Smart Start Reviews

The device was fine, I really didn’t have a whole lot of issues out of it, aside from the first couple of months the screen would shut off, I told them and they swapped it out for a new one. The device gets the star. It’s the customer service that gets zero stars. From the very beginning I noticed it was difficult to get a hold of anyone. They don’t give you a whole lot of information up front, which is stuff you need to know over the course of a year. I went out of the country for a week, of course it was the week my calibration was scheduled. I called them and tried to reschedule it several times, months in advance, kept getting the run around, then they tell me it can only be rescheduled up to five days before the appointment, which I was still already out of town, and told them this.

Biggest scam out there. As soon as you’re about done with the program, your device acts up. They set you to a couple of days before you’re released date so they can charge you more. 4 days from having it out and I get a violation. Thankfully, the shop can get me in right away. They overcharge and their blow devices are old. Intoxalock is the same. I’m praying someone starts a class action suit.

Smart Start is the most disorganized company I have ever seen. My car can't get worked on because the shop can't get the required override code from them. The mechanic called many times this week. Occasionally they actually get a human on the line. Then they get put on hold (3 times for 45 minutes each) then get disconnected. I'm being charged labor hours from the shop for all the time the mechanic has spent on the phone, and my car hasn't even made it into the shop yet to see what's wrong. The mechanic can't work on the car without the necessary code, but when he can't get any phone assistance there's nothing he can do. The Smart Start fees are outrageous and none of the phone "specialists" are any help whatsoever. They have no ability to transfer calls to the correct people, or even to reserve the mechanic's place in line to be called back.

The most horrible experience. If I could give then no star at all - I most definitely would. I have been on hold for over 2 hrs. There are double charges on my bill, and hidden fees. I don’t know how a company can take advantage of people the way this company does. I don’t understand how shareholders get any satisfaction when they get their earnings at the expense of abusing people with fees after fees and after fees. The lady in the credit department was extremely rude.

This company should not be allowed to operate in any capacity. The object of the court is to enforce compliance. The object of this company is to generate as many fees through ambiguity and deceit as humanly possible. ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE!!

They are terrible. Once they hook you in, be prepared to pay twice as much as expected. They are deceitful and only care about the $. Even their installers will tell you how horrible they are.

Smart Start rep refused to provide me an "all in" price for 90 days of monitoring so I could compare to other offers without first signing up with the company. I do not know why they have high Google ratings.

Highly fraudulent in charging fees other than the expected bi weekly payments and calibration Appointments. Harassing auto calls and emails “we want to help keep you compliant”. Blood sucking business practice taking advantage of a mandatory based service.

This is an absolute scam. Nothing they say is accurate. Auto pay never draft right. Somehow you always owe them more and install was $325 not 120. Service charges change monthly.

If you give someone permission to install a device on a car you own, be prepared to have the hassle of your life if you ever want it removed. Your car will literally be “held hostage” if their client doesn’t pay. Try talking, emailing etc. and it’s a circular call tree that they will willingly put you back in or just hang up on you when you do get a live person.