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Smart Start

Smart Start

www.smartstartinc.com
What is your customer experience with Smart Start?

Smart Start Overview

The aggregated data is based on reviews and questionnaires provided by PissedConsumer.com users.

  • Smart Start has 1.4 star rating based on 182 customer reviews. Consumers are mostly dissatisfied.

  • Rating Distribution
  • Pros: Its good when it works, When it works it works good, Easy to use.
    Cons: Bad equipment extra fees wait time on phone customer service, Malfunctions, Faulty equipment and poor customer service.

  • Recent recommendations regarding this business are as follows: "Stay healthy and safe and find another company", "Find a different interlock company", "Find a different company.", "Avoid", "If you can , find another company.".

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Media from reviews

Smart Start - The plug on the recharger is faulty and not recharging
Smart Start - The plug on the recharger is faulty and not recharging - Image 2Smart Start - Cause when I talk to credit and collections about a false positive test it...Smart Start - BAD COSTOMER SERVICESSmart Start - Do not use these guys.Smart Start - Do not use these guys. - Image 2Smart Start - Do not use these guys. - Image 3
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Jessica C Wsq

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Spread of mouth diseases

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This company is not helpful to customers. It's nearly impossible to get a hold of someone on the phone, and the people who work at these garages are not smart start employees, so they cannot help with issues either.

Prices rise every few months without being informed. The device malfunctions regularly, and the burden of the device malfunctioning falls on the customer, who is made to pay out of pocket for the device malfunctioning. During my last visit, taking care of another malfunction of the device, I witnessed and video recorded the device being plugged into the calibration machine by the mouthpiece, which is normal. However, what is not normal is refusing to replace the mouthpiece before sending customers on their way.

All customers have to put their mouth on their mouthpiece in order to use the device, and all of those mouthpieces are hooked up to the one machine with one plug for the mouthpiece, essentially having all customers swapping spit and germs, not to mention any form of mouth diseases.

It's a pretty easy way to spread herpes and any other mouth STI/STD. I was told this is illegal and will be contacting a lawyer about the situation to see what steps to take next.

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Cons:
  • Price increases
  • Health issues
  • Bad customer service

User's recommendation: Stay healthy and safe and find another company

2 comments
Guest

Unless you stayed all day, you have no idea what was done before and after the calibration you witnessed. Smart Start’s user recommendations include frequent changing of mouthpieces to maintain hygienic integrity. I can’t think of a more consequential time then after a stranger was handling the device.

Guest

No one has any empathy for you and your situation.

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Anthony R Lsw

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Lack of communication plus just general disregard how my job and the fact the messed up

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I got a new debit card, and my auto payment was declined because it charged my old card. I paid it a day later but still got locked out. Now, they want 70 more just to unlock my car so I can get to work at 5 AM, before they open at 7 AM.

View full review
Loss:
$70
Pros:
  • Never failed
Cons:
  • When it did they have terrible customer service

Preferred solution: Apology

User's recommendation: Find a different interlock company

Resolved
Harry K Lpr

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Resolved: Renew lease

Updated by user Jan 30, 2025

Politely and will find out tomorrow if the DMV says my license are okay

Original review Jan 29, 2025

I received a letter in the mail, stating that my driver's license was already suspended. It's going to cost me a $95 reinstatement fee, and $38 for a new license. My dispute is that I didn't receive a letter simply asking me to renew my license.

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Preferred solution: The machine removed from my car and be done with this my court paper said one year not anymore

Nick Jtd
map-marker Seattle, Washington

Smart start paperwork from 22to23

I need information paperwork from my previous installation from 2022 to 2023 stating how long I was required to have a smartstart device

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Michael G Rcn

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Knoxville, Tennessee

Customer

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Original review updated Nov 28, 2024

Victim Beware. They are supposed to help people.

If you ever need an Interlock Device do not use Smart Start Inc.

unless you want to be Humiliated by Antoinio of Smart Start Knoxville TN. He talked to me anyway he wanted to. A Real degenerate. They Purposly did not upload my final calibration so I would fall into another month lease.

POS. I wonder how many people have been violated because of Antonio and Smart Start.

View full review
Loss:
$176
Cons:
  • Unwilling to deal with real life occurances & problems
  • Bad equipment extra fees wait time on phone customer service

Preferred solution: Full refund

User's recommendation: Avoid

2 comments
Guest

Lol. Im posting this to every major city. My goal is to cost you as much money as posible.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-2617410

Antonio is going to be famous.

View more comments (1)
Anonymous
map-marker Tampa, Florida

Customer service

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I have been trying to get a real person for 30 minutes. None of the phone numbers online will connect you to the service department.

All you can get is the sales dept. They will transfer you but you can never get an answer. This whole procedure has been a nightmare, appointments scheduled, then cancelled 10 minutes later without notification to me. Drove out of town to get device installed; when i got there told that smart start rep.

cancelled appt.

10 minutes after it was made. Would NEVER recommend this company for anything.

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User's recommendation: Find a different company.

Anonymous
map-marker Detroit, Michigan

125 bus driver keeps passing me up and will not let me board his bus when he driving

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I called today and filed a complaint but the person who was helping put me on hold for few minutes and then phone call ended

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Billy Xen

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Still haven't scheduled removal of device appointment after 8 days.

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Updated by user Oct 23, 2024

Still not resolved. STILL no removal appointment & the fees keep adding up!

Original review updated Oct 23, 2024

Installed my interlock device immediately upon contact. Now that my interlock period is over, they have REFUSED to schedule my removal after multiple emails.

They add on more fees, make excuses, but still haven't made my removal appointment in NJ. HORRIBLE customer service & you cannot get them on phone(waited over 2 hours twice already NO ANSWER!!)!

VERY POOR.

use INTOXALOCK. Made a difficult time much worse

View full review
Loss:
$100
Pros:
  • Easy install
Cons:
  • Expensive
  • Zero customer service
  • Very hard to schedule removal

Preferred solution: Apology

User's recommendation: Avoid. Unprofessional & rude!

Tati S Gwt

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Deerfield Beach, Florida

Unhappy with smart start device

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My lawyer told me to use this device, but unfortunately the Boosted Autos LLC company in Deerfield Beach, Florida that installed my device in Florida turned out to be scam artists. Already during the training, my Smart Start device was not working, but they persuaded me to leave home.

After that, when I breathed into the device, it kept showing me - breathe longer... longer... longer ( so I couldn't pass) and I constantly received violations with recall 3.7. Boosted Autos LLC sent a mobile mechanic to my house to fix my car for $ 150 to remove this recall 3.7.

After I spent $ 600 in one week I decided to remove Smart Start device from my car, because I was running out of money to fix recall 3.7. After I contacted Boosted Autos to remove my Smart Start device from my car she told me to pay $ 400 for removal and started to shout at me.

Manager Stephanie Wiley told me that I should use only Nationwide device after Smart Start and I am not allowed to switch to other companies. So I spent $ 1 000 in 2 weeks and nothing was working - I need to remove everything and start again with different company.

View full review
Loss:
$1000

Preferred solution: Apology

User's recommendation: Don't use Boosted Autos LLC in Deerfield Beach, FL

Derek B Ryr

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Smart start is the worst company go to interlock not smart start. And the collection is a joke Wendy was the worst help ever these people are so unprofessional and it’s a scam .

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The car was repaired and it received a violation when I didn't even have it. I had to pay 300 dollars for a late fee for April and we're in October. Being a single dad, this hurt me and my kids as well.

View full review
Loss:
$160
Pros:
  • Device is black
Cons:
  • Everything about the device

Preferred solution: Full refund

Anonymous
map-marker Waterford, Pennsylvania

I have been locked out

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After being locked out I was unable to get an unrestricted license not requiring me to have a blow and go. I have found it very difficult to contact smart start .

I have received approval to have an unrestricted license. That approval was issued by Penndot.

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User's recommendation: If you can , find another company.

Bill T Jbc

This review is written by an individual who has purchased the reviewed product/service and/or confirms being a paying customer of this company. Check our FAQ

Verified Buyer
|

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Georgetown, Texas

Over charging

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Contains 1 confidential file for company representatives

Overcharges and won't provide refunds. Poor service.

Avoid at all costs. How do you charge someone twice, then say we can't give the money back because it's our 'policy'?

View full review
Loss:
$91
Cons:
  • Horrible customer service over charges

Preferred solution: Full refund

User's recommendation: Stay away and save a headache

Anonymous
map-marker Saint Petersburg, Florida

This is a nightmare

zero stars. you are better off never driving ever again.

days between hurricanes trying to reach someone during an evacuation where the service station and county is shut down. the best they could do after days of stress trying to reach someone during a mandatory hurricane evacuation, best they could do was 3 more days for an appointment and to schedule it someone else in the state. so i drove 4 hours to jacksonville to place they recommended and even though i have receipts and everything is paid according to portal and my bank account, they want to lock me out. it happens so often for clerical and admin glitches.

hoping that is what this is again. i leave at 3am for a day trip to get my car serviced for hurricane related issues and i can't get anyone to fix this pending lockout or to tell me how the mechanics are supposed to service. they literally will keep you on hold for hours and hours and then disconnect.

prices raised a few times in less than a year. wrong equipment installed so first 4 months did not count.

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User's recommendation: surrender your license or find another company

Anonymous

This review is written by an individual who has purchased the reviewed product/service and/or confirms being a paying customer of this company. Check our FAQ

Verified Buyer
| map-marker Cardigan, Ceredigion

The plug on the recharger is faulty and not recharging

Smart Start - The plug on the recharger is faulty and not recharging
Smart Start - The plug on the recharger is faulty and not recharging - Image 2
Contains 1 confidential file for company representatives

I purchased the saker mini chainsaw Ive only had it just over a month and the plug to recharge it is faulty ,how do I feel about this situation all Im really annoyed as nothing is happening

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User's recommendation: No I wouldn’t

Shane F Yzm

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

They are thieves

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I want to warn others about this thieving, lying, *** company. I have had numerous issues with this company and only once has the issue been resolved. The problem was due to missing several blows, but I am 100% certain that I did not miss any; these machines are faulty. It seems like Smart Start does not do their due diligence to rectify them and get them operating at the level they should be. After writing a slew of bad reviews, someone finally reached out to me from the company and fixed it.

So back in January, I got into a car accident and my truck ended up being in the shop for 7 weeks. During that time, I missed my calibration date. The shop that my truck was at also called Smart Start and told them what was happening, as did I. However, when I got my truck back, I had to get a lockout code to get it home, and it was late at night, when the shop was closed for calibration. In the morning I had to get another lockout code to get the truck to the shop.

When I found out I was being charged $77 for 2 lockout codes, I submitted the necessary forms to get my money back. And an unbelievable 11 days before I get the interlock device out of my truck, I was told that in order for them to do it, I would have to pay the outstanding balance of $77, which I was never even told I was denied.

So someone in that company has the common sense of a 1-year-old because clearly, my truck was in the shop. I called them, the shop called them, and I even submitted the proper paperwork, showing them my truck was in the shop and they still denied me. They didn't give me any reason why.

Now, upon reading that if I do get refunded, they will refund my Smart Start account, which is due to close in 11 days. Do yourself a favor and stay far away from this company. The customer service is trash, the device is trash, the absolute disgusting thievery is trash, and anyone that works for a company that has the moral compass this company does is trash. *** Smart Start, for stealing money from your customers and being too dumb to know when they are in the right, and you are in the wrong. I will blast bad reviews on every platform about your company until you refund my money into MY PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT.

View full review
Loss:
$78
Cons:
  • More than i can list

Preferred solution: Full refund

User's recommendation: Stay away

Bill T Jbc

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Wailuku, Hawai'i

Over charges and poor customer service

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Overcharges, then tells me I have to wait 30 to 60 days for a refund even though they made the mistake. Ladies in accounting can't believe I would get upset over having to wait 2 months to get my money back.

Now I have late fees and overdraft charges. All I can do at this point is tell as many people as I can about my experience.

View full review
Loss:
$91
Cons:
  • Poor customer service rude ude people even when they are in the wrong

Preferred solution: Apology

User's recommendation: Stay away

About

Summary

Smart Start is a narrow-specialized company that distributes portable alcohol monitoring devices. The company is based in Grapevine, TX and was founded in January, 1993. Smart Start operates in more than 19 countries and has a large number of clients. The company mainly focuses on selling Smart Start IN-HOM devices. These devices provide an access to more than 1000 service centers and 24/7 bilingual customer care centers. The corporate website contains information how to install and use them. All products are shipped to Canada, U.S. and Europe.

Smart Start reviews and complaints

Smart Start is ranked 395 out of 3495 in Equipment category

Area Served

USA

Payment Methods

VISA

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