Smart Start Reviews

I have been utilizing a Smart Start "BREATHCHECK" portable device that is linked to my smartphone for about 5 weeks. I have encountered several issues in that time. It is supposed to prompt me for random breath checks, which it does. It is also supposed to start a timer after the prompt is sent, which is also does. However, there are occasions where the "timer" expires before I can even get the portable breathalyzer out of my pocket. There are also occasions where the "random phrase" is not recognized, and the test has to be restarted. This is particularly frustrating due to the fact that a person is already up against a time constraint with completing a test.

Do Not! The installers told me after months of problems that all they have are issues with Smart Start. Boy don’t get me started! Non existent customer service after, all the help you want to get it though! Service messages, to then be charged because there wasn’t a service issue. They are top of the line scammers! I’ve been told by the installers to use Interlock. After three months I paid the additional $300 to have smart start removed and interlock put on. Just don’t do it! Infuriating! Is an understatement!

Please please be cautious with Ignition Interlock companies like SmartStart, because predatory companies like this exist industry-wide. However, also please do not choose Smart Start as your interlock provider! The company has no desire to provide a functional service. Their service is really just a money grab from a captive audience. I was unable to start my car for two days, because of their absolute lack of service.

I had my Smart lock installed, and after a year and some months my case we closed I got the approval to have it removed. I went back to have it taken out. Pier was so rude. I told him I was not the person with his rudeness. While I went upfront to pay I was told my bill was only $80 due to Pier. My car was running and I drove home. On Sat the car wouldn’t start. I waited until Monday when I spoke with Edgar (owner). He did come out to my home, and in 5 mins the car started. I said to Edgar, "Pier did something wrong. Didn’t he." Edgar replied he took short cuts installing and uninstalling. I knew something was not right. Edgar stated, "When you get time bring it in and we can check out." He didn’t say, "I just did a quick fix and bring it in as soon as you can."

I have had this device for over 1 year with no issues via an automatic debit monthly payment. This July, Smart Start failed to initiate my auto debit but sent a notice saying it wouldn't go through. Checked with my bank, funds were available and no charge was attempted. I quickly changed my form of payment to a CC to make sure it was paid. Payment posted 07/02 then a subsequent charge was posted on 7/6 so my account now shows delinquent. In August, Smart Start never withdrew a payment so I called and was told my account was in order. In September, my monthly rate was changed and I'm now being charged $21.00 more per month. They also charged me twice, refunded one of these charges which continued my account in a "delinquent" status.

Buyer beware! I am very thorough and ask a lot of questions and still had many unfavorable surprises. Reps are ill-informed. Window for install was $99-249? Pretty vague.. Shops can charge what they want I have 2006 and was charged the top price for install $249. There’s 7% tax in monthly bill…enrollment fee was taxed. Auto pay has no benefits. And the promotional 50% off my first month’s bill is $56.99 which would make my bill $ 114. Only it’s 107.49. I’m on my 4th phone call. The rep said she thinks tax went up … I had it installed for 4 days ago the tax has not gone up.

Been using this device for 5 weeks now. I've never missed a rolling test or blown anything other than a .000%. Took a break to run across the street to get gas and blew into the device to start the car. Got gas and it had me blow into it again (5 min later) normal procedure. Couple min later it says VIOLOCK04day on the handheld display. Called installation place and said I have to bring it back in for another calibration even though I just calibrated it last week $93.00. Go back today and they claim I missed a rolling test. (I know my device never beeped during that time.) I was told unless I paid the $80 additional dollars I would be locked out and car wouldn't start.

Several horrible experiences with this company. First they are not the cheapest as claimed by their aggressive sale reps. They take pride in the fact they don’t charge for calibration. Why would they? Their monthly fee is close to $100. Plus, $80 start up. Their removal fee is $75 and an additional $45 administrative fee which they don’t show you on the fee list you sign. I paid an extra $30 monthly by not selecting a different company, believing that this one would be better because it’s bigger.

This company states no hidden fees, but there are many. The price changes from month to month, they bill you for months you don’t use their service. Customer service is no help IF they answer the phone.

Hello, I have been fighting with this box/company forever now. This system is flawed and kills batteries. Two tow truck drivers who have had to help me the last 4 times showed me this box has killed my battery and I was charged $45 every single time. This flaw is what is causing the dead batteries. My particular box went into its own loop and was erroring and from that I missed an appointment and was forced again to pay for yet another unlock code and missed appointment fee. I was told on the phone by customer service that when I arrived finally to my second appointment altering having the box force me to miss my first that my amount owing to drive away would be maximum $160.

After having this device installed my vehicle has been at a diesel shop for over 2 weeks. Initially, I told Anne when I picked up my truck the check engine light is on and the ETC warning light is red and flashing. She replied "Oh that’s fine, it should turn off, you may need to cycle the truck on and off a few times." ** and a I don’t care answer. Immediately after leaving the house/shop the truck had no throttle response and could not maintain speed. I messaged Anne and told her the truck was not drivable and sent a picture of the warning lights. No response at all. Later on, I was told the MVD had no record of the device even being installed. Again I reached out to Anne asking for help. Again no response.

When I first got my blow box installed, the lady had no idea what she was doing, it did not work and I thought it was just my car not starting for the longest time, for some reason my blow box only worked between 4pm and 8am the next day and in between my car wouldn’t even turn on, I had to take it too a shop 3hr away in Edmonton Alberta and they said she wired it wrong, also I’m getting my blow box taken out this month, and 2 months ago they told me I would not be charged for a unlock code to get my car to the place because it was passed my recalibration appt and I also wouldn’t have to get it recalibrated for the month because it was getting taken out 6 days after the fact, but I call because I wanted to change the location of the recalibration 7 days before and they now tell me their policies have magically changed and I would be charged for everything and have to get it recalibrated and pay for all of it??? Are you serious?

The Interlock system itself is average I did have trouble with a handset but they did replace it right away. My problem with them is the costs involved and the fact that their website shows that you can purchase an extension for your interlock to not lock you out but in fact it's not an extension just away for them to take your money when you file a report about it they tell you that the extensions are not too extend the calibration of your Interlock system. But the website does not State anywhere that it's not for calibration system. So you think that you have an extension when you indeed get locked out and you have to pay the lockout service fee as well as the same months service charge. So my bill that is normally $74.95 turned into $225. Buyer beware when you look at their website they are very unclear and will rob you of your money regretfully the states require you to have interlock for a certain period and they know this and they take full advantage of it.

Every month or so the monthly price increases. Today June 30th 2023 I get there and now its price has gone up again. Just 2 months ago it went from 74.00 to 79.99 and said it was for taxes. Now today, I had to pay 85.59. This is absolutely a rip off... Machines half work freeze up, reads missed test, or not blowing long enough. I thought their prices were better than the other place but I'm considering taking this to court for early removal or another company.

I was required to install a Smart Start ignition interlock device as part of my DUI sentence. I was initially excited to get the device, as I thought it would be a next step towards license restoration. However, I was quickly disappointed with the device. The first problem I had with the device was that it was outdated. The device was slow and clunky, and it often froze up. One time, while I was driving, the device froze and started flashing and beeping. This caused me to panic, and I almost caused an accident.

After thoroughly interacting with SmartStart, I regret to inform readers that my experience with this company warrants a one-star rating. I cannot recommend this company to anyone in need of their services. First and foremost, customer service is abysmal. I have never dealt with such incompetence. Their product becomes useless at the end of each month and goes into service lockdown. Despite paying a monthly leasing fee for the device on time, it refuses to function as it should. It is disheartening to think that a product intended to serve a crucial function can be this unreliable.

This device has repeatedly triggered a test after the vehicle has turned off. I have a push start so I am unsure if this is part of the problem or if it's due to the installation, but it has attempted to violate me for no reason whatsoever on multiple occasions. I have documentation of this defect within the product and will be looking into finding an attorney who is willing to launch a class action lawsuit against this company for misrepresentation of their product in conjunction with their vendors.

When you are having a rolling retest it should give you 6 minutes to get it. After one blow it shows missed test. I've had it recalibrated and contacted customer service with no positive results. So I get a lockout and have to go in early and pay even more money. Do not use!!!

Don't ask for help, don't ask for an extension of your cal dates, don't for ask for anything period. They won't help you. Even getting thru to a person takes FOREVER. Not kidding you, go somewhere else.

4 months ago I had a device installed in my car and wasn't supposed to. Instead of helping me they cont. Making me pay the fee. Kimberly from Ten-sc collections hung up on me 2 times and was trying to charge me another 232$ to remove it. So I took the device off myself and gave it to the place I got it from ATV Augusta. Matt the CEO did not like that. He was called on 12-9 at 8:38 am from atv augusta to let him know I was returning his device. He raised his voice, was rude and disrespectful. (Karma will get him and Kim.) I have the conversation recorded on my phone and everyone at atv augusta heard too. If these are the type of people you're hiring maybe you need higher standards. Everyone should be treated fair and with respect.

I would like to give 0 stars. Absolutely the worst customer service and scammers. Nothing but problems since day one... Takes hours to get ahold of someone for help. Faulty devices. Calibration is 70+ miles away

Like most customer service businesses, Smart Start is a function of the people who help you. Derrick in Grand Junction, CO is wonderful. Knowledgeable and waaay helpful! If I get in trouble like this again, I will choose Smart Start.

I have really bad asthma. I cannot blow longer at times when it tells me to. I just got this calibrated and almost got locked out of it. Blew into it 20x. Right at 20sec. It let me pass. My lungs hurt! There’s times I barely blow into it and it lets me pass. I nearly passed out. When I drive at night the bright green light is very distracting. I don’t text and drive, this thing is almost like a distracting phone, you have to multitask. You have to read why it’s not letting you pass. You have to wait for a count down. Not sure why this can’t be easier! Also if you have a Volkswagen your EPC light will turn ON. Don’t waste $180 getting it diagnosed. It’s the device.

Their service center is horrible. Takes approximately 90 minutes by phone to get a person. If a person can not help you and they have to forward your call your 90 minutes starts over. This was not a one-time event for me. It was the norm.

When calling the number provided, you’re waiting for a live person for over an hour. When you use the texting option, the staff are BEYOND rude. I recently bought a new car and had to wait 2 weeks just to have them switch the device over to my new vehicle. Once they switched it over, the device began to malfunction and prompt me to blow WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. I have reached out to SmartStart NUMEROUS times and NO ONE has been helpful yet! I’m so over it. On top of the stress you are already going through this company only makes it 10 times WORSE. If I could do it all over again, I would NOT choose or recommend this device or company. Save yourself the trouble and don’t add to it by wasting your time or money with Smart Start!

I am moving to state where my current provider does not serve. Booked an appointment with Smart Start, it was never completed so the shop did not have the right equipment. I have 72 hours for a new install or there would be an extension. I had to scramble to find another company, just added stress to my life. DO NOT USE!!!

This company is horrible. All a scam. Can never get a hold of anyone. Device will lock you out for no reason. And then they want to charge you for it. Lost a great job because I was in another state working got locked out over weekend. Could not get a hold of anyone. Been sitting here on a Monday and still 2 hours later still can’t get a hold of anyone!

Horrible company, not trustworthy. It is a scam. I have had nothing but trouble. I can not believe that the court system & DMV allow this to go on. I have been ready for my Analyser to be removed for 3 months now. You can not get a hold of anyone. Hang ups constantly, never speaking to a person that knows what's going on. Have not seen any of my charges reimbursed. In the thousand dollar area. Please do not use Smart Start. Will give you Medical Symptoms, Stress & Anxiety. Will make you feel trapped.

They are none too happy to get you signed up but then they treat you horribly. Never return calls or emails. They just want to text with you then hide behind their phone. If you call them out for lying they stop responding. Worst of all once you have approval to have your device removed they disappear continuing to stall the process so you have to keep paying them. Expect to pay a additional 1-2 months of service than you have to. How cold hearted when they know their customers already have huge financial issues with all the other expenses.

First of all. They will answer you immediately upon signing up. Once you are a client of theirs, GOOD LUCK getting them on the phone when their device fails. I have three instances: 1st - was software froze the device and the only way to get this situated was let the battery die. But guess what, YOU ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE STILL. 2nd Issue - Was the same as the 1st. 3rd Issue - I made a payment within my count-down hours and hours prior to my lockout. Guess what? It locked me out and here is why I have decided to write a review on every single site I can cause this is completely UNACCEPTABLE. Especially when you are messing with people's lives and potential violations to their parole officers. Not only did I make a payment hours before the lockout.

No phone call back nothing?!?! It’s been a month?!?? I called to reschedule the appt as we are stuck in BC and I called at 842 am (BC time) and the appt was at 9:15 am. Your client care (called back at 0910 (BC) time and wants to charge me a cancelation fee. You ** kidding me!!! After last place told me about you guys being a money grab I'm actually starting to believe it because the box was you guys' fault that we kept having to pay to get it recalibrated because. Wasn’t installed properly installed and then this 20 min shy of 24 hr Alberta time and we get no refund back from all the money we spent in past that it wasn’t our fault and what about the extra few months added on because of it?!?! Bunch of money grab!!!

Smart Start is the worst company, of any type, to work with. Device worked 50% of time. I had to replace unit 3 times. Closest Service center was 30 miles away. I had to have vehicle towed to service center twice at my expense although the reason for towing was their fault. Calling main company is a nightmare. Hold times are up to 90 minutes. Once I was on hold for 90 minutes and call was terminated. Can take up to ten (10) prompts before speaking with human being. I am very hard of hearing and would miss "blows" resulting in violations. All they could do was install flashing light which was difficult to see and I had to take my eyes off road to see it. I requested a vibrating device that I could place in my lap but was told they did not offer that feature.

The guy who did my installation and does my monthly maintenance is the rudest person I’ve ever dealt with. He actually yelled at me for paying online instead of paying at the shop one month. He never smiles, he acts like he’s better than you, and he’s always right, or he thinks he is. I’ve been dealing with this for over a year and decided after I was locked out of my car at the airport in Atlanta from being gone two weeks, I was switching companies. Well so I thought. I received permission to have the device taken out 3 weeks ago and nothing. I even called last week and the lady told me there was no record of the approval letter written from the state.

Can't imagine how this company stays in business. Every single interaction with these people has been a disaster, and their only response is...no response. They installed a defective device on my stepdaughter's vehicle that resulted in false reports to the DMV and an unwarranted extension of the fine period - and a 50% increase in the fees Smart Start collected. When the compliance period was complete, they failed to file the paperwork with the DMV, despite sending us an email saying they did. There is no ability to escalate a discussion to a supervisor, and attempts to file a complaint are ignored. Absolutely THE WORST business I've ever had the displeasure to deal with.

The worst company.. do not consider them. I’ve had the device in my car for only 3 weeks and have had nothing but problems which have cost me more money. Their systems is old and outdated and does not work most of the time. When It fails they make you tow your car at your expense and then make you pay to fix It. So it’s not affordable. Their reps are Rude and unhelpful. Save yourself a big headache and go to another company. Better to pay a little more and not get stuck with hidden fees because of defective equipment.

2010 Camaro SS. Had device installed. Worked to get my car home, then would not work next day (hum harder 73 times in a row)... Got it in after calling and having them be no help. Service provider tried it wouldn't work so he installed new device.... car died on way home. My hubby is a mechanic... he pulled out the "snap-on" (no cheapy) code reader and it has fried the computer... Needless to say can't drive my car and get to pay for an extremely expensive part. Thank god labor isn't much ... now I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to keep frying vehicles so I guess I don't drive... pretty counter intuitive.

I've had an IID from Smart Start for over a year without incident. My vehicle was in an accident and has now been in the shop for over 30 days. I can not get to a live representative who can Give me any pertinent information. I just get endlessly transferred. I called their collections department and someone answered on the FIRST ring! Shocking. I was told I owe an extra $54 now for not bringing the car in on my service date... my car that is in the shop, that I can not drive. Hmmmmm. Oh and I should have filed an incident report? First I've heard of this. This is the absolute worst company I have dealt with. It's terrifying to have your life in the hands of this company.

I have had my ID installed for 4 out of the 7 years required now. First year and second year weren't too bad. The 3rd and 4th years my device starts malfunctioning, recording false positives, violating on its own with it not being touched, and randomly it will beep, get stuck, won't stop beeping or let me take the test, and causing me more problems than it's worth. Customer Service is rude, unfriendly, treats you inhumane because you have the device and it takes 2+ hrs to actually speak with someone if your device is already installed. If you fail a test (in case of a contaminant) but still pass with the following blow, you will pay $53 per service visit. This is additional to the monthly or bi-monthly service charge. And just hope you live in a town that has a service center open more than one day a week. Actually went to my monthly appt. And nobody was there.

If you’re in the unfortunate situation to where you have to install an interlock device ABSOLUTELY DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! They overcharge you and give you ** excuses making you over pay. DO NOT USE!

Smart Start is the worst company to go to if you need a IID system installed in your vehicle. Connecticut Dmv cleared all the fake violations they gave me but smart start never refunded the money owed to me. I've been calling them well over a month and they say they would call me back but never do. Don't trust smart start becuse they are cheats and liars.

As part of my sons plea deal he agreed to have the blow device in his car for one year. It has now been two years that it has been on. When we called many times, we can never actually talk to a person. EVER. When we called the DMV we were told that it was reported that the device was removed. Transferred and had been tampered with. All of which was not true.

If you are able to connect with someone they are helpful and nice but in emergencies or a need to speak with someone...2 hour waits are off the wall and reflect poorly on the company! I guess they have a captive audience so timely responses to phone calls means nothing!

I have been using Smart Start for over a year. 11 months in I was pulled over, arrested, charged with a misdemeanor and car impounded. Smart start never sent in my monthly reports even though I never missed an appointment or payment. A company representative reached out to me to tell me he'd take care of it. I ask, "Define take care of it." He gives me his email and tells me to send him receipts etc. I sent him my invoice from the city I had to pay to give my car back and the tow truck and my attorney invoice. A month has passed me. I have not heard any response from the company. Like I said I already had to pay my attorney as I have already one court date and at least one future one. If you decide to use this company, you better hope to have no issues, because if you do, good luck trying to reach someone in customer service who cares or can actually do something.

I signed up back in September with Smart Start over the phone and the representative collected ALL my information. Lo and behold each time I would call in and the system asked me for my last 4 of ss, date of birth and so forth, it would state it did not recognize my information. After speaking to a very nice and knowledgeable representative she re-entered my information.

Customer service Jacqueline extremely rude! I called questioning why I needed to pay for service twice in one month. She basically yelled at me... Basically had no answer just explaining that's the way it is. When I started my service was in the middle of the month, slowly creeped to the beginning, These people are so out of touch...Extremely rude.

From the beginning of my three year involvement, Smart Start has been a nightmare and it has only gotten worse. They are a customer service driven organization, but they don't want to speak to the customers. I could make a list miles long with multiple problems/complaints I have had and continue to have ("false" violations, horrendous customer service, terrible service stations for installation and calibration, overcharging, etc.) However, the latest is my probation officer and I have both submitted the "de-installation" paperwork and I continue to sit and wait for an email to tell me that it has been processed. I spent approximately SIX hours on 11/30 trying to get a "live" representative on the phone!!

As I'm sitting here reading through some of these stories all I can think of is, "Yep, that's all happened to me!!" I have had this ** for going on 10 YEARS this March and I have experienced probably every horrible thing under the sun with these people. And even more so at the service centers!!! The people who work there act like they have never made a mistake in their lives, it's disgusting. It must be a sad existence to be so insecure that you must abuse other people so that you can feel better about yourself. I feel like I am on trial defending myself for something EVERY month that I go there and I always lose and end up paying LOTS of extra money!! BUYER BEWARE!! P.S. I included a pic of my last month's issue that cost me $288 and a tow because they won't fix the wire hanging from my device. Funny part, it got unplugged and they tried to blame it on me saying it tampered with. Well my foot does accidentally every time I get in!!!

I finally got my license back 3 years later I call Smart Start and waited 2 days for a call back to tell me I owe 850$ fees for not showing up to appointments that never was made. What to do now? I'm being refused to speak with the supervisor and hangs up on me. Thanks.

These scumbags....greedy low paid scumbags....get their pleasure by making the clients life miserable. They seem to enjoy placing any possible obstacle in the clients way....Are there are a thousand of them.....and they all cost money. If you can possibly avoid having anything to do with these scumbags...AVOID THEM. Slow death by cancer....is what they deserve for the torture they have inflicted.

This company put my life in danger. I wasn’t able to get to my doctor on time because device failed to start my car. When called customer service they said it’s my problem. Stay away and report to your local DMV if you have health issues.

Lied when they signed me up and said they could get me in the next day. NOT true and I explicitly Told the sales rep I needed to MAKE SURE there would be an appointment available the next day or I could not sign up with them. He assured me there would be an appointment. He lied. Point blank, the next person I spoke to for scheduling said that he should not have said that and they absolutely did not have any appointments.

Absolutely the worst company if you can call it that. They lie to you and take advantage of your situation. Nothing happens on time. They aren’t regulated by anyone so you're on your own. You pay for a expensive service to say the least and they DO NOT up hold their end in any agree. The approved garage I had to deal with being from a small town was in the dark on as much as I was. No info can be found. I have had my Interlock removed and still no report to the MTO from the company because of errors on their part. This is week 2 without a license or means to get to work. Their customer service is the worst I have ever dealt with in my life. They WILL lie to you to get you to stop Calling. Please don't go thought this like I have, use a different company. Any other company would be better than Smart Start.

Avoid Smart Start and above all do not get their extension scams. The Technician at the shop is amazing always great to work with but the customer service people you call in the phone are HORRIBLE. Here's just a few of the bad experiences I've had.

As other reviews mention the customer service before you sign up as a customer is top notch. They are quick to sign you up with specials and give you good deals. Once you're a customer that's all forgotten. I have been paying $69 a month for a year and have 1 year left. All of a sudden 3 months ago (at my 1 year mark) the price jumped to $79. My service center I go to monthly and now myself have been calling non-stop to try and get this resolved.

When SMARTSTART tries to sign you up they are very responsive. Once a customer forget it. I have been having issues ever since summer set in and outside temperatures went up. Anything over 80 degrees and it has a mind of its own. Trying to get a hold of customer service is painful with 40 minutes plus on hold. Tech support was just as useless. Seemed they knew nothing about the unit. Now out of the blue I have a error code indicating VIOLCK06DAYS. This is because I supposedly exceeded a set number of violations. Excuse me!! I have had no violations. Now my only choice is to go to a service center for recalibration which was done less than a month ago. My advice go with any provider besides SMARTSTART.

These guys are a joke. I can never get anyone on the line to help. The support line gives you an option for a call back but they never do so just stay on the line. I found out that the shops that do all the actual work on the interlock only make 20 bucks per service. So where is all the money going? It sure isn't the equipment or the customer service. My interlock started going off all the time so the tech said he was going to hook me up with an older model because they actually work. Soak that in. Can't believe I am legally bound to these snakes.

Call center does not answer and administration did not send my reports to State of Illinois as required. However Kevin **, a field rep called and was exceptional. He fixed the problem and was responsive, friendly, and knowledgeable.

Faulty equipment. General Motors has on demand charging systems on their newer vehicles and this device does not recognize that the vehicle is running upon startup when the voltage doesn’t go up. This allowed for a running vehicle with no tests. Their solution was to reprogram the head unit, to trick the device into thinking the truck is already running now before startup which initiates a 4 min. countdown to provide a breath sample. So if I don’t blow when the vehicle is not running it will fail me for missing a test. It is also not compatible with any auto start/stop feature your vehicle may have. My vehicle has shut down many times at lights causing traffic delays while having to blow at a green light to get the vehicle moving again. After expressing my concerns to multiple reps with no fix to the issues I’ve been having, the device will be uninstalled in my vehicle.

Smart Start Ignition Interlock of Olathe should be avoided at all costs. This place is poorly run, ran by one incompetent person and there is absolutely no end user support even at the corporate level in Grapevine, TX. There are four (4) supposed customer service phone numbers to contact and they all loop over and over again to get you nowhere and to speak with no one; it's a total sham. Try the phone numbers for yourself if you don't believe my statement and see what you get. (913) 815-3698, 1-866-918-2986, 1-800-831-3299 & 1-866-979-0002 and there is no chat or email address; it's a complete ghost/phantom. The device will never operate correctly and you will run back & forth constantly to get it fixed because of the proprietor's incompetent inability to do his job. Avoid this place at all costs or opt to spend more money at a place that can do their job correctly.

Smart Start is by far the worst nightmare I’ve ever had to endure! Customer Service reps are rude and obnoxious. The whole thing is a joke. They talk to you like you like crap and are no help. I think they’re worst than the device which sucks also. They’re taking forever to “process the removal” of this device out of my car as I type but to get started it took one phone call and it was installed that day. I repeat do NOT go with Smart Start.

Stay away from this company. I have been using it for 11 months & have had 3 different machines so I know what I'm saying. I may have to blow into it 4 times before it will work, up to 10 a few times. It will say blow longer when you start blowing. It's not me. I have tried every different way to try to make it work right. There are other companies out there so you have choices. No one will answer the phone unless you check that you are from the court.

Where do I begin. This company cares zero for you as a customer, human, or otherwise. I have been lied to, hung up on, and overcharged during a deadly global pandemic. I have been told to ‘not use hand sanitizer’, As it will set off the device, putting not only my health at risk, but also those in my community, my elders who I love, and basically anyone I come into contact with. Is this even legal??? I had been given an old broken device from another car, which was randomly giving violations, honking, and sucking my car battery dry. The electric in my vehicle was always going haywire, sometimes working, sometimes not. This is VERY dangerous. Drinking and driving is dangerous, but I only did that once. Smartstart as a company has forced me to drive dangerously, risk the health of my loved ones daily for ten months.

The people on the phone are very rude. The client portal app is a joke, you can’t even put your info into it. This place is a money funnel, they are pretty much allowed to wantonly rip people off, and they know it. If you are allowed to pick your own ignition interlock provider, for god sake do NOT use this outfit. Don’t ever call, the only human you’ll ever get is one that will take money. Dealing with outfits like this is more than enough to make one never drink and drive ever again. AVOID.

I cannot really add to the reviews that precede mine. I agree with all of them. The device, the service, the company, and the use of this failed unit is deplorable. There is nothing consistent with any of these. The device must have been programmed by 1st grader. It gives conflicting and nonsensical errors, e.g. "blow longer" as soon as I start blowing. I may have found a trick to "resetting" the device.

This company has LAZY incompetent people working for them! They send you a form when you want to cancel your auto policy and it's not even an e-sign. If you don't have a printer and you are 80 years old you are screwed! The form they sent didn't have the info on it. No way you would know how to complete this form. Stay away from this company!

Smart Start new and improved device is unusable for me! I've contacted the 800 number at least five times about it and asked to have my old device put back on. The thing says blow longer even while I'm still blowing in it! I'm having it removed and selling my car!!!! Their customer service is HORRIBLE! They LIED to me saying they contacted one of their service centers and the service center had a couple in stock and could put the old system in. I drive to the service center and they DIDN'T HAVE ANY, nor were they contacted!!!! WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER!!!

Terrible experience... They make this company mandatory in Canada to deal with and everyone at Smart Start knows it so they take advantage of everyone. My device requires me to blow when I turn my vehicle off and go in a store. I’ll come back and catch the device counting down from 10 minutes asking for a rolling retest... and most of the time I’m not so lucky. 60 bucks a pop and 5 days to make your appointment which is a 3 hr drive for me. This happens several times a month. Within 4 months the lady said my account is now at 1400 dollars paid from violations not including the 500 dollar install. All fingers are pointed at me... keep paying if you want to drive even if you're being scammed.

I don't know where to begin with this company, Several problems at installation? Customer service? The businesses they use to represent them for equipment install? Let's start first with my latest complain, how they will basically steal your money. I have the unit for 3 months now they put the cord across the top of the steering wheel where it was contently ribbing and actually wore a hole thru the cable but the thing that got me was it ran down the side of the ignition switch. Well one time when car was shut off the switch didn't go all the way to the off position causing a false alert that the car was left on by making horn go off and lights flash. I went back into the garage and found this to be the problem.

I’ve had a Smart Start installed now for 18 months. I’m an air conditioning installer/refrigeration mechanic and average at least one - two if not three unscheduled services a month due to the contaminates on my clothing or on my hands. Eg refrigerants, pvc glue, hand sanitiser or refuelling my vehicle with the window down and allowing fumes to enter my vehicle. Obviously none of these mean that I’ve consumed alcohol and still receive Breaches. I’ll try and keep this brief and only describe three unscheduled services....

Terrible and RUDE customer service!! Had the device in my car TWO months longer than court ordered because SmartStart would not process the letter from my court stating it should be removed on certain date. Repeatedly sent emails trying to communicate and received nothing in return. Was supposed to get out on July 11 and finally got it out SEPT 16. - Another car at the shop where I was FINALLY getting it removed at had been sitting there for OVER a week because SmartStart would not send them the code to fix it. DO NOT RECOMMEND TO ANYONE!!!!

To be blunt - I am scared shitless to get in this car. Their advertisement of Easy to Use is just ridiculous. It is so difficult to blow and I am so scared that I will be stranded on the side of the road (happened the first day) that I don't want to even go near the vehicle. There was no booklet, no directions and little to no training provided at install. The unit is also massive. Had LifeSafer before which was so easy to use. Never felt scared to drive the car or that I would be stranded. The unit itself was also smaller and more discreet. Very disappointed so far and scared to death to drive it.

As the headline says, don't use Smart Start- you will regret it! Why? Extremely poor customer service! Hold times of greater than 10 minutes when you need to call in. Employees who are rude on the phone and fail to answer the phone and properly introduce themselves, like they are working from their living room watching TV. Incident reports that should be answered within 7 business days that aren't.

This company is extremely helpful when you call to set up your account and then they ask you to put a review online and they send you a link. I initially went online left a great review prior to having the device put into my car because that's what they asked of me. After having the device into my car I realized that the device was not up to par. It was almost impossible to blow in it at times for that long. Within four days I was locked out and had to pay $75. They refused to reimburse me to $75 even after I got a new device that works fine. All the five star reviews are probably given right after people deal with customer service and not after they have used the device. I was given a second device that works fine and they still refuse to reimburse me to $75 even though the first device did not work well. I suggest anybody looking for an interlock device stay as far away from Smart Start as you can.

My prior review and what I had to go through is nonsense. My husband could blow (not allowed to drive) but I can drive. Car sat still for 3 months and only time I drove was for calibration (otherwise you're violated). He blew, I drove. Had to appear, before a judge, hoping he would sign my Smart Start paperwork. Had to go to a doctor to make sure I couldn't blow who then sent me to a pulmonologist to prove it (cost me $250 and I don't work and test lasted maybe 15 minutes). After all of that they reduced my device and haven't had any problems.

I had a violation as soon as I left the shop. Called and said I have a violock but I just left the shop and didn’t know what it was. Well 6 months later my car just finally got all new wiring. Sonic sounds is the best. But I had 1100 hundred in violations since it got fixed not one. Also it burnt my battery out. They say there is no supervisor. Oh his name is Larry but don’t have a number. We all need to get together and get our money back. This isn’t right what they're doing to people. I’m contacting the Better business b. Or does anyone else know what I can do to get my money back?

I was lied to about month to month payments. I was lied to about no fee to take it out. I have been scammed out of over 250 dollars from this company. I suggest this company should be federally regulated not state.

Few days ago I have received email from not identified sender stating that my personal data will be used against me if I don't pay money. Email contained my photos and my children behind while I am blowing into device and it seems that its came from camera installed in my car by Smart Start, my location data where I was for the last 30 days, SSN and driver license, bank and credit card information and even my family members' names. I called customer service and they put me on hold for several hours. I also contacted local authorities and filed online crime report. This very scary situation and I am really worry about my life now. How come Smart Start released it? Is anybody else have same accident recently?

Stubbornly, I took a DL suspension and the breathalyzer route as I would not let the lying officer and the courts force me to admit to something that I didn’t do, so I then had to choose a service. All I can say after my time with Smart Start is that they are all a bunch of disrespectful, arrogant thieves. It is completely a monetary deal with them and to all of them you are nothing but a low life, lying drunk and they speak to you with that exact same tone. My review would be too long to explain every negative issue and horrible detail of mine but I cannot explain how much they lie saying they are there to make your life easier because they are not. Once you're locked into them with the device installed they will treat you like dirt, lie, blame you, be disrespectful and discourteous. They will tell you you have a right to appeal an accidental incident (like I did with sanitizer) then they will just deny you, blame you and treat you like crap.

The Court finally approved removal and they won't do it--Despite court approval!! They initially installed incorrectly which cost me violations for not "blowing" and now I have to pay yet another calibration fee to drive my car. Tried to call but sat on hold for 26 minutes before giving up, and have e-mailed which is useless. Don't use them. Use another device/system.

One big scam, their "interlocks" will give nightmares, I don't understand how in this day and age they can provide such terrible and unreliable equipment, you'll get on your car on a scorching hot day after humming on this thing for the last 2 months you'll think you finally have it mastered but NO my friend ... HUM LOUDER. HUM LONGER. Don't mind the cord wrapped around your feet. :/ BLOW SOFTER then after you finally get it started they will %100 send you violations in the mail WHICH YOU COULDNT OF DONE. They will get more and more and more money out of you. THEY ARE CRIMINALS.

This company is in it for money going through these tough times. Almost anything sets it off and trying to figure how to disinfect hands before touching it is hard without violating it. They give no forgiveness!! They even treat employees bad instead of paying more. Now they are taking away money. Terrible company.

After parking my car in my driveway and before I shut of my vehicle the interlock singled. I was required to Blow. I didn’t realize that you still needed to blow. I got a violation, Our local shop is closed because of the Covid19 restrictions and I have to travel 1:45 min away. I asked if they could wait until my appointment for calibration on April 28. They said no but I could have one on the 14th and lose 2 weeks of my current time.

Do not use this company. They are notorious for charging for false positive tests and extending your end date because of it. Just to be clear this is illegal!!! And they do it randomly so be prepared for it, there will be a countdown during this time and you won't be able to blow for more 10 min. RCW states that you must retest within 10 min. They know this. The false positive will force you out of the 10 min mark during the countdown. When you call the hotline and finally get through the prompts that take 5 minutes to get through there will be a prompt letting you know that you need to unplug and replug the device in order to retest. They will make you come in for a download, charge you a fee and they'll tell you that you'll have to make an incident report in order to get your money back or to remove the fee but when you make an incident report they will tell you that it is a contaminant and your fault.

Since I had this installed, I've had nothing but serious issues! Costing me much more money than I expected & cannot afford! They install faulty devices & false positive readings, that cost $75+. I had the Tech in their Freeport location actually recalibrate this faulty device to a level where I couldn't breathe to start my car!?? Nasty individual that put my health in harm's way by doing this. Along with additional fines, saying MISSED TESTS!?? Stay away from Freeport Avenue Sound-$$$$ As far as the company Smart Start. Horrible customer service, they do not acknowledge anything you tell them is wrong and you are then in the Rears -$$$. There is a much better company out there, I wish I had chosen that one! PLEASE BELIEVE ME! I CALLED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL and THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU ON THEM! I am getting it removed and going to a different company... GOOD LUCK & They are a Total Money Grab Co.

Just had this installed in my vehicle on Feb 28th. It took the technician in Maple Ridge 8 hours to install it and they charged me an extra $100 “specialty fee” because it’s a Nissan Murano. On the way home.. it was acting weird.. beeping so I had to go back a few days later (and $67 dollars for them to reset it) for another 3 hours. Few days later was at my friend's house.. and left to go home about 3 am. Had a violock4day code..??? Called customer service and they said I missed a rolling test.. Between 11:30pm and 12:45. I WASNT IN THE CAR then??? Back to the shop for another $67 reset (3 more hours and another day of work missed).

Got my unit put in yesterday. I can’t get the technique of blowing and humming right! Had to bum ride to and from work (car won’t start). I’ve missed rolling test and other test sitting in driveway trying technique with Service reps on phone for 2 hours- get it started then 15 minutes later fail to do the blow hum the right way and get a missed test! I’ve been so upset. Crying with anxiety like I’m having a heart attack- been a HEAVY SMOKER FOR YEARS and about to have a nervous breakdown! At wit's End! What’s my alternative??? Called my probation and she can’t help- called Judges office with no return call. Called Smart Start 4 times today and twice yesterday (which was the day it was Installed). Lord help me, but I’m chewing off my teeth at the bit!!!! They said, "Take car to service. He’ll Fire." I can’t even get down the road to take it there!

I helped my girlfriend to get interlock installed in her car and this is what I found out. First of all when you applying online customer service asks for your social security via email, that’s alerted me in a beginning. Second, device itself looks like old rotary phone. :) Come on we are in 21st century now. Paying $82 a month will buy you new iPhone. Third, camera that installed in your car violates all your privacy and your passengers privacy as well. And finally it’s unsafe from medical point (hygiene) to have this plastic blow tube in your car which you can’t even disinfect and you know why.

I have Smart Start installed in my car few month ago, it killed battery already and now my car computer is damaged. Whole wiring was done improperly and I need to tow my car for my own expense even it was smart start fault. Customer service is rude and useless. If you want your car alive don't install smart start.

Customer service centre would pick up their damn phone after at least 30 minutes of hold every single time, the device wouldn't turn on since day one, then tells me to not drive for the next 48 hours until one of the managers confirm escalated service in such a rude tone. Who in the service industry deal with their customers with such attitude and first of all, get your device working. Miserable quality device that would never turn on, then the customer service would blame on your vehicle's power, fuses, or whichever that they can blame on to. Can't believe that the governments have chosen this company for their people or just to grab people's money. Absolutely horrible with uncountable malfunctions.

6 months of hell, with faulty interlock. Smart Start keep telling me recall 3 means problem with my car battery or alternator. RACV tell me that battery etc is fine, that problem is with interlock. Had car towed 3 times to service centre, they fix and say it was problem with interlock. But nothing on record of this. Finally swapped over for new unit last week car was disabled again, 3rd time. Due to get it removed in 2 weeks, so I register with AIMS to see about applying for getting interlock removed, to my horror, I found that I had 2 violations for not blowing into device when requested, which I was totally unaware of, and that I have acquired another 6 months of hell on top of my time already served.

This has been a total nightmare from day 1. Within the first 10 minutes of driving home after the install I was prompted to take a rolling re-test. No matter what I tried it wouldn't work. It kept prompting me to "blow harder" or "blow longer" & multiple other error messages. No matter what I did it wouldn't take it. I finally had no choice but to turn the car off because the horn was blaring and lights flashing and I was in a residential neighborhood & people were literally coming out of their homes to see what was going on. Of course, if you turn it off without completing your rolling retest you get a violation. So strike one within the first hour of having the thing! There is no rhyme or reason to it. What works one time won't the next.

I have had the Smart Start interlock installed in my car for just about 2 months. I only had one issue in the first month with the unit telling me I had failed a test when I was trying to start my vehicle. 2 minutes later I blew and it was a pass. This month has been absolutely horrible and stressful due to the fact that this thing has a malfunction every single day.

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????

I see a lot of the other complaints, remember it's your own fault you are in this position. That being said, I had very few problems in 9 months, I was instructed to buy a can of air and spray into the back of the device prior to leaving the house and after I started doing that it very rarely malfunctioned, and very rarely did not read a blow. I never received fails, or warnings because I did not try and drink and operate this device. It never once drained my car battery. Loud music does not effect the blow as I've read in some complaints, nor does food, these will not cause a failed test. I was never locked out. Just follow the rules, don't skip rolling tests and get through the process. You aren't fooling anyone trying to say it failed you for no reason. Nine months and had no problems at all. If you want to drink, take an Uber.

Hello my name is Jeff **, I have had this product for 3 years and I was a month away from being allowed to drive normally. Two weeks from my four months without violations requirement being met the unit started saying I was violating, and not just after the initial blows I had passed a long the second blow 6 minutes after I was 30-40 minutes into my drive to work and stopped And a gas station got a black coffee prompted by the car to blow I did and then once again I passed then the 6 minutes comes up and I blow and it’s says violation then immediately gives me a lock out and timer. I was very upset I wrote Into an incident report. They say takes 3-6 business days for responses. I finally get a response, in the response they don’t do anything or verify that they acknowledge the incident instead after calling they told me to send the email, the email then tells me to call Service Techs. So I do.

The way you are directed to their subpar website and then their website submission form is broken and you cannot type in your date of birth. How do they expect to hear from anyone? (unreal) Receiving improper customer support for the price is NOT ACCEPTABLE. As a mechanic/customer DO NOT USE Smart Start inc. They don't even know when you're supposed to get your IID removed. This company is completely unorganized from top to bottom. Someone pls do something about this.

Have had this device for 3 weeks have a excessive violation lockout. You have to take me for my word. I have not had any alcohol in 3 months. Need to blow in device 3 to 6 times before it will analyze. Keeps saying Blow Longer to people don't have this much breath. Frank **. Connecticut

Called. Was lied to from the start about this device. Was told it's the best on the market, you don't have to hum while you blow. Within 2 minutes of leaving the Spokane Valley WA. shop it was throwing error code. Called the shop. Said, "Bring it in tomorrow. We close in 20 minutes." I was stuck driving down the interstate with my horn honking for about 5 miles. Finally was able to pull over. Tried a few things their techs on the phone said. After a period of time my Tahoe finally started. Was only able to use my rig 1 time since installing. It has been broke down no juice at all. Charged battery. Now the unit has locked out. Basically my Tahoe has been kidnapped by this company. I can not take the time off work again to get this fixed. Or do I have the money to pay a tow truck and a shop to fix it. All my money went in to installing this device just to be ripped off and then belittled by the service reps on the phone.

Crap. You're paying to stay in a loop. Equipment always malfunction. Even the service center techs talk negative about how out of date the equipment is at always have problems when calibrations services are needed. And to top it off even after I read all the bad reviews about ohs company I decided to choose them because they had a local service center. 6 months in they called me saying my local service shop is not able to service my vehicle due to a license issue and want me to drive over an hour away at my cost. That’s not what I signed up for. And with all their corporate thought emphasizing... The company doesn’t care.

I have had this interlock system in my car for 4 months. All was well until now!! I had a VIOLCK show up....with NO VIOLATIONS!!! I paid the $150 fee.... 4 DAYS LATER SHOWING VIOLCK AGAIN!!!! I have had ZERO VIOLATIONS and when I call they say “In the state of Pennsylvania we cannot discuss violations unless you call PENNDOT!” THEY ARE CROOKS!!! Probably in cahoots with the state!!!!! I will for sure not let this go!!!!

Interlock/ Smart Start what a joke. The absolute worst machine/technology ever invented for the purpose of functioning. Machine does not function at all like it's intended. Complete junk. Customer service employees, device installer, everyone from top to bottom in the company are worthless. I've had in 1 week everything from recalls to viol lock to random horn going off to no screen. Car won't start. Get my car towed to shop on your own dollar for absolutely no reason. Never failed. Nothing of my causing. That's just half the problem. Junk equipment. Too disorganized scheduling to waiting around the shop for hours because 1 man is trying to fix 6 cars at once. This place is ran poorly from top to bottom. I cannot say 1 good thing about this company. What a joke.

Device gave me plenty of false positives. Device would lock out and charge me 70 dollars to get the lock out cleared plus it notifies the DMV. This device should work properly if they are going to hold you accountable. I've been on hold and sent multiple emails to the company and still can't get a response. Can't believe this is legal.

Smart Start installed my machine incorrectly, because of the incorrect installation which resulted in the device not recognizing that the car was turned off and would continue to ask for rolling retests despite being turned off. I noticed this right away as the installation tech told me to wait until I see the restart countdown begin before leaving my vehicle. As I did not see it, I called Smart Start immediately and made them aware of the problem. They walked me through several steps to try to fix the problem, including disconnecting and then reconnecting the head unit. After attempting to troubleshoot the issue over the phone and it failing they scheduled a re-installation appointment to fix the issue.

I am currently on my 3rd installation attempt. The technician is ungodly slow and rude than anyone I've ever come in contact with in a professional setting. I'm on hour 4 of the 3rd installation attempt by these folks as I'm typing. I have NEVER dealt with such careless and rude people. USE A DIFFERENT PROVIDER.

This company is the most frustrating and difficult to deal with. It can't be legal right? First I want to start by saying I have been sober for 15 months. Don't eat, drink or use any products with alcohol in it yet I received a violation for alcohol use. Riddle me that. More money spent and off to the shop. Then a faulty wire and car won't start so I have to pay for a tow. This was in May and still haven't received reimbursement even though I filed the proper incident report and followed up several times. No one can help you when you call customer service.

As I’m writing this I’m waiting for a tow truck for the second time in 30 days because the breathalyzer won’t power on. When the device doesn’t power on, you’ll be left stranded since there’s no way to start your vehicle. Unfortunately I’m sitting in my work parking lot so it’ll be quite a show when the tow truck arrives. I was out $75 for towing last time around and probably out $100 this time. I was told that I can contact Smart Start to get reimbursed for the towing charge so we’ll see how that goes. Absolutely do not choose this device! Luckily I can get it out of my car in 3 months, but who knows if I’ll need to get my car towed back to the shop again if it stops working again before then.

If I could give this company 0 stars I would! I would never recommend anyone getting this interlock installed in their car. You never know if you’re going to get in your car and the machine will actually work. There have been countless times where the car would not start, even after unplugging the battery. So much fun not being able to go to work because your car won’t start and the interlock machine is not working, surprise, surprise. Or how about being stuck at a store or amusement park with 3 upset toddlers and turn the key, only to get dead silence.

I had the device in the car for a year. Then one day it would not power on. I called the service center and they said tow the car to them and they would look at it. It would cost $150 to tow the car and they would reimburse $100. I had a friend look at it. He found the wire that powers it came loose due to a sloppy installation. Once he connected the wire the device then displayed "SRV/LOCKOUT" He removed the device from the car because it had to be moved and I attempted to return it to the service center and they would not take it back. So I contacted Smart Start and they said I had to pay $105 lockout fee. I refused to pay anything because the device failed through no fault of my own.

This is the most aggravating company to deal with. They have no regards for customer service and every time I call them I get juggled between 3 different operators. Especially when trying to get a supervisor or manager on the phone it's literally impossible. I've called 14 times in the past month and haven't been able to speak to one. Left about 5 voicemails and have not gotten a call back. If you have a problem with your device and have to pay out of pocket for violations to get cleared or a mobile service to come out ($159) good luck seeing any kind of reimbursement. They will drag it on for so long. You'll forget all about it.

I have in the past use another interlock company with no problems. At the beginning with Smart Start there were no issues in four months. All of a sudden it would accept no blows showing “blow longer” - well not allowing me to blow past a second. This it would do on my entire 40 minute mountainous drive until a violation occurred and I had four days to clear it. After paying it, and genuinely believing I would be reimbursed because it was as stated in their policy “not due to Anything I did” basically.

I did 1 year on with the smart start ignition interlock and went smoothly for the most part with very minimal issues. When it's time to get my license back is where I had issues. The smart start company never sent the compliance report to WA state. I've been out of work for a week now being unable to drive because of what seem like reoccurring clerical errors based on other reviews. It's a clear scam setup by the state to rob folks. If it wasn't everybody having the same issue then I can give the benefit of the doubt but this system needs to be reworked so the folks who actually comply don't get screwed.

I have tried calling many times with no luck, even though I would hold for one hour and forty two mins, then tried the call back waited two days. Still nothing, THIS COMPANY STINKS, they know they have you as this is a court ordered device. Very poor respect and disgusting service, SHAME.

I've been waiting for a call since 3 days and they won't pick up when I call so I can't book appointment. It's very crappy experience. They use to pick up. Now they never will. They need more staff. I guess paying 100 a month plus 60 for this, is not enough. Very poor customer service. Beyond anything I've ever been through.

Drove 60 miles to get installed Monday. Friday the gizmo is dead. I can’t get to work. I call family for a ride. I am 45 min late to work and need to leave 4hours early to take truck in to be “calibrated.” Or... I can’t get to work all weekend. I don’t want to get fired. Meanwhile while I went to work a family member took the smart start detachable blowhole back to installer to switch it out. We thought that was it. NOPE. Family member (who drove the 87 mile goose chase to get me to work, get device pick me back up after short shift; and take me back home) was told I gotta bring the truck in for calibration; and PAY for a 30 mile tow if it would not start with blowhole #2. No violations. I really do not drink anymore. JUST CRAPPIE PRODUCT! We were told system is being updated.

Updated on 06/12/2020: Unfortunately, due to no money for a decent attorney, I decided to ride out the first offenders deal which obligated me to have an IID device in my personal vehicle for one year. I made several calls checking out companies for the best deal. Smart Start (SS here foreward) had a no installation fee and the girl seemed nice enough so I had their IID breathalyzer installed figuring the companies are all the same. Never again did I speak to a customer service rep that was nice like the first. If you choose them and need to call customer service expect to be treated like a drunk and a bum! They will be disrespectful, dismissive, unkind, uncaring and just overall horrible towards you or your concerns.

Paid twice for a faulty reading. I drove straight to Smart Start twice right away since it's by my house. The technician tried to first blame it on me pumping gas. Then ask me if I drank a Monster Energy drink. While sitting in the car in front of Smart Start waiting to get my device checked. I blew and it violated me. I told him to come withers it. He finally replaced my device. Then told me it was new. When it was clearly used with scratches. Stay away from Smart Start. It would save you the money and scam they're doing to people.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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?"

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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!