Complaint Review: LifeSafer - Ohio

April 30, 22 the interlock ignition device was installed in my car. I my first violation upon coming home from installer because the IID did not shut off with the car. The next day on Saturday April 31, 22 the same thing occured, resulting in another violation but I could not go back to the installer because it was the weekend.

May 2, 22 Monday morning I went back to the installer and explained that the device does not shut off with the car. He checked it out and said he will make a memo to LifeSafer so they are aware there may be an issue with the device itself & that a new device may have to be reinstalled.

I told him I figued out if I shut off the car and turn it back on and off and on and off, at some point the IID finally registers the ignition being off and powers down. He told me the device powers off after 1-2 minutes after turning off the car & I should not have to turn the car on & off numerous times.   

I called LifeSafer to complain about two charges of $58.49 for service calls.  I told them that I will not be paying these charges due to the fact that it was malfunctions of the device that caused me the violations. They waived the fees. 

The problem continued but I would turn off/on my car until the device decided to turn off properly. I did not like doing this especially with the high gas prices. Sometimes the device would shut down with my car and I could exit on the first try. That would be a good day. 

I was shocked when I got a notice a few weeks later from the Dept. of Motor Vehicles stating that because I had two violations, I need to have the device in my car for 60 more days! (30 days for each offense which is $124.61 for each month) I was astonished that LifeSafer does not review each case before reporting violations to DMV.

The fact that LifeSafer waived the charges and having a memo from the mechanic stating the device was not shutting down with the car should have been suffice evidence that it was not I who violated a mandated blow into the device but a malfunctioning device that caused the violations.

June 30, 22 I had to exit the vehicle to go to a physical therapy appointment. The device was not shutting down. I had no choice but to leave it & go to my therapy. After the therapy, I went directly to the mechanic who installed the device and told him what happened. He confirmed I got a violation because of it and he will be contacting LifeSafer. He made me an appointment for the next day. 

I got home and immediately called LifeSafer to tell them the situation. I told them that this is such a stressful situation for me. I told them I need all documentations in regards to my complaints about their device. The associate said she can't send them to me unless I have a subpoena from court. I felt like ripping all my hair out at this point.

Every time they would transfer me to their reporting department, the call would disconnect or I would leave a message to get no call back. I wanted them to notify DMV to tell them the device was faulty so I would not get a 3rd violation. I told the associate that I even have videos showing how the device stays on with the car shut off. She told me to send it so I did. I was 100% sure they would agree that the device was malfuntioning.

July 1, 22 At my appointment the next day, the mechanic says LifeSafer sent him new instructions and he has to rewire some wires, which I saw him do. Ever since then the IID FINALLY shuts off  with my car. 

Since then, I've gotten my third violation notice from DMV stating I have to have the device in for yet another month. This brings me to have to have it in my car for 9 months instead of the 6 months initally required. I can't help but feel this is a good mandation gone wrong.

Keeping drunk drivers off the streets is a great thing, profitting off sober drivers is another thing. I cannot work for an additonal 3 months because of my experience with this company (I drive for a living & my employer does not allow IID in their vehicles). I would never refer anyone to use LifeSafer. The handling of this matter has been unprofessional and disheartening.

As of this writing, they wrote me an email that they reviewed the videos and deem the violations were not as a result of malfunction of the device! I can't explain how any manager watching me have to be in a hot vehincle when I've turned off my car and want to leave my vehicle but have to keep blowing into their device over 5 minutes as not being a device issue.

To my horror this nightmare continues for me. They told me to take it up with DMV. The DMV needs documentation from me proving my case. I have no documentations because LifeSafer won't provide any. It is only my notetaking which I doubt will be enough to plea my case with DMV to have violations removed.

When I asked the mechanic for the memos he wrote to LifeSafer each time I went back to him with the problem or even a statement from him, he said unfortunately LifeSafer won't let him.