Guardian Interlock

I am writing this review on behalf of my partner who was stranded in a dangerous & remote location beside a 110kmh Freeway in 35° + heat when her interlock went off with an alarm which was unexpected, after retrieving the car from the garage where it had been repaired. After much distress and a further charge, after the initial mechanics code, my… Read more

partner was charged an additional $66 for 2 hours of driveability which was too late to get to a service centre on time. Upon speaking to the Guardian call centre person and her supervisor they indicated that they were not responsible for what had happened and requested more payment for a code just to drive to a service centre to get the violation removed. The violation had occurred when the car was at the garage where it was being repaired and not in the hands of my partner. My partner is still in distress from this whole scenario.

My experience with this device has been frustratingly familiar to many others. Despite multiple attempts to resolve issues, I've encountered repeated failures. The "brain" and camera have both been replaced, but the problems persist. The unit's inability to detect when my car is turned off led to frequent violock notifications for missed samples.… Read more

I've made several trips back to the installer, who have been great but are clearly struggling with a flawed product.

Today, the device malfunctioned again, and my vehicle wouldn't start. A hard restart, as advised by the support team, got things working again, but I'm scheduled to return to the service center once more. It's been less than two months since I got this device, and it's already been a constant source of problems - even after transferring it to a different vehicle. If you're considering this product, take a close look at reviews like mine and consider alternatives. On a personal note, I'm 19 months sober, so my issues aren't related to any failed breath tests.

Terrible service always reading minor bac levels quick to add fees and terrible phone service I would not recommend to anyone smart start was a much better service if you need a interlock

Guardian Interlock scammers – Scammers defaulty equipment will have you getting told to the shop over and over again while they tell you that just bring it on in worse experience ever if you want to be stuck at various places over and over again sign up for these scammers

Stay away from guardian interlock – Do not go with guardian interlock. Extremely bad interlock, I only had it in for 5 days and got it taken out, couldn't wait to get it out. This humming and breathing is rubbish, couldn't get the thing to work, keeps saying, humm longer, breathe longer, it made my battery go flat with all the trying, had to get it towed to get it out. I now have… Read more

the drager interlock and it is wonderful and starts 1st time, so easy to use. Don't get guardian, go with drager. Also with guardian they always texting you saying you owe money and calling me and I never owed any money, so they stressed me out with all the texts and calls. No stress with Drager.

Nothing will happen until you forward you complaints to the DoT and they remove this company from their website – Hi there, I reviewed the 3 interlock companies on the DoT website and Guardian did not fare well. I contacted the DoT to report my findings and after 3 hours waiting I actually spoke to a member of staff. The staff member said that the CIO vets all companies advertised on their website, clearly he/she did not do their job and is probably… Read more

untouchable, unaccountable, and on a very good salary.

I complained to the DoT, sent a couple of emails and received a couple of 'nothing' replies, standard nonsense, I asked that my emails be forwarded to the CIO and I be allowed to speak to the CIO, no reply of course but what did I expect?

This is a Government department and it should behave responsibly, promoting alleged scams should be illegal!

If you send your complaints, including any evidence to the following member of staff, perhaps we can make some progress, there is no point wasting your time on the phone.

Prasanna Email: dssai@transport.wa.gov.au A/Driver Suitability Coordinator Driver Services Team | Driver and Vehicle Services Department of Transport GPO Box R1290, Perth WA 6844 Tel: 13 11 56 Web: www.transport.wa.gov.au

Have a great day and kind regards, Derek

Legalised Scammers by NSW Government, – The Guardian System fitted to Captiva I own. Always difficult to use and unreliable. They for everything us the word “VIOLATION” to get more money out of me. Just scammers that they NSW Government and RMS approve. My battery went flat and I committed another Violation and then was locked out from starting my car. I am a single mother with 4… Read more

dependent kids and need my car for all the family. To get the car going after replacing the car battery they charged me $70 to send another code to my mobile phone. The codes don’t often work and then I get charged again for another $70 for another code from them. Each month I have to take the car to them for “calibration” and charged $140 for what they claim is a “calibration”. All they do is to plug in a lap top and down load a months worth of data. If this calibration is missed then I’m threaten by Guardian that my licence will lost for 5 years. Remember I’m a single mother of 4 and live where there is very little public transport and my licence is essential for all my children. The engine in my Captiva had timing chain problems and the car was off the road for a month while my father repaired it in between his busy job commitments. I was given a dead line date by Guardian to have the car going or I would be kicked out of the program and licence cancelled for 5 years. When the engine repairs where complete the Guardian system still had the vehicle locked out and my father could not test run the engine. The Guardian breath analyser and hand piece was then intermittently faulty and ever if I got a code from guardian they needed a code from the hand held device by selecting #5 to send to Guardian before they send a code to unlock the immobiliser to start the car. Guardian refused to send another easy plug in breath analyser hand piece stating that the car would not to be taken to them by a Tow Truck that would cost me $500. This company are committing fraud and the NSW Government as sanctioning it. They are true legal scammers just extorting money out of people who cannot afford all their fines which they term “ VIOLATIONS”. I class action on this company or the minister behind this scammer should commence or this company charged for fraud and violating human rights and a real company appointed to get rid of these money hungary extortionists. This is not the Australian way of not giving a fare go to people who acknowledge they have made a mistake and drank and drove. All Guardian are doing besides making millions of dollars is abusing people like me for a human error and repeating the agony and it has made me very anxious and I don’t need or deserve that ongoing puishment. Thanks to all those who are interested to read my factual report here.

Faulty – Faulty unit I had to get removed myself by an auto electrician and returned at my own cost to guardian - and they still kept charging lease fees! I paid them then they continued charging more and continued to threaten with more fees for debt collection!

DONT BOTHER – The product is extremely difficult to use !! Do not recommend if asthma or Lung problems it won't work ..easier products to test before buy !! They didn't even offer a Demo model which isn't complient!! Better products on market

So unfair – Where do you go to complain about this system?? My partner paid $370 3 weeks ago as instructed for god knows what the interlock is faulty and the car hasn't statrted for 3 weeks they said they were ordering a new device last night while asleep they sent a txt saying he owes another $370 or his licence will be suspended when the car hasn't moved… Read more

for weeks he was asleep and didn't see the message then another message at 2am saying his licence is suspended how can they do this we have paid every fee they have demanded and the device is faulty this is an absolute scam but where do you complain to?? The government is not regulating this at all it's criminal.

Absolutely degrading – BIGGEST SCAM! Degrading staff, faulty equipment. Vegemite is a big no no if you don’t want a violation Suddenly with less than the final 3 mths requiring no violations machine wants to start playing up again and giving out violations l, setting alarm off etc clearly trying to extend the required time to keep the device on for sake of $$$ Have had… Read more

ACCC helping out so everyone else do the same to keep these bas**rds accountable Would give minus stars if it allowed

Disgraceful 'customer service' faulty product – I can't believe the way 'customer service' treats their customers. As previously stated in a previous review the product is FAULTY and you are literally held at ransom, without your car until you pay big money. My cars alternator shat itself. I am a concession card holder currently not working and was forced to source $33 for the mechanic. $66 for… Read more

a 2 hour code when the mechanic was finished and another $66 at the service centre to remove the 'violation' of my car alternator failing. Obviously this was not planned and having to pay so much just to move the vehicle after paying for repairs is disgusting and inhumane of the company. The customer service representative was nasty and rude, absolutely discourteous and had a horrible way of trying to siphon even more money out of their customer. She '' was being vindictive and did not put my violation code request through instantly and said I would have to wait 30mins. As previously I had obtained a mechanic code and knew that was not the case I called back, spoke to another customer service person and she even confirmed it was not sent yet and ensured it would be done in the next 5 mins. Absolutely horrendous, I will be taking this further.

Unprofessional, derogatory an Absolute scam – Dealing with gardian is the worst experience I have ever had with any business in my life. Faulty machines needing lock codes seemingly every week held to ransom $66 or ya stuck wherever u may be. Faults u have no control over will not be fixed you will be treated like trash, degraded and feeling like cutting ya wrists would be less painful. I had… Read more

working heaters before having the interlock transferred to my latest vehicle for the final 2 months of the program they haven't worked since. I won't waste my breath trying to have the installer rectify the issue and would rather pay another more reputable company to fix it than continue to beat my head against the gardian brick wall. Unfortunately in Tasmania there are no other options for interlock providers if you are unfortunate enough to have to engage with these crooks I strongly recommend making a video of your vehicle condition and have record of your accessories functionality

Please consider using another interlock provider rather than Guardian! – I have had my device installed for less than a week and have not been able to regularly get my car started. Have already had to replace handset and many failed attempts have flattened my battery, so there seems to be one issue after another. Today I was advised my concession did not meet Centrelink requirements, so I am to pay more money before… Read more

the next service. When asked when I was going to pay, I said I will pay before the next service, which is just under a month away and I was told very rudely that was not acceptable and I need to pay within the next couple of days!!

Hours weeks months.Auto mechanics said nothing wrong W my vehicle. crying, so much money – For all the money, taxis, hours, on phone and still, its cost me a lot of my savings. All the troubleshooting nothing's wrong with my engine. All the money. Despair

A Rort – Perfume and pizza have triggered mine. Constant please retry messages and at times waiting up to 6 minutes for the blow sign to appear. You wouldn't want to be alone at night with such a temperamental piece of equipment!!

Terrible please go with another company for you’re interlock – A disgrace. My device plays up consistently. In 4 mths I have have had hand piece Changed 3 times and I have had to have my car toad because the whole system was faulty after two weeks of installation . Please do not use this company. The upset of losing you’re licence … yes our own fault is bad enough however then the crap trying to do the right thing that costs 220 a month and it’s a disgraceful riot

This company is horrible will ruin your life – I have lost my license for six months, I haven’t been able to get my car to a interlock provider, they will not keep my car at APD Tuggerah cause they won’t let me so was unable to get it towed and towed back. Now I have 2000 $ fee with guardian interlock. I’m trying to save so my wife and I can have a kid. But every month is just adding up with… Read more

fees from this interlock they are terribale people blood sucking no life life ruining people. NO HELP FROM THEM I HAVE RANG THEM THOUSANDS OF TIMES JUST GET THE SAME ANSWER I GET ABUSING MESSAGES FROM THEM SAYING WE ARE GOING TO REPORT TO AUTHORITIES AND COME TAKE YOUR INTERLOCK OUT. SO I RANG THEM AND THEY SAID THEY CAN NOT DO THAT THERW LYING MONEY SUCKING THEY MAKE ME SUICIDEAL WORRIED CAUSEING ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION, I hope this can be taking further so one day they will have a seat on there hands Never go with this company very bad people

Extremely Rude – They always add extra penalties even if your not at fault . Phone manner is a disgrace . This company is an absolute disgrace and legal scammer I would not recommend these Clowns to anyone

Damn theives – My car was at the mechanics two weeks and gaurdian interlock charged me $66 a day to keep it unlocked so the mechanics could start the car ,then they didn't always work ,theives !

Can’t even work out how to use their own product – My car every 2 weeks comes up with abort interlock and I’ve unplugged done all they always tell me to do ring them and they say i don’t know how to work the device I’m sorry and they will charge you if you call their maintenance and they think it wasn’t a good enough reason

Pure rubbish – Interlock installed 11 months ago 82 power fail violations caused by the unit itself and a lot of missed work and guardian don’t seem to care about anything other than getting $$$ to clear the violation. Looking at the legal avenues to get rid of this junk

AVOID AT ALL COST – unprofessional and they brake the law to keep getting money out of you. people are absolutely disgusting to deal with and I am in the process of starting a lawsuit

Disgraceful company and staff – Everything in all these bad reviews is true. Do not use this company! I really don’t know how this company is permitted to operate! It just goes to show the level of corruption in Australia’s government is very high. The guardian office should be burned down. It will cost you over $130 each time you get a flag battery this will happen just by not driving the car for a couple of weeks.

Do Not Use – Do Not use this system. I have lost so much income as a self employed tradie because of this. They installed a 10yr+ old unit One is in my fourby. It has drained the battery and locked me out multiple times. You can't get to work when the car won't start. They have no field service units and will leave you on the side of the road. I am out tens of… Read more

thousands of dollars in lost work because i can't get there even to quote. Do you think they care? no they will laugh at you on the end of the phone and say whatever mate. Disgusting and when the system fails and drains your battery, you get the pleasure of having to pay $375 to get the vehicle unlocked. What a bunch of scumbags.

Guardian interlock crap – Been sober over 18 months and this piece of crap still brings a reading .014 and .017 even tho I rinse my mouth out multiple times after coffee and what ever I eat biggest scam and a waste of money

Extremely unprofessional. Straight up scammers – Extremely unprofessional. The staff are rude and dismissive. Their devices are faulty and they will not accept that this is the case. I have now been charged $123.56 for three purported, dishonest, and potentially fraudulent violation lockouts, while no genuine violations have occurred. I requested paperwork for the first 'violation' and Taunton's… Read more

Auto Electrical in Queanbeyan is unable or unwilling to supply it to me. Do not use this company. They are scammers.

DO NOT INSTALL G/INTERLOCK – By far the worst experience. They charge you for "violation" fees when there's no explanation to why the camera or device didn't pick an accurate reading. Often picks up a reading of 0.0029 when there's been no traces of alcohol or perfume in vehicle. The device asks for random service check ups which costs extra$$$ due to its own malfunction. … Read more

Their operators are very rude and blunt. Should not be in call centre if you don't have customer service.

I was charged $66 for a lock out fee to which it does not even work.

Unethical company – Will not admit to faulty readings. No customer service. Delay matters as long as possible. My device has twice locked me out in one month and left me to pay service fees to reset it. For example, the device read 0.03 BAC on start and locked me out for two minutes. I then blew again and got a reading of 0.000. This was obviously a fault and Guardian approved a new handset. But a refund?? Still waiting and putting up with rude staff.

So glad to hear it's not just me – Day 2 I drove 600 km with this thing requesting a rolling test every 40 minutes to an hour. I couldn't listen to music as the "alarm tone" was just one beep. It clearly says in the manual that an alarm horn will sound and hazard lights flash. Driving around the Sunshine Coast on the motorway so dangerous being distracted by this thing and its… Read more

incessant demands. I have had numerous false starts an Abort Pump message. I drive the 600 km back and take it to the service centre as its telling me I only have three days left to do so. Service centre look at me funny because I have 13 breaches for not doing rolling tests. I ring guardian. They were actually quite helpful. I am keeping a log of the various malfunctions. After 12 days today I went back to the service centre and as requested by guardian I have had a new unit installed as they believe the old one must have been faulty. I felt much better as I thought problem solved but from these reviews that's a NO

April 2021. Absolutely Abhorrent – Have had interlock fitted for 3 weeks. Have been locked out twice for a failed rolling retest when it never asked for one. Took it to nice mechanic today at 12 for reset ($68) drove straight home, turned off car. Handset was fine. Not asking for retest. Started me car at 5pm, SURPRISE! I have a Violock 6 days countdown.. And why 6 now? Its… Read more

normally 7?

Do not install this device if you haven't already! Iv been back on road now for 3 weeks and its already cost me $66 for an "unlock" code and two visits to mechanics for retest.

This is a disgrace!

Amazing! – I love participating in this program, my lung capacity have improved tremendously in the last few months. Even my girlfriend and her friends are impressed how I can blow and hum.

I could not give zero stars – I recently travelled with my daughter over the Christmas holidays Tha guardian device started as normal With in 3rd reminder I pulled over and blew in to the device wicth turned out the device was faulty and would not let me blow in to it as it was a faulty device So both me and my daughter sat on the side of a busy highway waiting for a… Read more

response by guardian

As I now know Guardian does not answer on public holidays and reverts there call centre to a third party call centre that has nothing to do with guardian Thay cannot help you in anyway what so ever Long sorry short I am stuck in the middle of nowhere with no support from guardian (because it was a public holiday) so now I am stuck in the middle of nowhere with no help from guardian or there faulty product So now I finally was able to get my way home I am now without a car and now have to go retrieve my car at my cost because of ther faulty product