Smart Start

Started off with a coupon for free installation and 25$ off. Took it to the installer and he says, "mail it in with the contract". SO I do. They claim they never got the contract. So two months later, I have to fill out another contract, and I tell the install tech "here's another copy of the coupon". He says, "mail it in again". This time I make another copy and mail it in. They "never got it" again. Then they say "Oh that's our Texas address, they never forward us contracts, send it to our michigan (unpublished) addresss. So I send the contract without the coupon and call the MI line and they say, bring it back into the tech and they will take it.

Avoid this company at all costs if possible! I have had nothing but problems for 3 years with my device. I have gone thru 2 alternators, 3 batteries on 2 different vehicles. The technicians hook things up wrong and then the car has one issue after the next. I feel this company has the devices rigged this way to cause the car problems. I’ve also had many faulty devices that left me stalled because my car wouldn’t start. The device just goes completely dead at random times and leaves you stranded. Then to get it fixed Smart Start charges ME money to get their faulty device replaced. It’s a complete scam operation they run and hope they go out of business. They also have the RUDEST customer service people working for them. They are condescending, hateful, sarcastic and clueless. They enjoy being belittling to customers.

Ever since I had this device in my car I never get a month without any violations and I don't even drink! They are for missed blow test because the device will go off after you shut your car off and get out or sometimes I will look at the device screen and it won't say anything on it then the next day when I get back into my car it will say violation lockout and I won't even know what for and also using a prescription mouthwash. Never have got my money back with filling out indicate reports like they say you will.

I have had my device in 2 months exactly. Got violent lock out and had to tow my car to the shop cuz they didn't explain to me about a missed test that I had 2 mins after I left. It keeps malfunctioning by the screen freezing so I had another missed test, had to take it in. Now tonight I had to leave it at my work cuz it's on please wait for 25 seconds then blow, I blow then it goes to please retry. That's all it does. I'm gonna pay to have it removed and go somewhere that my friend told me to go but I didn't listen. Costing me too much money.

I was ordered to use Smart Start travel as part of my bond when I am to be traveling out of the country. I am to use it between 6-9 am daily. These units don't automatically connect to change the time, you need to have it set prior to leaving the country. So now before I leave the US I get to do a breathalyzer in the middle of the night.

I chose this company because of the cost efficient way they run. Other places charged for install, monthly fee, and the calibration fees. The monthly fee was the same though. They have terrible service. I have had mine installed for a week, and I have continued to have power losses which has caused me to be late and miss work. This is not a product for someone who truly is self reliant because it is inconsistent. My car is eco friendly and every time the engine shuts off and it wants a test I have to park and restart in the middle of traffic. Nobody gave me any advice on how to handle this so I had a major issue. Also, I have NEVER reached anyone on the support line. In fact I’m on hold for thirty minutes for the third time waiting to get my car going. I wish I would have paid the installation fees instead.

Violations when I run into a store, haven't had anything to eat or drink, and restart my vehicle in under ten minutes, after passing the initial test... And I passed the retest one minute later. Violation for a test that happened after my vehicle was shut off and I'd left the vehicle. You have to hum and blow into the device for a sample... I hum and blow the same way every time yet I'm constantly told to hum louder or blow longer. Do not choose this company! I will be switching providers.

This device has caused me A lot of money! I take responsibility for my drinking and driving but I don’t think I should have to pay by having this thing drain my battery in less than 12 hours!! Having the tow company come and jump my battery every week or two I’ve now had to purchase an expensive battery charger!! I’ve had to have my vehicle towed three times, the wiring was polled and it’s at the shop for three weeks to figure out what was wrong and certainly after the wires were pulled and they let it sit for a week at the vehicle started right up so nobody can tell me it’s not a smart start killing my vehicle. I never ever had a problem until this thing was installed!! Smart start needs to figure this out.

On 12/17/2018 I was in a collision accident where I got tboned twice and called Smart Start to give them the location of the impound where my totaled car was located. The other insurance company was responsible for the payment but smart start never went to get the device. Now I'm being charged 775$ for their negligence and I paid for insurance on the device. Now they are rude, will not investigate and holding my license captive until I pay for their mistake.

I have had my unit for 10 months. Didn't have any problems until about 2 months ago. Started getting Violation lockouts and other listings on the Display window after doing the blow test in 3 different time windows set up on the machine for daily testing. I pay $80.81 a month for the device, now with the Violation Lockout/ Service Lockouts, they charge $53.54 to unlock the machine every time the Lockouts occur. Regardless of the Complaints to Corporate or the tech where you get the unit (supposedly serviced) the tech does nothing but download the unit and take your money. Being this is a court ordered device, you are forced to comply to the payments set by this company or be in violation of your court order????