at the salvage yard since you can't sign over the vehicle title until the intoxilyzer is removed! Spoke with what I presumed was a helpful honest lady named Amanda @ ** who told me that all I would be charged for would be the $50 download fee for the disconnect (since the vehicle lost power) and they have free install now.
So I got the device removed and brought the new vehicle with device in hand to the service station and was told after they finished that it is now $200, $150 for vehicle transfer/install and $50 for the violation for the unit losing power. 2 things to keep in mind, 1 the installer did not have to transfer just install (supposed to be free), and I was told the $50 was for the violation lock for loss of power. Not for the download I was explained. After the service station finished they even tried to resolve it and understood exactly where I was coming from since there is no vendors to remove the device and it supposed to be free install and this was clearly not a transfer since it was nothing for him to remove and reconnect. Anyways I then spoke to a lady named Taylor ** who then basically called me a p.o.s. liar and told me that I was told this price.
Well lo and behold I had my phone on speaker with 2 others listening in when all I was told was the $50 download and free install. I told Taylor to pull up the phone call (I also work for an agency comparable to them, I know their calls are recorded). She says she will look into it and get back to me tomorrow, I told her I would also like an apology after she listens to the phone call and verifies that the info I reiterated is true and I'm not a liar! I gave this company the benefit of the doubt last time and worked to resolve the problem. Now is going to be a little more complicated. This reiterates my original review... This is my fault and I'm a liar?!?! Previous Review: First thing is if anything goes wrong it is 100% your fault! They take no responsibility for faulty equipment or if the installer damages anything. If you ever need customer service and call them they give you the run-around and blame you. They never respond to emails.
Original review: First thing is if anything goes wrong it is 100% your fault! They take no responsibility for faulty equipment or if the installer damages anything. If you ever need customer service and call them they give you the run-around and blame you. They never respond to emails. My state (WI) allows me 1/2 priced interlock pricing and the company won't honor the court order.
The device wouldn't operate properly. Got stop light, initializing, then Smart Start on the screen. No opportunity to blow. IE No opportunity to start my car. They said it was my battery. I replaced the battery with a brand new one. Same exact thing happened. They said I needed to have my car towed in, wasting time and money. Couldn't make it to work for a meeting, or to plans that night, or the next day since they were closed. I very well may lose my job due to not being able to make it to work. If I had known ahead of time the device would malfunction I would have Ubered, but it was too late to get a ride.
To begin with if I could vote no stars I would! I highly recommend not going with this company, from the beginning nothing but problems and I didn’t even get the device installed. Was charged for the device that later couldn’t get installed. Tried getting a refund only to be transferred 3 times and put on hold for 30 minutes until I could finally get to talk to someone who could “help” me get my money back. Customer service agents don’t know much about their own product nor do they have viable information whether or not there’s an upcharge for a vehicle even though they ask if it’s push start or key start. DO NOT USE SMART START.
I spoke to two people on the phone insisting I had to pay for a lockout code in the instance of my car being in the repair shop while the due date passed. The lockout fee is 50 dollars. This seems a bit like robbery to me. Customer service reps don’t seem keen on servicing customers in the slightest; very unhelpful. I understand a business is to be run, but this is another level of petty. I wish I had read these reviews before choosing this company to be in control of my vehicle.
Smart Start devices never work and every time I go in for a 10 minute calibration, it ends up being a 1-2 hour er ice because the device ends up defaulting and the shop guys have to go through dozens of devices before it works properly. Smart Start Canada's a ** company made up of ** products. They need to shut down production immediately and start again.
Most times you have to blow and oh yes hum like 15 times before it will analyze. If it does at all. I just got a lockout message in 4 days cause I missed the countdown even though I blew and hummed 15 times. These systems are a joke and dangerous and the state legislatures who passed this junk should be booted out of office. Oh I forgot they don't have a clue what's in the legislation they passed.
I never wrote a review in my life ever. This time, I can't just skip it. I live in East Coastal NC, my county just has declared to evacuate immediately due to hurricane cat 5. I have an appointment on Friday which is the day after an expected day (Thursday) of hurricane hits. Her name was Sandra as far as I remember who assisted my call, she told me that they don't know whether they open or not. I asked her that if they close, do you guys send a notification to customers so we can reschedule? She said, "I don't know, do you think I know?"
What on earth people hire that person as a customer service representative. She kept repeating me 'Do you think I know?' more than 3 times. She wanted to argue with me or piss me off on purpose. I asked her that "what do you mean, it's customer service, are you trying to argue with me?" She said, "No, because I don't know." Even though you don't know what the company handles for this hurricane issue, you shouldn't have said, "Do you think I know?" with that looking me down voice tone like you are starving to fight with somebody who seems easy to attack. She was so rude, not helpful at all. I don't have any issue with the product but customer service. Jesus Christ!
The device broke during calibration. Left me stranded on the side of the highway outside of cell service. They wanted me to pay to have the new device registered to my account. Something about a violation. So... I don't have the money. They charged me for a missed appointment. Which I didn't. Now they are saying when the timer is up I will need to get an unlock code at the cost of $90. So that is $90 for a unlock code $60+ for the violation and the $30+ for the missed appointment. Wow! I just paid $120 for the calibration. Now to no fault of my own I need to find an extra $200. Like what the...
Hello I am a client. I have had many issues regarding refunds, false readings and Equipment malfunctions with Smart Start. Just the simple blow and hum is utterly ridiculous and difficult for most of us. It is also unsafe I might add when you have to write on the freeway or make a turn and it continuously beeps because you have your air conditioner on!
However this is not the reason for this review. There's been one bright spot in this whole experience for me and the technician at the 25 Road location Grand Junction Colorado. His demeanor is stellar. He's always patient and I'm sure it's a very difficult position to work in. I always feel better leaving than when I arrived. He should be commended and also get a raise. I've seen aggravated client and I witnessed firsthand his patience and professionalism. I really appreciate it in a world gone crazy with rudeness. He always explains everything calmly and does the best you can to go to the extra mile for me. He's a really good guy.
I've had an Interlock in my car now for two years and have two years to go until removal, and over the time that I have had the device for I have had a lot of false readings that the Interlock is registered. I have found out by experience that if you smoke and I do, that if you don't blow all the smoke out of your lungs before test it can register as high as .006 and of course that's a reading to the judge that you have to go before to ask for your Interlock to be removed! Not only smoke tho as I also found out that the energy drinks V, can register quite higher than .006 if you are drinking one in the car and the device asks for a test, in fact I've had as high as .011 and not just on the odd occasion quite constantly also, so as far to my knowledge no other interlock device has been so sensitive.
There are more foods and drinks that would do the same thing as cigarettes and energy drinks such as cheese and bacon rolls and tomato sauce, so I guess I am not the only one? And when is the company going to do something about this? Hopefully a full class action goes ahead and with all the money that they make they could correct the issue and for once give an honest and true reading of .000.
I completed 2 year IID program. When first installed I needed a new battery because of my IID. I got a few violations the first 6 months then I mastered it. Paid $150 for Cal. every month. If I played my bass in stereo too loud it'd say tamper abort. Otherwise, I really had no issues. I could blow into it successfully very easily, I did it driving like nothing. I went on road trips with it. I would detach it almost every day and put it in a safe spot in my room. Especially if it was really HOT or COLD. I've accidentally left it in both super hot and freezing temps (very dumb) it was VERY slow to load, but no defects at all or false violations.
Remember almost everything is your fault when it comes to damage, violations, lockouts, car accidents! I've heard of devices failing from being left in hot, cold temps or water damage. Don't use mouthwash with alcohol before you even think about blowing or you're dumb. Don't drink at night and then blow in your device the next morning, ever. Don't think "oh it's been long enough". I seriously am a Smart Start master and this was cake for me after awhile. The worst part was avoiding having people in my car. I have a decent car I worked hard for.
I couldn't have friends, co workers, girls, or anyone in my car without being embarrassed and sometimes judged. I have more excuses why I can't give you a ride or use my car to go out than anything. It's over. I will never drink and drive ever again! It's called UBER. I'd rather pay $5k-$10k for an UBER than get another DWI. It ruined my life and finances and mental stability for a while. All the court dates, lawyers, fines/fees, classes, stress lectures, IID, dealing with RMV and the billion other crappy things DWI/DUI brings. I'm done. Bye Smart Start. I will never see you again. I can promise that.
I only needed Smart Start for two months after having QuickStart for ten. QuickStart was even worse but I digress. First of all, the Smart Start unit is outdated and archaic. The thing that says, "Blow Me" looks and feels like it's from 1972. However, I had no trouble using the device other than it required a longer and longer blow time. It was still an easier blow that QuickStart! My biggest issue was being told I would need to buy a prepaid Visa to make a payment. I didn't have my actual ATM card on me but I know the number. So I buy the card and make the payment. They tell me it's declined.
I ask the guy (different person) if I can just give him my real ATM number (not the prepaid), and he says yes. So I make the payment and it goes right through on my actual bank account. Next day, I just happen to check the balance on the prepaid card since they told me it was declined and wouldn't you know, it's missing $75. I call Smart Start and tell them and immediately I'm treated like a convict (which I'm not aside from DUI). They tell me that I need to provide them with a bank statement. I tell them I don't have a statement because it's a brand new prepaid card. They say oh well they can't do anything about it. I hope they all burn.
I have had massive problems since inception. With paying 50.00 extra $ when a violation isn't even your fault. Then they make one up the n.m so you don't get reimbursed. To cal. dates if it's in the days of that month you should be able to do it when you have many. I have to pawn something in the middle of the month just to pay and cost 50$ more. Government cash cow. They care about $ not saving lives.
I have multiple video of me blowing normal and it constantly saying abort pump, tampered device, violation lockout... I have had the device for one month and now need the 3rd service done on it too in which the device is at fault for malfunctioning. It has told me to blow, and then no beep buzzing or anything. Completely dead. I thought it was the first car I had it in, and it was a standard car, I almost ran an old couple over trying to pull over to blow... I had it removed placed in an automatic and had have nothing but issues. The 1/3 was because I forgot about the mouthwash I had used. I have paid 300$ already the first month having it, installed reinstalled, lockouts. I’m contacting the BBB and state. This make me want to give up already. I am so frustrated and I cannot get any of my necessary livelihood things done because the device isn’t working properly EVER.
I had to have this in my car for 6 months on first DUI. I only got stuck with it because I blew very high. I got my DUI on 3/20/2015, now over 3 years later I finally am done with all the DUI stuff. I got a total of 6 violations during the 6 months, only one was actually valid, because I could not repeat a rolling retest after the device fell under the passenger seat. The rolling retest is a horrible thing if you have a manual transmission. To make a long story short I paid an extra $240 for violations that happened at random and never even got any reason why they happened along with the fact they were never reported to the state. Pain in the butt. Will not give me extra monies I paid back.
Had the IID installed 3 months ago. After a while I needed a new battery. Unrelated to the IID. So I had a new one put in. Had to jump thru phone hoops to get a restart code. Then had my monthly real done. A few days later the clip at the unit broke off. Had new cord installed. The device started acting different. Needed longer blow time. Now it is not working at all. The instant I start blowing as directed it immediately alarms and says blow longer. Cannot contact the local tech. They never answer. My car is now sitting disabled in a mall parking lot overnight. Thank God I wasn't out of town since I do travel a lot. Tomorrow should be interesting... Whenever the installer sees fit to respond to my multiple texts... So far, not at all happy with the device or service.
Most people won't take the time to review a good experience, A lot of the negative reviews seem to be from individuals directing anger over their situation towards this company. I was given some flexibility in scheduling appointments for calibration. The unit displays your appointment date as a reminder. If you get a lockout for missing an appointment you shouldn't blame the company. This device allows you drive, satisfy the court/state and ensures you don't continue to drink and drive. This company was great to deal with and the product worked flawlessly. Great customer support. No false positives and no damage to my car.
With any interlock, it is important to have a good battery, good alternator and good battery connections. This device is accurate and alcohol specific. I work with solvents that contain alcohol and having it on my hands and clothes never caused a positive, food and non-alcoholic drink never caused a positive (though they tell you to drink water before use). I only blew positive once and that's because I drank heavily the night before and still had the equivalent of 1.5 drinks in my system. I had one issue where my battery voltage was low and the unit registered a circumvention, I was able to call customer service and get it easily resolved. I was always treated respectfully by every member of their staff. I had this in my car for 9 months.
So once you finally get nailed for drinking and driving. Yes I'm guilty never argued it also never hit or killed anyone or anything. Now after being ** over by a lawyer... drug threw the courts for a year then applying for a blow box that is mandatory. Wait another month for them to decide if I can have something that is mandatory. At what point? Get treated like dirt through registry, my insurance company that I'm going to cancel then court **. Now I have to deal with Smart Start idiots... it's only been 3 days so far now I need to pay for a new battery clamp they broke and I'm not allowed to disconnect power or pay more. I put the trickle charger on it until Monday then I will drive it in and have their BS removed. Not allowed to fix your own vehicle relay. Not much for options in Canada just Smart Start.
So if you need work done on your vehicle you get to pay a mechanic to sit on hold all day? Seems funny the breathalyzer the cops had worked fine but this cheap junk doesn't. ** them. I'm pulling it out brew my own beer or shine. Had enough of your scams stupid Canadian government. Managed to quit drinking for a year now this ** I can't afford to drink or drive and ** you intact insurance. Worst program ever for MADD Canada. How about go after car thieves that kill people! Maybe leave people working for a living alone. Now I'm sober and mad as all get out.
Machine locks you out every month for no reason. Then you have to pay 60 bucks towing and 50 bucks to have code put in. Talked to manager and they said they will not give your money back. They said even though you don't drink the machine can violate you and lock you out. Not their problem. This has happened every month to me. Blow in. Machine trucks starts, blew in machine few minutes later. Truck violate wait for countdown. 2 mins truck starts. Drive it for rest of day. Went to Start truck week later lock out. HMMMM. How can it pass you two mins later fail you 2 mins later pass you. Then locks you out. It's a way for them to get free money. This machine is to cost 100 per month. It's costing me 250 per month. I would not put a Smart Start in your car. Find a different company. SMART START IS A RIP OFF COMPANY.
Their equipment is junk and the customer service is horrible. The unit in my car has been malfunctioning several times. Never got any help calling them. Ended up paying for taxi ride few times to work and for towing out of my own pocket. Stay away if you can!
I got the machine installed in Feb 17. It does screw up. They do not tell you why but charge you more monies. It recalibrate it. If you need their help... They hook it to my horn. Now my horn don't work... They said my problem. When I got it removed they didn't send the results to MO. State. ALMOST GOT ME SUSPENDED AGAIN BY THEIR LACK OF DUTY TO SEND REPORT. On a scale of 1-10, a 3. Good luck. IT'S A CONTROLLED SCAM.
Any time anything to do with this machine is your fault. Or the vehicle you drive. I have had this machine for 7 months. Only suppose to have it for 6. Live in Texas South and the machine still has to warm up. 6 months at 75 a month is 450. I have paid them 1200 and still don't have it off yet. Someone is getting filthy freaking rich quick. They need to do something about where is the money going. Not only Smart Start but all the IID companies. RIP OFF. For sure. I honestly can say if I knew it was going to bring me down like this. I would of took 6 months in Jail. Just being honest. Because these companies sure are NOT.
I only had it for a few months. I don't mind having it. It has been giving me problems. If I let my car set for two or three days or if it's too cold. I plug it in and either it tells me I'm inhaling or blow harder or softer. I had to take it back three times in one month and the month is not over yet. This is a money thing. If no alcohol is present why can't they give you a code to release it, instead of having to take it back to be service. It cost every time you take it back even if it was not your fault. I think something should be done about this. It has to be a law out there about this. Money! Money! That's what it's about.
Automotive instincts Crest Hill - I’ve read all these horror stories and had a malfunction yesterday and freaked out. My machine said abort tamper. Screen flickering in and out. Not accepting my blows and gave me a lockout. Took it in this morning and replaced my defective unit and no charge! Thank you for the positive experience!
First of all it's a machine where your time life depends on it. I took mine in for troubleshooting. After testing it would turn off and make you take it again. Also made a short on my electrical. Still have the same problems. All I get is attitude from the guy. Right now it's on lock cause I lost my job call and told they didn't care. They said just to paid fast cause it accumulates. Last week I had my kids. They're allergic. I walk to the pharmacy to buy medicine. Complain all night. Then all of sudden my big one get gangrene in a finger. I could take him to a hospital cause damn truck is lock. I could call ambulance cause I have no money to a pay a 2000 dollar trip.
So the next day my daughter stop by and took my kids to my ex. She took them to the hospital end it up cutting my kid's finger to let everything out. So it left me thinking what if I live in a house with a garage or stuck in a gas station that catches fire or come across a arm robbery and that the only vehicle your family depends on so by the time you start the damn car you're dead. I'm sorry to say this but alcoholics that dont want to see the light are going to find a way to continue drinking and driving vehicles that are not theirs. Now I'm stuck at home or catching the bus or rides to put applications or interviews and people get fed up cause of me taking their time. Like I said faulty machines as well depends on it you being free. Cause supposedly didnt blow cause damn machine never beep when it was suppose to.
Smart Start Company Information
- Company Name:
- Smart Start
- Website:
- www.smartstartinc.com