iPhone Breathalyzer Maker Forced to Give Refunds
It sounds like a good idea: You install an app on your iPhone and it will tell you how intoxicated you are. You can use it when you go out for a night on the town or even when you are drinking on the comfort of your own couch. Before you use that app, you may want to continue reading. Some people have been given refunds because one such app simply isn’t working like it promised it would.
Thousands of people purchased the Breathometer breathalyzer accessory for their iPhones. The Breathometer was founded in 2012, but it was released to the public in a major way in 2013. An Indiegogo campaign told the masses about the accessory, claiming it to be the world’s first portable breathalyzer for the smartphone. Used with it’s companion app, the Breathometer was promised to give people an actual measurement of their blood alcohol concentration (BAC). This was touted as a way to measure the user’s ability to drive safely.
So many people bought into the idea that close to 4,000 crowdfunded the campaign. The company raised $138,437 for its device. It was so much money that the company was able to release a second generation that connected via Bluetooth. The company said that it understood the necessity for the device to be accurate as people were depending on it for safety reasons.
Unfortunately for the company, the Federal Trade Commission found that it had an overinflated idea of just what its product could do. Claiming that the device was “government-lab grade tested” and “law enforcement grade” was a bit of overkill, according to the FTC. The government agency further accused the company of knowing that the device reported lower BAC levels than were accurate and did not provide this information to the public.
As a result of the accusations, Breathometer agreed to provide full refunds to anyone who made a request for one. If every consumer asks for a refund, the company stands to pay back more than $5 million. The company is further banned from making statements regarding similar accuracy claims with future products without first undergoing rigorous testing of their product. The company, at this time, is no longer manufacturing breathalyzers.
If you purchased a breathalyzer from this company, you can find out more about getting a refund by visiting their website here.
While it may seem convenient to have a breathalyzer app in your pocket, none on today’s market can provide the same results as one designed for and tested by law enforcement agencies. Your best bet is to simply not drive if you have consumed alcohol. If you do go out, designate a driver or arrange for a sober ride home.
If you are arrested for driving under the influence in Atlanta, you need the experience of our attorneys by our side. Reach out to our team and schedule an appointment for a free case evaluation to discover the options available to you.
