Smart Start
Reviews and Complaints
Problems with interlock
LOCKOUT
Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution
Still waiting for form to be sent after over 1 month of having device installed.
- Horrible service getting forms sent
Preferred solution: Send my DL21-SC signed and emailed to PennDOT!
It blows false fails and violations
Preferred solution: Full refund
Calibration date cost for 3 days is the same as for 30 days
- Poor cust srvc at smtstrt 800 number
- Full cost for days that should be pro rated
Preferred solution: Price reduction
Faulty fails
Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution
Arrogant, Condescending, Unprofessional, and Disorganized
Faulty device, terrible customer service
I was ordered to have an ignition interlock device installed in my car for a period of 6 months. During this time i have had nothing but issues with the device; it is poorly designed and, to be honest, an extreme safety hazard. The device has malfunctioned 3 times, resulting in a "violation" rating, none of which were a result of my having consumed alcohol and attempting to drive.
1. About 4 days before my first monthly appointment the device began beeping erratically during my morning commute to work. I looked at the device and it read "violock 72hrs", meaning that the device would lock if not taken to a service center in 72hrs. Since i was not prompted to blow into the device, i assumed this was the device's way of reminding me of my upcoming appointment. I thought "wow, what service. How nice". WRONG. When i took the device to the service center they explained that i received a rolling violation, where it prompted me to blow while driving and i did not do so. I explained that the device never prompted me to blow before the "violock" reading appeared (my radio doesnt work in my car so i was sitting in the car in silence). The service tech said that they have had a lot of people with the device complain of this lately and that it might be because of faulty power cords the company is using, which the service center was having to switch out A LOT. They checked the cord, found it faulty, wrote this down on my receipt, and told me to file a report to get a refund. I did, and never got a response.
(1 week later)
2. I got in my car, was prompted to blow, passed, and started my drive to work. A few minutes later i was prompted to blow again, and received a "violation" reading (?!?), received a countdown for 2 minutes and was then prompted to blow again (im still driving at this point), i blew again and passed, but still had a violation and had to take it to the service center. I filed another report as well as my original report. I tried calling customer service but they stated that they were separate from the incident department and couldn't do anything. A few days later, I received a lengthy and detailed response to my second filing stating that the violation will stand, and that the device is very sensitive, and that something like "my mouthwash, OR MY COLOGNE", could set off the device. This upset me greatly. That i could pass a test, fail the same test a few minutes later, then pass again, and could still be held accountable was infuriating. There is a camera in the car that takes a photo, they couldnt double check that to see if i was driving with a bottle of bourban in my lap or not?
(one month later)
3. I start my morning commute and stopped to get coffee. I was inside 5 minutes and, when i got in the car, i had received a violation. I suppose it beeped when i got out of the car and the timer ran out while i was getting coffee. (a few weeks later i turned my car off when i got to work, got out, and was getting my gym bag from the back seat when i heard the device prompt me to blow! After i had turned the car off and was outside the vehicle! WHAT THE ***
Another major issue ive had is that, after i blow, pass, and start my car, the device doesn't seem to register the start and will prompt me to blow less than a minute later. I will blow, it will give me the 1 minute timer to start the vehicle (even though i am already driving), and prompt me to blow again when the timer runs out. This process will sometimes continue for my entire drive; i once blew 6 times during a 5 mile stretch. What a safety hazard.
I have sent in multiple incident reports - sometimes for the same incident because i never got an answer - and always received an unhelpful response. They even stated that the faulty cord incident shouldn't have negatively affected the device and that it still stands.
I received a letter from the local sheriffs office stating that, for every violation over 3, another month is added to the total time i have to have the device. It also stated that i missed an appointment with "the DUI program" and, if not corrected, my license would be CANCELLED. When i called to say that i never received an appointment date and that i did not have a probation officer (or anyone in charge of my "case"), they said to contact the "DUI School" i attended. I attended the school over 2 years ago, how would that help?
The point is, the initial customer service is great but those people do not have anything to do with the incident department. I am an electrical engineer and can tell you that this device is either an extremely poorly-designed device prone to malfunctions, OR an incredibly well-designed device meant to malfunction so that, when coupled with unhelpful, difficult to communicate with customer-service, the system can take advantage of people in a less-than-powerful position to milk them for money.
If you absolutely, positively, must use this company, than i urge you to limit your driving as much as possible, never wear perfume or cologne, never use mouth wash, dont listen to music/radio in the car in case the device beeps and you cant hear it, never drink coffee or soda or anything but water while you use the device, sit in your car for a minute after turning off the car (keys removed from ignition) so see if it beeps again and, if you get a violation for no good reason, mark the date and the time immediately so you dont forget, and keep track of it all. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
- Faulty equipment and poor customer service
- You get many errors for no reason
Preferred solution: reimburse me for the faulty device costs
Broke Down Truck
Smart Start Class action
Product Quality Horrible
Lockout code
Keeps failing me for breathing wrong
Is this a Joke?
My car showed violation
- Idea that it might work for us
- Malfunctions
Preferred solution: New smart start unit
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If you can’t use a mobile phone whilst driving ..u should not be forced to use this violation device either it’s rubbish