Reviews
This profile includes reviews for Smart Start's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see
Customer Review Ratings
Average of 109 Customer Reviews
Want to share your experience?
Leave a ReviewReview Details
Review fromDominique H
Date: 06/23/2025
1 starAs you may know getting a DWI comes with a very costly punishment. On top of court cost, there is also interlock installation cost, and monthly fees that go along with that. Smart Start is who I decide to go with so that I can continue to drive legally. When I first signed the documents, I opted out of automatic payments. After reading some reviews and knowing a few others who also used Smart Start there was a complaint that they were set up on auto payments that never came out. Suddenly, the customer has a large balance they are unable to pay all at once. I did not want this to happen to me, so I opted out of auto pay. It was never disclosed in the original paperwork I signed that there will be a fee associated if I opt out of this This is a rip-off to customers. Once I did that, I noticed that there is a $5.00 fee if we do not choose autopay. I have heard of people being able to save a few dollars by being on auto pay but never getting charged for not wanting it. Then when you call this company to talk to someone about it, all they do is continue to transfer the call. I was transferred 4 times before I gave up which I suspect is what they want customers to do. Me personally have experienced issues regarding payment as well. I always pay on the portal and then I just pay my collaboration fee at the location I visit. Now each time I go to get a collab done, I have to call Smart Start to get an override because there is always a large outstanding balance on my account. On top of this, I am now getting daily automated calls from Smart Start stating I need to contact them about my payment. This is an inconvenience to me and the business, but Smart Start charges the customer $5.00 for not being on auto pay. This is very inconsiderate and costly overtime considering they have also recently raised their pricing. What makes this even worse is according to their customer support department, ********************** is aware of the issue but has done nothing to fix this.Review fromBooker T
Date: 06/16/2025
1 starBooker T
Date: 06/16/2025
***********************. I had an appointment scheduled for today, and a scheduled shop visit for Wednesday (for some reason) I showed up with a FUNCTIONING DEVICE AND ACCOUNT and left with a ************** lockout and an 80 dollar tab tacked on to the 80 dollars I JUST spent. How the f*** do I get accused of having a locked out device when I DROVE SAID VEHICLE WITH DEVICE to the location? This is the third time I've been on the receiving end of a hiccup on THEIR account and forced to pay. What's worse is that a lot of folks are court ordered to have these devices installed. It should be a f****** crime for companies to swoop in, steal a government contract, then proceed to offer the worst service seen on the planet.
Smart Start
Date: 06/18/2025
Hello, your account was reviewed, and a credit was issued for the service lockout fee. Please have the Technician check the unit schedule the next time you come in for service.Review fromJERMAINE M
Date: 06/16/2025
1 starI have been dealing with Smart Start for over a year now. I'm finished with the program and it just seems that they are doing everything they can to keep me as a costumer. My finished date is 01/14/2025. No one ever told me the proper steps I have to take in order to end this program. Why is there zero communication between Smart Start and the Dmv? How is it that Smart Start doesn't know the time when you are finished with the program? Is that just a way you keep costumes paying when they are completely finished with the program? Also I encountered device issues that has coast me money. My device has black screened on me 3 times. Each time I had to pay to get it towed to the shop. This current time the device black screened during a test while driving. So now there's a missed test on my record and a lockout with the fee. The vendor made notation on the account that the device had a electric program and it was not my fault. Smart Start is still making me go through the loops to have this mater resolved. Waiting on a response from the compliance team. I shouldn't have to pay for a faulty device that wasn't properly installed!Review fromAmanda M
Date: 06/16/2025
1 starI was locked out of my vehicle because it wouldnt let me blow in the device. Had to have my car towed $365, they never paid me back and the device is STILL malfunctioning and they refuse to fix it!Review fromR. N.
Date: 06/15/2025
1 starR. N.
Date: 06/15/2025
Absolutely the worst company *** ever had interaction with. **************** is outsourced to ***** and is a complete joke. Every time I call them I get different instructions and they have always refused to allow me to speak to someone in charge.Smart Start
Date: 06/18/2025
Hello, I am unable to locate an account under this name or email address. Please provide a driver's license number and date of birth.R. N.
Date: 06/21/2025
That exemplifies how unprofessional your company is. Let me post my name, DOB and drivers license number on a public website. Thanks for proving my point!Review fromMelissa M
Date: 06/11/2025
1 starMelissa M
Date: 06/11/2025
Smart Start started out strong but have failed miserably with communication. If there is an issue with your device or your service date, you will NOT get in contact with a human. Their phone is an automated menu and will not let you get to any customer service ***** The chat feature never has live agents on it (I tried all day on Tuesday and Wednesday but was told no one was available). Smart Start chose to schedule my service date for a Sunday when none of their service locations are open and when I have tried to address this through calls, chats, and emails no one is working.Smart Start
Date: 06/13/2025
Hello, your account shows the next appointment date is scheduled for July 24, 2025, which is a Thursday. Please check the client portal to confirm this appointment date.Review fromAustin B
Date: 06/05/2025
1 starAustin B
Date: 06/05/2025
Absolutely terrible company and the state of ******** ***** as well. I have had so many issues with my device and no one at ********************** seems to help or care they just want their money. Smart start is a f****** terrible company to use for your interlock. They keep changing how they do things and payment process. The state of Colorado and this company just wants more money they dont care about their clients and the state of ******** does not care about their residents when they are trying to make positive changes in their life they just keep punishing you. Smart start can not handle their business professionally and effectively.Smart Start
Date: 06/06/2025
Hello, if you are experiencing problems with the ignition interlock device please go to any of our service centers and have the Technician inspect the device. They can also provide additional training if necessary. You can also call Smart Start at **************, or communicate via our chat option.Review fromFabiola F
Date: 06/03/2025
1 starFabiola F
Date: 06/03/2025
I don't even know know where to start of how unprofessional and shady this company is. They take advantage of peoples misfortune. They tack on charges and do no give you an explanation as to why. The only thing they say is to submit an incident report and someone would get back to you in 7-10 business days. I submitted a report on April 24th 2025. It is now June 3rd 2025 and absolutely no one has called, emailed or texted me as to the decisions and the charges are still on my account. I called in May to ask about the decision and they said it was still under review. I come to do my service that is due on June 8th according to my documents and they can't service it because of the past due balance. I called tried to advise the collection agent about the incident report and all she said was that I had to make the payment or the account would remain locked and I would not be able to make the calibration. I asked to speak to her supervisor or manager and she said that they would not be able to help me get the charge off, I said that all I wanted was to talk to a supervisor in the collection department and she said that she was just going to transfer me to client services to take it up with them. Did not wait for me to say anything and transfers me, once at client services they say they can't find my account I asked what other information I could give them so it would help she then just disconnects my call. All this while waiting to get my system calibrated. I finally decided to make the payment that was wrongfully due, just so my system wouldn't get locked out and so that I could get it calibrated. Once everything was said and done they said that there was another locked out fee. I was so upset and asked the guy why if I was coming in 6 days prior to the lockout and all he could say was that he did not know and to file an incident report (WTF) another one so it can just be ignored like the first one. I am outraged with all of this and will be going to the consumer agencySmart Start
Date: 06/06/2025
Hello, a review of your account shows that you are due a reimbursement / credit for a missed appointment fee, and two system service lockout fees. These have been credited to your Smart Start account, you will receive a service ticket via email showing the credit.Smart Start
Date: 06/06/2025
Hello, a review of your account shows that you are due a reimbursement / credit for a missed appointment fee, and two system service lockout fees. These have been credited to your Smart Start account, you will receive a service ticket via email showing the credit.Review fromVictor U
Date: 06/02/2025
1 starVictor U
Date: 06/02/2025
Smart start is ******** they shorted me 2 days on a recalibration and when I called them on it they said sorry we cant do anything but the get the customer to pay for a recalibration and their customer service ***** they want you to not get ahold of of anyone.SCREW smart startSmart Start
Date: 06/06/2025
Smart Start does not short days between recalibration. On occasion, there is overlap or a gap between when a payment is made and when a service appointment is conducted. If you need detailed account information you can reach our credit and collections department directly at ************.Review fromB. M.
Date: 06/02/2025
1 starB. M.
Date: 06/02/2025
Hands down, the most unprofessional company with beyond terrible customer service. From day one, i have signed up for autopay, paid my installer directly for installation and calibration. Installer is an independent contractor and is wonderful. I've been charged >$350 for late fees and missed appointments that were fictitious. I have been to ever appointment, on-time, and paid the contractor with debit card which he provided me with all the receipts. They say I am in collections. Absolutely no one to talk to get assistance. Recently received a new debit card with new security code, so I contacted them to update my account to continue autopay..They won't allow me to do that since i'm now in collections for something that is totally wrong. Exotortion!Smart Start
Date: 06/03/2025
All services are by appointment only and are scheduled at each service visit. Our system does not allow for a service appointment to be completed until the next appointment date is set. If you do not come in as scheduled you will be charged a missed appointment fee. If you have questions related to your account please contact our credit department directly at ************.B. M.
Date: 06/09/2025
That is a canned answer that gets no resolution to the issue. I will continue to work through my independent contractor for all service appointments and payments. It appears that you are taking advantage of your customers by crafting technicalities for missed appointment/late fees. Give me a call if you have anyone within your organization who is willing to get to the root cause and work with me on a solution. Worst **************** that i have ever experienced!
BBB Business Profiles may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes.
BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. However, BBB does not verify the accuracy of information provided by third parties, and does not guarantee the accuracy of any information in Business Profiles.
When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.
BBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period, except for customer reviews. Customer reviews posted prior to July 5, 2024, will no longer be published when they reach three years from their submission date. Customer reviews posted on/after July 5, 2024, will be published indefinitely unless otherwise voluntarily retracted by the user who submitted the content, or BBB no longer believes the review is authentic. BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. If you choose to do business with this company, please let them know that you checked their record with BBB.
As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not sought BBB accreditation. BBB charges a fee for BBB Accreditation. This fee supports BBB's efforts to fulfill its mission of advancing marketplace trust.