Reviews

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

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  Smart Start

  500 E Dallas Rd Ste 100 Grapevine, TX 76051-7658

  
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  Smart Start

  1315 S Water Ave Gallatin, TN 37066-5016

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  Smart Start

  3801 N 35th Ave Phoenix, AZ 85017-4412

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  Smart Start

  9950 W Van Buren St Avondale, AZ 85323

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  Smart Start Ignition Interlock

  263 Patrick St Lewisburg, WV 24901

Review Details

• Review fromRobert J

  Date: 04/22/2023

  1 star
  They are not at all what they claim. They do not honor their obligations and their customer service is terrible the location are closing at a high rate from poor customer service you must drive at least 30 miles for service on vehicle. The help holiness is hard to get ahold of someone knowledgeable to get you back driving the wait time is minimal30 minutes to talk to someone and the list goes on! I am very unhappy with the way this company handles its customers.

• Review fromPrisciliano V

  Date: 04/18/2023

  1 star

  Prisciliano V

  Date: 04/18/2023

  Mi nombre *********************************** 3 aos con start star mi abogado me digo 180 tengo 3 anos no puedes quitar por esta gente de start smar nunca mando los papeles siempre por cualquier cosa me regresaban otros 6 soy muy coructos la no agarren esta compaa son muy rateros cuidado con ellos hay compania mejores aparte los costumer service es malicimo Los mecanisco de ellos te tratan como si fueran policia
  

  Smart Start

  Date: 04/21/2023

  Hello, I am unsure as to the exact nature of this complaint, however, in reviewing the account the ignition interlock requirement was extended by the state (not Smart Start) for for an additional 180 days due to a violation of the state program rules and regulations. The ignition interlock device is required to log program violations defined by the state monitoring authorities and this data is provided to the state. Smart Start can not alter any data, and the state authorities determine if the data constitutes a program vioaltion.

• Review fromAdam G

  Date: 03/14/2023

  1 star

  Adam G

  Date: 03/14/2023

  My name is ********************* I'm from ****** ******** I have paid thousands of dollars to Smart start and have got a violation probably every month I'd say violation lockout saying I've got alcohol my breath I haven't drank a drop since I got my DWI these people ripping us off we just paid $250 today to get my all my stuff paid for them just because they're wiring wasn't done right it blew fusing my car which cost me not to be able to make it to the stereo shop in ****** and and have it recalibrated I called and begged and pleaded for them to give me another code so I can make it to the shop when I finally found what was causing my car to fail and not drive they refuse to do so told me that I was not going to get another code that it was not their problem basically told me I needed to call driver control in *********** they said they had nothing to do with it and didn't do anything about it so I just spent my $250 and got told this too bad this place is a rip off I suggest anybody that has to get a interlock did not use Smart start they're a joke they're rip off their scam the only out to like a vampire to **** you dry and take your money and run
  

  Smart Start

  Date: 03/16/2023

  Hello, I reviewed the account and the data logs. There were three separate violations logged due to skipped tests. The program rules and regulations are established by the state, and require an ignition interlock device to enter lockout mode if a violation of the rules is logged. The state requires that skipped tests be logged and result in a lockout which is what happened on all three occassions. Typically this is due to a vehicle being started and left unattended while it warms up. This is not a device malfunction therefore the lockout fees are charged. The data logs show that the device is functioning properly and in accordance with the state requirements.

• Review fromShauna K

  Date: 03/13/2023

  1 star
  If I could rate this company with zero or negative stars, I would. It has been the most horrific, ridiculous, stressful money scam I've ever encountered. I've been dealing with a faulty device the entire year that it has been installed in my vehicle. Because of this, I got multiple violation lockouts, which made it so I had to have it calibrated again, and usually only days after I just had one, and on top of that pay for a violation fee. This happened so many times that there were months that I would try not to drive my own vehicle because it would lock me out and sometimes I'd be stranded with my small children (2yr old and 1 yr old twins). I would have to make incident reports in order to be refunded for the violation fee ONLY as a credit to my account, they never refunded me for any of the additional calibrations. Every incident report I made, I was refunded for the violation so that shows it was never my fault, and I am at least grateful for their acknowledgement of that. It messed with the computer in my vehicle and my check engine light has been on since it's install. When I couldn't afford to pay for, nor did I constantly have the time to go multiples times a month because I work A LOT to pay my bills, care for my children and put money in their pockets for yet another violation that was a result of their faulty equipment that occurred on Christmas Day, they sent a noncompliance to PENNDOT and got me a two month extension on my required time. I urge and WARN everyone.. DO NOT GO THROUGH THIS COMPANY FOR YOUR INTERLOCK. IT IS A SCAM TO TAKE AS MUCH MONEY FROM YOU AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY RUINING YOUR VEHICLE.

• Review fromJo N

  Date: 03/01/2023

  1 star

  Jo N

  Date: 03/01/2023

  Returned a handheld device. The person in the store said everything is good. A month later I get billed. I called in takes 30 minutes to get a hold of somebody. They said that they will call the store to check - they attempt and cant even call the store. I talk to somebody in collections they tell me they can't reach somebody in the store and that the charge will continue to auto bill. I have disputed the pending charge on my credit card company and will continue to notify my credit card company of what has happened.Wouldn't trust this business.
  

  Smart Start

  Date: 03/09/2023

  Hello, I am working on this complaint with our ********************** Please contact me directly so that I can resolve this situation. *********************, ************************************

• Review fromLamarqua F

  Date: 01/31/2023

  1 star

  Lamarqua F

  Date: 01/31/2023

  Their device begin giving me issues and left me stranded in a parking lot and caused me to miss a schedule real estate appointment with clients to show a house. The device would not stay powered on for the most part and when it did initialize and ask for me to "blow" it immediately would give an error. My truck was left sitting all weekend without the ability to start it. Im a realtor, a missed out on a $400k real estate contract because I couldnt meet clients and had to refer the client to someone else. Called customer service about the issue and they were no help and was transferred to a manager only to be sent to voice-mail after being on hold for 15mins. Had to tow my truck to Smartstart 2 days start costing me $239.20 in addition to the money lost over the weekend. Their rep by the name of ******************************* confirmed that the hand held device was the issue and replaced it with another device. I requested a refund the amount of towing my vehicle ($239.20), missed work from full time job 01/23/2023 iao $175.00 (5hrs x $35per hour). They declined to reimburse me my full amount for the tow stating they needed a itemized receipt. I uploaded the receipt provided by the tow company, pics of my vehicle in **** **** transaction. They credited my smart start acct less $89 instead of issuing me a full refund. Smh At a bare minimum SmartStart should have mobile technicians available 7 days a week to service vehicles due to faulty equipment...this would prevent customers from accruing charges for having their vehicles towed. Then no one is available on the weekends to resolve the issue which completely screws customers and leave them potentially vehicleless for days. And apparently this is a common issue based upon reviews that I have seen and talking to several other people who have experienced the same issue. Talked to a woman that stated she towed her vehicle 3 times because of issues with the device. Unacceptable!! **************** if you want to fix issue
  

  Smart Start

  Date: 02/02/2023

  Hello, I reviewed the notes in the account as well as the incident report. Based on this information I have issued a credit for the balance of the tow ($89) and added one month of free service. The total credit to the Smart Start account was $181.00. Please contact me directly at ************************************ if I can be of further assistance.

• Review fromCassandra I.

  Date: 12/24/2022

  1 star

  Cassandra I.

  Date: 12/24/2022

  C.I I paid my bill for smart start on 12/12/2022. It was deducted from my account. My appointment for calibration was on 12/14/22, but I called and rescheduled it for 12/16/22. The mechanic said I had 4 days before or four days after my appointment date to service the vehicle. He said Friday at 8 am was fine. I went in two days after 12/16/22 During calibration the mechanic came to the car and said, credit card please. I said, for what, I was told not to make any payments to the shop. He said they, smart start is requesting *****. I told him no they are not, I paid on 12/12/22, and pulled up my email with a confirmation and showed him. He finished the calibration, but when I got home and looked at my receipt, it says I owe ***** which is my monthly payment. He had ***** (curtosey) and 20 ( for some lockout). Then the ***** is on there as due. The receipt normally say 0.0 with my next automatic payment on the portal. There was no lockout the device had 2 days in hours displaying on the device until lockout. On my account it says next payment due in February as well as my next service appointment. Furthermore, it skipped january payment so is the pass due amount for ******** If so, January has not arrived yet so nothing is past due! I'm confused as to why I have a past due amount of ***** when I just paid you guys on 12/12/22. Can someone explain why I just paid for December but have an outstanding balance?
  

  Smart Start

  Date: 12/27/2022

  Hello, I am working with our accounting department to correct this situation. Ms. ******* account is showing a balance due of $98.70 however the next service date is not until February 14, 2023. Please contact me directly at ************************************ so that I can insure this is resolved.

  Cassandra I.

  Date: 12/27/2022

  I did contact someone who stated that the payment was for ******* 2023. For whatever reason, the technician serviced the vehicle for two months on 12/16/2022. She said that as long as I pay by ******* I should be fine I am not sure why this was charged like this when I have automatic payments setup. Can you make sure this is the case and that I don't encounter any lockout issues due to this past due bill. It is still December and this month has been paid. ******* is not here yet so nothing should be past due!Thanks

• Review fromTyler L.

  Date: 09/30/2022

  1 star
  This company is charging more for interlock installations than the court says they should. Theyre also charging over double the amount for calibrations each month than another local provider.

• Review fromTyler L.

  Date: 09/30/2022

  1 star

  Tyler L.

  Date: 09/30/2022

  This company is charging more than the ************************ allows. They are charging over double the amount for calibrations as another local provider.
  

  Smart Start

  Date: 10/03/2022

  Greetings. I have confirmed that Smart Start's pricing in the ***************** is within the pricing limitations required by the State. Regarding the calibration fee, Smart Start charges $75 per month which includes the lease and calibration fee. Some competitors charge the lease and calibration as separate line items.