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Business Profile

Auto Electric Equipment

Smart Start Ignition Interlock

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

Find BBB Accredited Businesses in Auto Electric Equipment.

Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Smart Start Ignition Interlock's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

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Smart Start Ignition Interlock has 2 locations, listed below.

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    Customer Complaints Summary

    • 3 total complaints in the last 3 years.
    • 2 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

    If you've experienced an issue

    Submit a Complaint

    The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

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    Complaint status

    Complaint type

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:03/02/2025

      Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      Device broke for the second time in 5 months. Pick any company on the list but this one. Horrible service. Just adds tremendous stress to a bad situation.

      Business Response

      Date: 03/04/2025

      Hello, we replied to another complaint from this customer yesterday, 3/3/2025, complaint ID ********. Our response to that complaint was: Hello, the customer's account does not show any additional charges for services rendered or lockout fees. There is a note in the account dated March 2nd that the customer contacted ********************************************* stating: "Continuing to miss my windows because my device ceased to work for the 2nd time in 5 months and less than 2 months after receiving the new one. Tech support is just resetting over and over which is a waste of time. Overnight me a new device to swap out." On March 3rd a note was entered by Smart Start stating: "Device ********** is programmed and is ready to be shipped to either a ************** or the client's home. The unit swap is being done to ensure reliablity and on-going compliance with court orders. 
      There is no indication that a refund or credit is due, therefore, the request for an $1,800 refund is denied.

      Our response is the same for both complaints. There is also a note in the account dated 3/3/2025 as follows: Device picked up with tracking number 1ZE556940390271302.
       Shipment notice was sent to client via text message. 

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:01/12/2025

      Type:Customer Service Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      these ppl are very rude an very unhelpful. I have made complaints about going up in price and charging fees when I was never notified of a change. I requested funds back from them with no help. I have asked for supervisors and never get to speak with one. After 3 years of this, it is ridiculous. I have requested funds be returned and no help from anyone. This is the worst company to use ever. I still have to deal with them for another year unless I want to go through a big ordeal along with another pricey process because they are taking advantage of the fact that people have to do this process. I pay monthly and now they want us to pay the *** to service the device so they dont have to. 86 a month and now 113 a month and they cant even work with people. I was overcharged twice over "fees" that were added for random issues. This company is RIDICULOUS....AND OVERPRICED.

      Business Response

      Date: 01/23/2025

      Hello, your account shows that you had the ignition interlock system installed in December 2021 at which time the monthly charge was $74.50 (plus tax). There has been one price increase which occurred in 2023, the price was increased by $5.00 per month to $79.50 (plus tax). The only other fees that have been assessed over the past three years are normal and customary charges for missed appointments and violation lockouts. If you have any questions regarding billing, please contact our credit and collections department at **************. 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 01/23/2025

      I am rejecting this response because: they say charges haven't changed but they changed in 2024 also.  The company that does calibration is no longer included to service the equipment that WAS included in the beginning which makes it cost additional $25 plus tax.  So now it cost over $100 monthly to service and because the system has me come back a week later to calibrate they want to charge me $86 twice in one month which isn't my fault and when I call for assistance I am just blown off and told I can't be helped with a mistake that wasn't mine.  When the late fees started no notification was sent out to anyone about this new process either.  So by going the next day after appt I was charged $35 for that also.  I never had an actual appt time to service equipment nor additional fees for 3 years.  I only have 9 months left and now all the charges and fees change!

      Business Response

      Date: 01/23/2025

      The calibration fee is charged by the service provider which is an independent contractor of Smart Start. Due to a pricing and billing structure change the service provider now charges customers directly for any service that they perform. Smart Start emailed notices to our customers regarding this change and posted this information in each service center so that customers would be aware of the change prior to the changes taking affect.We are aware that not all customers saw the email due to issues such as incorrect addresses being in our system, and emails possibly going into spam or junk folders. This is why the notices were also posted. Late / Missed appointment fees were handled in the same manner.

      Customer Answer

      Date: 01/26/2025

      I am rejecting this response because:   No email was sent out about the late fees that started and again I do not expect to be charged for calibration TWICE when that was not my fault.  And yes it is more money due to the fact that the you dont pay for the service of YOUR EQUIPMENT any longer.  We have to pay to have your equipment serviced now.  So yes it is over $100 a month now.   I dont expect you to correct the issue because I have called and complained about the service with this company before and nothing was ever done.   I would recommend that anyone that has to go through this uses another company from the beginning.

    Smart Start Ignition Interlock is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.

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