Worst
False Violations, device never works properly. Balance due isn’t correct on the client portal. customer service is no help
Worse company EVER
Please look else where when it comes to this. You will regret servicing with this company. They are money hungry and careless. They give out faulty devices and charge you when it’s their fault in the first place then doesn’t give you your money back when proved they are at fault. Save your pockets & yourself the HUGE headache
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If you have too, find another company.
I have had this thing on for over 6 months & the first month was terrible. I had to get it serviced 4 times all at my expense & even the guy who does the recalibration is fed up so much he wants to stop doing them. This company costs me so much money & time not to mention the tow fees I had to chose this over groceries or necessities. There were times I had to tow my car despite being up to date with my payments. It’s super frustrating to say the least. PLEASE GO FOR ANY OTHER COMPANY.
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Does not let me test
Does not detect face with new IOS 26 update on iPhone.
SCAMMMMMM
SCAMMMMM DO NOT USE THIS TAKE THE 2 STARS IN TO ACCOUNT
Absolute scammers
If you’re ever in a position where you need to get a handheld device or one installed in your car. DO NOT use smart start as your vendor. Terrible people that know they’re scamming people. When I was first looking at these reviews I thought, oh can’t be that bad. It is that bad, never again.
This Company is Terrible
The customer service is horrible. Absolutely atrocious. They refuse to refund anything that they should. They charge ridiculous amounts that are essentially predatory.
Worst customer service
Actually got this breathalyzer installed on my vehicle because I fell asleep driving my vehicle and had Percocet in my blood. Not sure why he gave me a breathalyzer for driving on opioids
Got this installed and no one told me how to use it in terms of if you let it idle and don't blow into it. It counts as a strike. And if you get five strikes you get locked out and then you have to pay for the code and it's only good for six hours.. When you call it takes about an hour to get someone on the phone.
When you search Google for location, locations half of the SmartStart locations are not even open. They charge you around $130 just to calibrate every month. It's absolutely ridiculous and then you have to blow into it every 30 to 45 minutes while you're driving.. I'm pretty healthy and when I blow into it sometimes I feel like passing out because you have to buzz your lips while you're blowing into the device.
I guarantee you the old CEO of this company knew somebody in Texas department of transportation or whatever state and they get cut of the profits. What a scam.
Got this installed and no one told me how to use it in terms of if you let it idle and don't blow into it. It counts as a strike. And if you get five strikes you get locked out and then you have to pay for the code and it's only good for six hours.. When you call it takes about an hour to get someone on the phone.
When you search Google for location, locations half of the SmartStart locations are not even open. They charge you around $130 just to calibrate every month. It's absolutely ridiculous and then you have to blow into it every 30 to 45 minutes while you're driving.. I'm pretty healthy and when I blow into it sometimes I feel like passing out because you have to buzz your lips while you're blowing into the device.
I guarantee you the old CEO of this company knew somebody in Texas department of transportation or whatever state and they get cut of the profits. What a scam.
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Unprofessional customer feedback
Why would I need a comprehensive lesson on using the 3 buttons that work and the 16 that don’t. Again no transparency, no way to accurately track the balance, and no competent person to easily talk to.
Completely unreliable
No clear payment screen, impossible to track payments, can’t see if and how far behind you are. Every button leads nowhere.
Response from developer
Hi Cbjfacbjf, We're sorry to hear you're having trouble navigating the app. We understand how frustrating that can be. For a more comprehensive walkthrough and help resolving these issues, we recommend reaching out to our Technical Support team—they’ll be happy to guide you step by step and make sure everything is working as it should. Thank you for your feedback, and we’re here to help get this sorted for you! Best regards, The Smart Start Ignition Interlock Team
Bad
App won’t let me enroll and customer service number doesn’t even ring it just hangs up.
Bad Company / Very Unethical
The services they say they provide are not what they say. The app is flawed in multiple aspects. The crazy part is they continue to raise price of services but there services continue to get worse. C suite of this company should have to answer why? In addition the staff members are lost, they don’t provide any support and all have different answers for the same question.
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Horrible Company Stay Away
I take my car to the mechanic. THE DAY I DROP IT OFF I take take it in for REQUIRED CALIBRATION. The mechanic calls DumbStart for a “bypass”. The car is in the shop for a week. WHILE ITSIN THE SHOP they send out a violation countdown… I get a 1.5 HOUR RIDE to pick up my car…it’s in VIOLATION???? No one at DumbStart picks up the phone, app is vague hinting I owe $. I make a payment, car still won’t start. Call in again, I notice the “automated” system is selling $35 bypass codes. Ok, let’s try this. Car starts, code lasts 6 hours…it’s 7pm. 8AM car no starty, finally get a VA from ¿ who wants to SELL ME ANOTHER CODE.
7 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS
I’m sure the owner is slurping margaritas on a beach along with all the “other affiliates” in the continued fleecing of the poor.
7 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS
I’m sure the owner is slurping margaritas on a beach along with all the “other affiliates” in the continued fleecing of the poor.
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Unreliable
The app fails to notify when payment is due. The payment is monthly, but MULTIPLE times it would tell me my next payment was due in two months.
Besides that, I did however One Time let it slip my mind that I had to pay, and the app NEVER NOTIFIED ME OF THE UPCOMING PAYMENT, even though for other months they would notify me within a week of the payment. The app is unreliable. And obviously the monthly fee of 150$ is RIDICULOUSLY unnecessary.
Customer service is terrible, I “missed a test” because I walked away from my car for a few minutes to let it defrost, but I came back in and blew for the machine and PASSED and it still notified me my car would be locked out in 4 days, despite proving it wrong by immediately PASSING THE TEST AND THEN DRIVING. Called multiple times to sort it out and no one has ever answered, on hold for hours at a time even though I called during their regular hours.
Terrible service, unreliable app, and wallet gauging that borders on extortion
Besides that, I did however One Time let it slip my mind that I had to pay, and the app NEVER NOTIFIED ME OF THE UPCOMING PAYMENT, even though for other months they would notify me within a week of the payment. The app is unreliable. And obviously the monthly fee of 150$ is RIDICULOUSLY unnecessary.
Customer service is terrible, I “missed a test” because I walked away from my car for a few minutes to let it defrost, but I came back in and blew for the machine and PASSED and it still notified me my car would be locked out in 4 days, despite proving it wrong by immediately PASSING THE TEST AND THEN DRIVING. Called multiple times to sort it out and no one has ever answered, on hold for hours at a time even though I called during their regular hours.
Terrible service, unreliable app, and wallet gauging that borders on extortion
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Garbage, Predatory Company
This company will install a device that constantly malfunctions, provide the worst customer service imaginable, and gouge you for every penny you have. Smart Start should be shut down and replaced with a company that actually tries to serve its customers. Don’t drink and drive.
Surpass my time
So i surpassed my 6 months having the interlock it’s already been 9 months and i still haven’t gotten any response from smart start no emails or any phone call from them to help me remove this. I already had to replace it twice this past year and I want it gone since I already served my time.
Terrible
Can’t get signed up for the portal. Been waiting on the phone for two hours now waiting to speak with someone. What would I do if I really was locked out and needed help. Get it together
Constant interlock malfunction
Constantly not starting my vehicle even though I don’t drink or mess with my Interlock device only use it to drive to work and back and my dui classes. The smart start workers are no help. I’m not going to pay for a tow truck to get my car there if I can’t even afford it with all these dui payments. Bad service and no help
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Horrible customer service
Very bad customer service, most shops don’t care about you. You WILL keep jumping though legal loop holes with these guys. App keeps crashing and not user friendly.
No Issues Ever!
Device works as it should every time with no issues. The app works as it should every time with no issues. What’s up with all of these 1 star reviews? Smart Start is the best company out of every ignition interlock device. I think that people are still drinking alcohol which is why they keep receiving false readings. You’re not supposed to consume and alcohol for the duration of your sentence. It’s printed right in your court ordered paperwork. Don’t drink and the device will work correctly every single time.
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