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Business Profile

Auto Electric Equipment

Smart Start

Headquarters

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BBB Accredited BusinessA-Rated by BBB

Complaints

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

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    Customer Complaints Summary

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

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    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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    • Initial Complaint

      Date:07/13/2022

      Type:Order 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.
      In ********************************************************** my car. I did not receive the device (or a vehicle) until 2017. Once I installed a smart start interlock device via a certified installer I kept it for over 4 months. This allowed me to lift my flag on my license from the state of ** (where I resided in the first half of 2012) and receive a license in CA (where I have resided since the second half of 2012).From that point, I removed the Interlock device via the same certified installer that installed it. Now in 2022, I have been trying to renew my license and received information on why it can not be issued to me. ** department of licensing needs a 4 month Compliance Report submitted from Smart Start. I reached out to Smart Start about this and they replied that they would not submit the required form. They instead demand that I pay them for another 4 months in order to receive my form to be able to continue my life. Their reasoning is that I removed my device prior to the *** "end date". However this was cleared in 2017 per the *** and Smart Start (this is why I was able to get my license after this ordeal in the first place). I reached out to ** *** about this issue and was told that Smart Start could still send the report and they would fully accept it. I was in an email conversation with Smart Start during this time. They have not responded since the first time they felt it was acceptable to now retract the original approval for my removal of the device. They demand I pay for 9 total months in order to get a 4 month report because it was removed before the posted "end date", 5 years later.All I am asking is that Smart Start submit the report, as the ** *** has already said they will accept it due to the fact that I had the device for over 4 months, no further issues since that year and because we are 5 years past the end date.I'd honestly settle for paying the full amount they'd get from me for the 4 months as that is their end goal anyway.

      Business Response

      Date: 07/21/2022

      Hello, Per our Operations Manager, The agent misinformed ****************** about the 4month certificate. Smart Start has submitted 4month certificate to WA DOL and they have added to his driver record. ****************** may confirm with WA DOL ************ that 4month certificate is on record and no IID required.

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