On July 2, 2026, I had a confirmed appointment at Central Auto Center (3164 Davis Blvd., Naples,…read moreFL) for a Smart Start ignition interlock installation. I arrived at 8:30 a.m. as scheduled and was told by an employee that the installer was running late. About 30 minutes later, I was told they would begin the installation anyway and calibrate the device later. After waiting until approximately 10:25 a.m., I was informed that the installer was not coming at all. I lost nearly two hours of my time and had to reschedule.
My rescheduled appointment was on July 16, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Before leaving for the appointment, I called at approximately 8:19 a.m. to confirm that the installer was there and that arriving at 9:00 a.m. was appropriate. I was told everything was fine. Due to traffic, I arrived about 10 minutes late.
After I arrived and began completing the paperwork with an employee, the owner entered the office. I greeted him, but he immediately became angry, raising his voice and stating that my appointment had been at 8:30 a.m. I explained that I had called that morning, confirmed the installer was present, and confirmed my arrival time of 9:00 a.m.
The owner then asked whether I had a ride home. I said no because I had previously been told I needed to remain on-site to receive instructions. He then told me the installation would take all day, that my vehicle might not be ready until 5:00 p.m. or even the following day, and that it was a very complicated installation.
When I mentioned that the installer had not shown up for my original July 2 appointment, he replied, "Yeah, that was me." Before I could continue, he began yelling at me, told me to "get the hell out" of his office, stated that he would not install the device, and continued shouting as I gathered my belongings to leave.
During the exchange, the employee who had been helping me left the office. I felt intimidated and unsafe, so I left as quickly as I could. As I was leaving, the owner continued yelling additional unpleasant comments at me.
I understand that schedules change and delays happen. However, there is no excuse for treating a customer this way. This experience was unprofessional, intimidating, and completely unacceptable. Because this is the closest Smart Start installer to where I live, I was disappointed that I was left without a nearby option. I hope this review helps others make an informed decision when choosing an ignition interlock installer.
