That’s quite an eye opener. They definitely should be unlocking these after you have provided photos that you actually own the device. I think they’ve gotten a little carried away with security. The ChargePoint device should have a factory reset somewhere on it so that you can clear any old ownerships. Even if it was to push and hold a button while the circuit breaker is being powered on. There should be some way to reset the device. I hope that you eventually got it transferred over to your account.
I kinda have to side with ChargePoint on this one. I have two "used" units that I purchased on eBay and on both occasions I communicated sternly with the previous owners that they needed to deactivate their account before I purchased. Fortunately both previous owners were aware of what I was talking about and had already deactivated their accounts beforehand. Installing them and setting them both up was fairly easy. The only CRAZY thing was, I could not have two Home Flex units on one account! I had to use a separate email account to set up the second unit. That needs fixing for sure!
I also want to install two chargers in my garage, and this is the only thing that stops me from buying Chargepoint EVSEs. It almost seems like ChargePoint never imagined homeowners with a two car garage would want to install two chargers. I want to install both on one 60 amp service, to save money on installation, but their home EVSE can’t automatically divide the load between two units.
This video should be called "eBay Failed me". The reseller should only be selling unlinked chargers - go comment on person you bought if from - this isn't ChargePoint fault - if you bought a phone off ebay and it didn't work right you couldn't blame the maker of the phone but the person you bought it off of.
Buying used is a great way to reduce waste and environmental impact, and reduce the trade imbalance with other countries where our stuff is made. Buying something like this used is potentially problematic, but it's good to develop a used market that solved problems like this.
Could be a stolen unit or the owner not in the country? At least they tried to help. Probably the best option to return it to the seller, he is the one who failed, in first place.
This is a problem common to anything that's dependent on a cloud-based subscription. Avoid such products, new or used. Even if you buy new from the manufacturer, you never know when they will go out of business or simply decide to stop supporting your product after a few years. If you want a smart EVSE (or any home automation or home security product), find one that connects to your WiFi and lets you interact with it directly, without external support.
Your anger is misguided and naive. This is a problem with the eBay seller, not with Chargepoint. Chargepoint is being responsible by refusing to remove the device from the original account without consent of the original owner's permission. It isn't even Chargepoint's responsibility to reach out to the owner - that is on you. You were irresponsible by not immediately returning it or opening a claim with eBay's buyer protection. You made a comment that this is not like iPhones, except it is. Your perspective was simply incorrect. iPhone activation is not intended to protect sensitive information on the device. In every case where an iPhone is stolen, the information is erased before it is sold. The purpose of activation is to deter theft and to cripple black markets. Without this security feature, these chargers would be able to be stolen from the sides of houses and public charging locations and resold for profit.
They need to resolve quite a few issues. I've had mine for a month and have had a bunch of issues with zero customer support. Wish I would have bought another unit
I own a ChargePoint Hime Flex that I bought new. I had it connected to my wife’s app but she didn’t want it in hers so I tried to transfer it to mine. Now I can’t use the connectivity at all. Not on her device or mine. It simply will not connect. Customer service was useless. I had to almost forcefully demand they send me a new unit. I’m way for it to ship now but I have my suspicions it will not happen. They’re a terrible company and I’m writing reviews wherever I can. The only reason I got a a ChargePoint is because they are partnered with Volvo. I have an EV and a PHEV, both Volvos.
Hi Josh - When a Home Flex charging station is purchased that is registered under another driver's name, we do attempt to reach out to the previous owner on record to get their permission to transfer ownership of the station. If the previous owner of record gives us the OK, we can transfer ownership. If we cannot reach the previous owner, we will give three attempts to reach out to them and only if they do not reply, we can then reassign to the new owner. Our Support team will review your case and will provide additional details.
I purchased a new one for my garage and starting having a problem with it connecting to my wifi so I couldn't get the full charge amperage. Even placed a Wi-Fi extender next to it and still no luck. Went to the Autel MaxiCharger 50 amp hard wired. I chose it because there's multiple ways to connect it to the internet. Get your act together Chargepoint.
Your problem is with EBay.; you are not ChargePoint’s customer. I agree the situation sucks, but the seller should give you a refund. I also don’t understand why you would pay so much for a used unit when a new one with warranty is so close in price. I hope you mange to resolve this. I’ve been using a hardwired ChargePoint unit for nearly 7 years and the unit has been flawless.
I clearly understand your frustration, but never buy any kind of "smart" electronic device from a place like e-bay. E-bay was your initial point of failure. Hope you somehow get this sorted.
Wait, so you think you should be able to contact a manufacturer and say “I want you to remotely make me the owner of someone else’s device without any form of verification”? And when the manufacturer insists on verification, you say they’re “yanking your chain”. Did you think that all the way through?
I think this really applies to IoT devices in general. If the company goes under, what happens to your device? In most cases, you need to install their app, and make an account, so when the servers go offline so does your ability to access it.
I think you misunderstood that it is the previous owner's responsibility to transfer the online account to you so that you can manage the account online. The same thing when you buy a used phone on eBay, don't you need to transfer account? Blaming Chargepoint doesn't make sense tho because Chargepoint doesn't own this device and account. ChargePoint only can ask the previous owner to transfer the account to you but it doesn't have authority to transfer it. Very curious why you pay the previous owner without asking completing the transfer?
The "account" and the hardware are 2 different things. There is no reason that chargepoint shouldn't be able to unbind the hardware from the account that uses it. What they should do is have a "terms of use" that states that any account that doesn't access its hardware after 30 days should require re-activation.
Bought an August Smart Lock from Goodwill and the previous owner never responded to the company’s request. This makes it completely useless for anyone else and defeats the purpose of donating it to Goodwill in the first place. Ugh.
That is frustrating! I hadn’t thought about locks, but they are in a specific category where an unauthorized unlock could be quite problematic. However, if you can verify it’s not installed - perhaps by a QR code inside the device - even that shouldn’t matter.
I made the mistake of buying one on Ebay from a seller that said no returns. I wait until after 30 days and ebay will not help me get a refund. My worked for 3 charges and then started blink with a white light and will not charge. I am out $450. Also charge point will not do anything because I don't have a chargepoint receipt
I think the eBay market for this type of used device, due diligence should now include "has this device been unlinked from original account". Than the market can have 2 prices for ones that are linked and unlinked based on what the market determines. Charge point has to prioritize features and processes on their end, and I can see how reallocating resources to solve problems on the used market wouldn't take priority. I understand your frustration, but your problem doesn't have to be their problem since they already made their calculated profit margin from the first owner.
I'm glad I didn't buy one of these. I bought the Autel and I'm very happy with it. I do like ChargePoint DC Fast Charging stations. It would have been nice to use the same app for my home charger, but this charger isn't as good as the Autel.
EBAY failed you. I got burned by a highly touted seller on that platform and I vowed never again. Change your title to include EBay. The biggest reason to do that is because your current title is probably going to deter EV interest in general.
So they asked you to send photos to verify you had the unit, and instead of sending photos you jumped to the conclusion they were yanking you around. So you didnt send pics, and they didnt release the account. Good on ChargePoint.
They do not know and are unable to confirm that the unit is not stolen. Were I in their shoes I also would not unlock it from its registered account. You bought it second hand. On ebay where the seller couldn't verify its source. Sounds dodgy as hell to me. Caveat emptor.
Yes, many second hand on ebay. The original seller usually will be very pefessional to list their products and will list all their product line. my friend bought a original Autel a few days ago on eBay.
Sure, but how is this different than buying anything second hand - a wrench, a car, or a charger - it shouldn’t matter. There are other ways, and laws, to deal with theft.
Chargepoint requires credit card for its home chargers. So, they're not going to arbitrarily unlock a secondhand unit bought under such shady conditions. You need to fight the ebay seller -- not Chargepoint for protecting the original owner!
@@ks5831 I'm curious what you mean by "require a credit card?" If they require a credit card to be linked to an account, that shouldn't be an issue if they simply remove the previous account.
@@chargeeverywhere Payment info is required setting up the home charger. Chargepoint says it's required as a convenience to use their DC Fast Charging stations. The original owner should've removed their account when they sold the unit. And, the Ebay seller should've made sure the account was removed before listing it. Treat it like counterfeit money. The last person caught with it, pays the Piper. Why don't you turn this into a positive for you? Instead of whining about Chargepoint not enabling any shady unsecured sales/purchases, make a video telling others to validate the original account has been removed before buying a secondhand home charger?
I'll reiterate what others have already said... like anything you buy used, you do so at your own risk. I have a ChargePoint home flex that I purchased directly from ChargePoint and it works great... with the caveat that you set it up right the first time, which I did not. After a call to customer service, I got it worked out... although that experience wasn't the greatest either (to your point), but we got it worked out.
First, you bought a used device from a reseller , the reseller might have just ripped it off the wall when the original owners sold their home. The device is linked because ita 2nd get with more securities. My Used BMW i3 Pure came from BMW when they moved and since its an older 40A or 32A unit it didn't have these issues. CHarge point is also famous for the lack of support and their network. You video is click bait because it should say beware of buying used EVSE chargers in your situation. If you had purchased the FLEX from charge point or ever its affillates to install them into your home then this video wouldn't have exsisted The same goes for when people sell their Iphone devices when its locked, there is NO WAY APPLE WILL HELP YOU UNLOCK them unless you prove its origin and you can prove you are the original owner. So going on a Rant on Social media gets you sympathies but does not get you a solution. You got a lemon not every gets one so that is why I wrote this back for other to see my point that you telling your story. BUt in the end its your experience so I respect that. Probable the charge was reported lost or stolen as the CHarger was on a lease and reseller knew but didn't bother
Thank you for your video and for sharing your experience with the company and it's charger. I appreciate a lot to hear reviews from other consumers when I compare products and services. With all that said, from a corporate perspective, it is 110 % understandable to "lock" the charger to the address. Otherwise, it would be a criminal gold mine. I agree with you that it should be possible to resell chargers, it is common sense from the ESG perspective. But you can not blame Chargepoint for your own mistake! That being buying from eBay without research and being naive for a "good deal". It is completely irrelevant to say that this is my first ever comment on youtube(born 98), but I would love to get responses and reviews toward the actual charger. Thanks in advance, // Philip
You buy used electronic equipment, you inherit problems! My brand new charge point works flawlessly! Why is this charge point problem? I wouldn't want ANY company giving out my information to random stranger. Best other tip! Buy a HUBBELL receptacle for your EV charger. Spend the money and don't risk your garage burning down. Hire a licensed electrician for your install. I am handy or I could hire a handyman, but this is too important to play with. Look at the videos of burning garages or homes before you go cheap. You spend $70,000 for a EV (love my Lexus NX 450h plus) Yes, I'm bragging. Spend the ninety bucks for the best receptacle. Don't buy used or questionable electronic equipment.
Chargepoint owns or leases the server where they store customer accounts. Their server admin should easily be able to go in and edit/remove devices on customer accounts.
I’m now not going to purchase a charge point until and if I hear they have developed a cleaner system for dealing with this ownership transfer issue. Thanks for the info and heads up.
This whole experience has really hurt my otherwise good impression of them as well. My experience is a bit of an edge case, but being treated like that - no thanks.
Doing research on buying more stock. Not consumer friendly is a big deal. Charge point is entitled to charge for administrative cost in a bid to serve their customers.
The answer is buy it new, or buy it from someone you know. I did the latter and was able to easily get the previous owner to release it from their account. Done. It is a great EVSE charger with a slick app, excellent performance. Anything on ebay - buyer beware. Why not reach out to seller and get a refund?
Lots of people never returning to their homes here after an EF4 tornado last year… including me. Bet there are a several abandoned ChargePoint units in the mix.
@@chargeeverywhere Thanks. Yeah, we were renters at ground zero for the strongest part and the landlord decided to sell once insurance rebuilds so we won’t be returning. We had installed our own equipment for the Bolt and Volt in the garage and couldn’t get it all back. After getting displaced we didn’t even have a driveway to charge in so I set something up at the rented workshop even though 240v equipment is prohibited by the lease and my emergency setup is totally not up to code. The fact that they already had 240v into a NEMA 5-15R means I can play dumb about that. ;) That’s your standard 110v three-prong receptacle, which we discovered was 240v when it fried my 110v equipment (work lights that we needed to even look at the switch box since there was no lighting when we moved in).
@@chargeeverywhere Yeah, there is a huge liability there but they wouldn’t even let me send it in or swap it out. ChargePoint is probably most concerned about people taking over billing for units installed for public access. Like, it’s still there so the owner doesn’t even know someone opened it up and registered it to their account to steal the profits.
@@emmettturner9452 I think you're right. ChargePoint is coming at this as primarily a commercial EVSE manufacturer. However, as far as I know, the Home Flex does not have the ability to meter power and bill for it. There could be situations where a semi-public unit could be unlinked from an account (say in a residential parking garage) and that could cause a hassle for the "authorized" user.
@@chargeeverywhere Not sure how I accidentally put that reply in this thread instead of the one about August Smart Locks (the “huge liability” if they allow anyone to take ownership) but it seems you got the message. Thanks! Hope ChargePoint can get this sorted for you.
The area in which I live has recently started a pilot project to install EV chargers at residences and apartments/condos. However, with new technology, they want the units installed properly and to meet all fire and electrical codes. This means the city locks the charger into the house, apartment, or condo the same way you purchase a furnace or hot water tank, as it stays with the house. As to email accounts, the city gives you one to use, and when you leave, they will update the account. It's not perfect, but it's a start.
Wow these comments do not pass the vibe check. You should be able to quickly and easily factory reset ANY tech product. There are many tech products that are much more expensive than $749 which can be factory reset in minutes - and those products are much easier to steal than a charging station that's drilled into a wall. Why should ChargePoint get a pass here? Why advocate for e-waste?
Thank you for raising this issue. i was going to buy this exact same but slightly used charger and i'm so glad i saw this video. I do purchase a lot of used/openbox items from eBay I would agree that i would not purchase a used item that is so much locked into previous user that you can't even have company perform a hard reset or something. especially if you can provide a proof of purchase.
CP tech supports pretty much useless. Tech supports from India. I bought a brand new CP home flex from Amazon. It missing hardware so I called CP. after 10 minutes with an Indian guy he told me to reach out to Amazon. I just hang up on him. Useless.
I AM actually a big CHPT investor, but I feel so disgusted and manipulated by this POS company. My money is about 50% what it was when invested, and they keep pushing the stock lower and screwing the people like me who believed in them
Huh, I bought an open box CPHF on eBay for $300 shipped and I have had zero problems putting it in and setting it up including setting the amperage on the user app myself. Sucks to be you!
Smart devices are counter intuitive to their purpose. The idea is that it connects all your devices for your convenience. This isn't convenience, and I'm starting to see this in a lot of other smart devices as well. The reality is the Smart devices are designed to track your information and limit usage, effectively giving companies power over the products you use. In spite of coming off preachy, I feel as if we as the consumers should be more cautious of this business practice as it's becoming a lot more common. I appreciate the heads up OP, I'll be sure to avoid Chargepoint's products in the future.
I am planning to get a Charge-point but now I am changing my mind.... First ebay should give you money back some one has to be responsible for that. but too bad they got your $ it is your problem now.
That’s quite an eye opener. They definitely should be unlocking these after you have provided photos that you actually own the device. I think they’ve gotten a little carried away with security. The ChargePoint device should have a factory reset somewhere on it so that you can clear any old ownerships. Even if it was to push and hold a button while the circuit breaker is being powered on. There should be some way to reset the device. I hope that you eventually got it transferred over to your account.
Probably stolen, the "lot" was an excuse from the seller. Should have returned it via eBay.
I kinda have to side with ChargePoint on this one. I have two "used" units that I purchased on eBay and on both occasions I communicated sternly with the previous owners that they needed to deactivate their account before I purchased. Fortunately both previous owners were aware of what I was talking about and had already deactivated their accounts beforehand. Installing them and setting them both up was fairly easy. The only CRAZY thing was, I could not have two Home Flex units on one account! I had to use a separate email account to set up the second unit. That needs fixing for sure!
I also want to install two chargers in my garage, and this is the only thing that stops me from buying Chargepoint EVSEs. It almost seems like ChargePoint never imagined homeowners with a two car garage would want to install two chargers. I want to install both on one 60 amp service, to save money on installation, but their home EVSE can’t automatically divide the load between two units.
This video should be called "eBay Failed me". The reseller should only be selling unlinked chargers - go comment on person you bought if from - this isn't ChargePoint fault - if you bought a phone off ebay and it didn't work right you couldn't blame the maker of the phone but the person you bought it off of.
I recommend you all always buy chargers new from a retailer to avoid situations as experienced in video.
Also, if you are going to buy used don’t pay retail prices.
Buying used is a great way to reduce waste and environmental impact, and reduce the trade imbalance with other countries where our stuff is made. Buying something like this used is potentially problematic, but it's good to develop a used market that solved problems like this.
A device like this should be bought new to avoid issues such as this.
Could be a stolen unit or the owner not in the country? At least they tried to help. Probably the best option to return it to the seller, he is the one who failed, in first place.
Should have returned it with eBay’s buyer protection guarantee.
This is a problem common to anything that's dependent on a cloud-based subscription. Avoid such products, new or used. Even if you buy new from the manufacturer, you never know when they will go out of business or simply decide to stop supporting your product after a few years. If you want a smart EVSE (or any home automation or home security product), find one that connects to your WiFi and lets you interact with it directly, without external support.
$600 seems like too much to pay for a used chargepoint when a new one is $549.
Maybe you didn’t mean US dollars.
Your anger is misguided and naive. This is a problem with the eBay seller, not with Chargepoint. Chargepoint is being responsible by refusing to remove the device from the original account without consent of the original owner's permission. It isn't even Chargepoint's responsibility to reach out to the owner - that is on you. You were irresponsible by not immediately returning it or opening a claim with eBay's buyer protection.
You made a comment that this is not like iPhones, except it is. Your perspective was simply incorrect. iPhone activation is not intended to protect sensitive information on the device. In every case where an iPhone is stolen, the information is erased before it is sold. The purpose of activation is to deter theft and to cripple black markets. Without this security feature, these chargers would be able to be stolen from the sides of houses and public charging locations and resold for profit.
As a large shareholder in Chargepoint this upsets me. They need to resolve this now.
They need to resolve quite a few issues. I've had mine for a month and have had a bunch of issues with zero customer support. Wish I would have bought another unit
Not chargepoints fault, or responsibility
I own a ChargePoint Hime Flex that I bought new. I had it connected to my wife’s app but she didn’t want it in hers so I tried to transfer it to mine. Now I can’t use the connectivity at all. Not on her device or mine. It simply will not connect. Customer service was useless. I had to almost forcefully demand they send me a new unit. I’m way for it to ship now but I have my suspicions it will not happen. They’re a terrible company and I’m writing reviews wherever I can. The only reason I got a a ChargePoint is because they are partnered with Volvo. I have an EV and a PHEV, both Volvos.
Hi Josh - When a Home Flex charging station is purchased that is registered under another driver's name, we do attempt to reach out to the previous owner on record to get their permission to transfer ownership of the station. If the previous owner of record gives us the OK, we can transfer ownership. If we cannot reach the previous owner, we will give three attempts to reach out to them and only if they do not reply, we can then reassign to the new owner. Our Support team will review your case and will provide additional details.
I purchased a new one for my garage and starting having a problem with it connecting to my wifi so I couldn't get the full charge amperage. Even placed a Wi-Fi extender next to it and still no luck. Went to the Autel MaxiCharger 50 amp hard wired. I chose it because there's multiple ways to connect it to the internet. Get your act together Chargepoint.
Your problem is with EBay.; you are not ChargePoint’s customer. I agree the situation sucks, but the seller should give you a refund.
I also don’t understand why you would pay so much for a used unit when a new one with warranty is so close in price. I hope you mange to resolve this. I’ve been using a hardwired ChargePoint unit for nearly 7 years and the unit has been flawless.
I clearly understand your frustration, but never buy any kind of "smart" electronic device from a place like e-bay. E-bay was your initial point of failure. Hope you somehow get this sorted.
Wait, so you think you should be able to contact a manufacturer and say “I want you to remotely make me the owner of someone else’s device without any form of verification”? And when the manufacturer insists on verification, you say they’re “yanking your chain”. Did you think that all the way through?
I am upset that you cannot adjust the amperage without having to call chargepoint after install.
Yes you can from the app
@@FxNitr0 Now I can with the new update. A year ago I could not. Thanks 👍
I think this really applies to IoT devices in general. If the company goes under, what happens to your device? In most cases, you need to install their app, and make an account, so when the servers go offline so does your ability to access it.
Common sense says, to have a 14 day holding period where if device isn’t marked as stolen it is automatically transferred to new owner.
What do you expect form eBay ! Likely bootleg or stolen
I think you misunderstood that it is the previous owner's responsibility to transfer the online account to you so that you can manage the account online. The same thing when you buy a used phone on eBay, don't you need to transfer account? Blaming Chargepoint doesn't make sense tho because Chargepoint doesn't own this device and account. ChargePoint only can ask the previous owner to transfer the account to you but it doesn't have authority to transfer it. Very curious why you pay the previous owner without asking completing the transfer?
The "account" and the hardware are 2 different things. There is no reason that chargepoint shouldn't be able to unbind the hardware from the account that uses it. What they should do is have a "terms of use" that states that any account that doesn't access its hardware after 30 days should require re-activation.
Bought an August Smart Lock from Goodwill and the previous owner never responded to the company’s request. This makes it completely useless for anyone else and defeats the purpose of donating it to Goodwill in the first place. Ugh.
That is frustrating! I hadn’t thought about locks, but they are in a specific category where an unauthorized unlock could be quite problematic. However, if you can verify it’s not installed - perhaps by a QR code inside the device - even that shouldn’t matter.
house cleaning and donating the used junk is also donation, one man's junk is another man's tresure
I made the mistake of buying one on Ebay from a seller that said no returns. I wait until after 30 days and ebay will not help me get a refund. My worked for 3 charges and then started blink with a white light and will not charge. I am out $450. Also charge point will not do anything because I don't have a chargepoint receipt
You can't make a complaint video on a product you bought on eBay dude. Nine times out of 10 your your product is going to be fck'd up.
I think the eBay market for this type of used device, due diligence should now include "has this device been unlinked from original account". Than the market can have 2 prices for ones that are linked and unlinked based on what the market determines. Charge point has to prioritize features and processes on their end, and I can see how reallocating resources to solve problems on the used market wouldn't take priority. I understand your frustration, but your problem doesn't have to be their problem since they already made their calculated profit margin from the first owner.
Does it still charge if it’s linked to another account? Can you use it as a dumb charger?
I'm glad I didn't buy one of these. I bought the Autel and I'm very happy with it. I do like ChargePoint DC Fast Charging stations. It would have been nice to use the same app for my home charger, but this charger isn't as good as the Autel.
EBAY failed you. I got burned by a highly touted seller on that platform and I vowed never again. Change your title to include EBay. The biggest reason to do that is because your current title is probably going to deter EV interest in general.
I’m locked out of my own ChargePoint charger. I’m the original owner. ChargePoint customer service is of no use at all.
So they asked you to send photos to verify you had the unit, and instead of sending photos you jumped to the conclusion they were yanking you around. So you didnt send pics, and they didnt release the account. Good on ChargePoint.
Totally agree, I’d never by a ChargePoint charger due to their terrible lack of customer concern!
He was not their customer
They do not know and are unable to confirm that the unit is not stolen. Were I in their shoes I also would not unlock it from its registered account. You bought it second hand. On ebay where the seller couldn't verify its source. Sounds dodgy as hell to me. Caveat emptor.
Yes, many second hand on ebay. The original seller usually will be very pefessional to list their products and will list all their product line. my friend bought a original Autel a few days ago on eBay.
Sure, but how is this different than buying anything second hand - a wrench, a car, or a charger - it shouldn’t matter. There are other ways, and laws, to deal with theft.
Chargepoint requires credit card for its home chargers. So, they're not going to arbitrarily unlock a secondhand unit bought under such shady conditions. You need to fight the ebay seller -- not Chargepoint for protecting the original owner!
@@ks5831 I'm curious what you mean by "require a credit card?" If they require a credit card to be linked to an account, that shouldn't be an issue if they simply remove the previous account.
@@chargeeverywhere Payment info is required setting up the home charger. Chargepoint says it's required as a convenience to use their DC Fast Charging stations. The original owner should've removed their account when they sold the unit. And, the Ebay seller should've made sure the account was removed before listing it. Treat it like counterfeit money. The last person caught with it, pays the Piper. Why don't you turn this into a positive for you? Instead of whining about Chargepoint not enabling any shady unsecured sales/purchases, make a video telling others to validate the original account has been removed before buying a secondhand home charger?
Your whole problem is based on buying something used off of eBay. Take some responsibility in the pain you signed up for if you didn’t buy new.
I'll reiterate what others have already said... like anything you buy used, you do so at your own risk. I have a ChargePoint home flex that I purchased directly from ChargePoint and it works great... with the caveat that you set it up right the first time, which I did not. After a call to customer service, I got it worked out... although that experience wasn't the greatest either (to your point), but we got it worked out.
First, you bought a used device from a reseller , the reseller might have just ripped it off the wall when the original owners sold their home. The device is linked because ita 2nd get with more securities. My Used BMW i3 Pure came from BMW when they moved and since its an older 40A or 32A unit it didn't have these issues. CHarge point is also famous for the lack of support and their network. You video is click bait because it should say beware of buying used EVSE chargers in your situation. If you had purchased the FLEX from charge point or ever its affillates to install them into your home then this video wouldn't have exsisted The same goes for when people sell their Iphone devices when its locked, there is NO WAY APPLE WILL HELP YOU UNLOCK them unless you prove its origin and you can prove you are the original owner. So going on a Rant on Social media gets you sympathies but does not get you a solution. You got a lemon not every gets one so that is why I wrote this back for other to see my point that you telling your story.
BUt in the end its your experience so I respect that. Probable the charge was reported lost or stolen as the CHarger was on a lease and reseller knew but didn't bother
I have the same problem. Hooked up to previous owner, can’t use smart features…………I’m going to buy a different charger…….Not a Charge point They Suck!
I feel your pain. These sorts of issues turn me off to a brand for life.
Thank you for your video and for sharing your experience with the company and it's charger. I appreciate a lot to hear reviews from other consumers when I compare products and services.
With all that said, from a corporate perspective, it is 110 % understandable to "lock" the charger to the address. Otherwise, it would be a criminal gold mine. I agree with you that it should be possible to resell chargers, it is common sense from the ESG perspective. But you can not blame Chargepoint for your own mistake! That being buying from eBay without research and being naive for a "good deal".
It is completely irrelevant to say that this is my first ever comment on youtube(born 98), but I would love to get responses and reviews toward the actual charger.
Thanks in advance,
// Philip
Companies don't care, they just want to move products.
If you read my comment. Please before your used purchase make sure the current user has unlocked or reset the charger before the purchase.
You buy used electronic equipment, you inherit problems!
My brand new charge point works flawlessly!
Why is this charge point problem?
I wouldn't want ANY company giving out my information to random stranger.
Best other tip! Buy a HUBBELL receptacle for your EV charger. Spend the money and don't risk your garage burning down.
Hire a licensed electrician for your install. I am handy or I could hire a handyman, but this is too important to play with.
Look at the videos of burning garages or homes before you go cheap.
You spend $70,000 for a EV (love my Lexus NX 450h plus) Yes, I'm bragging.
Spend the ninety bucks for the best receptacle.
Don't buy used or questionable electronic equipment.
Chargepoint owns or leases the server where they store customer accounts. Their server admin should easily be able to go in and edit/remove devices on customer accounts.
So don’t buy a used one… ok
I’m now not going to purchase a charge point until and if I hear they have developed a cleaner system for dealing with this ownership transfer issue. Thanks for the info and heads up.
Thanks for the heads up. Sorry that happened to you.
Check with Autel EV charger. Better service and price.
This whole experience has really hurt my otherwise good impression of them as well. My experience is a bit of an edge case, but being treated like that - no thanks.
@@chargeeverywherethey are protecting the confirmed owner. Just having this dudes word should not be enough
Doing research on buying more stock. Not consumer friendly is a big deal. Charge point is entitled to charge for administrative cost in a bid to serve their customers.
Does it charge your car? Nuff said
The answer is buy it new, or buy it from someone you know. I did the latter and was able to easily get the previous owner to release it from their account. Done. It is a great EVSE charger with a slick app, excellent performance. Anything on ebay - buyer beware. Why not reach out to seller and get a refund?
Lots of people never returning to their homes here after an EF4 tornado last year… including me. Bet there are a several abandoned ChargePoint units in the mix.
I’m sorry that happened to you. That’s a different situation where chargers could get moved around without their owners.
@@chargeeverywhere Thanks. Yeah, we were renters at ground zero for the strongest part and the landlord decided to sell once insurance rebuilds so we won’t be returning. We had installed our own equipment for the Bolt and Volt in the garage and couldn’t get it all back. After getting displaced we didn’t even have a driveway to charge in so I set something up at the rented workshop even though 240v equipment is prohibited by the lease and my emergency setup is totally not up to code. The fact that they already had 240v into a NEMA 5-15R means I can play dumb about that. ;) That’s your standard 110v three-prong receptacle, which we discovered was 240v when it fried my 110v equipment (work lights that we needed to even look at the switch box since there was no lighting when we moved in).
@@chargeeverywhere Yeah, there is a huge liability there but they wouldn’t even let me send it in or swap it out. ChargePoint is probably most concerned about people taking over billing for units installed for public access. Like, it’s still there so the owner doesn’t even know someone opened it up and registered it to their account to steal the profits.
@@emmettturner9452 I think you're right. ChargePoint is coming at this as primarily a commercial EVSE manufacturer. However, as far as I know, the Home Flex does not have the ability to meter power and bill for it. There could be situations where a semi-public unit could be unlinked from an account (say in a residential parking garage) and that could cause a hassle for the "authorized" user.
@@chargeeverywhere Not sure how I accidentally put that reply in this thread instead of the one about August Smart Locks (the “huge liability” if they allow anyone to take ownership) but it seems you got the message. Thanks! Hope ChargePoint can get this sorted for you.
Based on this, I won't buy or recommend a Chargpoint EVSE. The hardware doesn't matter if you can't count on customer support.
He was not their customer
You failed yourself, could have easily asked "are you the original owner of the unit?" before buying. EBay 101.
The area in which I live has recently started a pilot project to install EV chargers at residences and apartments/condos. However, with new technology, they want the units installed properly and to meet all fire and electrical codes. This means the city locks the charger into the house, apartment, or condo the same way you purchase a furnace or hot water tank, as it stays with the house. As to email accounts, the city gives you one to use, and when you leave, they will update the account. It's not perfect, but it's a start.
That's further than I got... just fails at step one.
But but but.... ITS FOR THE EARTH!!!! LOL
Wow these comments do not pass the vibe check. You should be able to quickly and easily factory reset ANY tech product. There are many tech products that are much more expensive than $749 which can be factory reset in minutes - and those products are much easier to steal than a charging station that's drilled into a wall. Why should ChargePoint get a pass here? Why advocate for e-waste?
Thank you for raising this issue. i was going to buy this exact same but slightly used charger and i'm so glad i saw this video. I do purchase a lot of used/openbox items from eBay I would agree that i would not purchase a used item that is so much locked into previous user that you can't even have company perform a hard reset or something. especially if you can provide a proof of purchase.
CP tech supports pretty much useless. Tech supports from India. I bought a brand new CP home flex from Amazon. It missing hardware so I called CP. after 10 minutes with an Indian guy he told me to reach out to Amazon. I just hang up on him. Useless.
I AM actually a big CHPT investor, but I feel so disgusted and manipulated by this POS company. My money is about 50% what it was when invested, and they keep pushing the stock lower and screwing the people like me who believed in them
yeah, manufacture just want to sell, but not going to let people buy used unit.
ChargePoint customer service is garbage.
There should be a button which you could press with a pin. Modem/Routers has that and that should have that too~ very stupid design from ChargePoint.
These units are outside...
You file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and you file a complaint with your state's AG.
Huh, I bought an open box CPHF on eBay for $300 shipped and I have had zero problems putting it in and setting it up including setting the amperage on the user app myself. Sucks to be you!
This is a theft deterrent.
Or a purchase deterrent.
I believe you have to be an installer, who went through their installer program, to alter the software.
Smart devices are counter intuitive to their purpose. The idea is that it connects all your devices for your convenience. This isn't convenience, and I'm starting to see this in a lot of other smart devices as well.
The reality is the Smart devices are designed to track your information and limit usage, effectively giving companies power over the products you use.
In spite of coming off preachy, I feel as if we as the consumers should be more cautious of this business practice as it's becoming a lot more common.
I appreciate the heads up OP, I'll be sure to avoid Chargepoint's products in the future.
The app gives remote control and monitoring
You can call Chargepoint and they will remove it from previous account.. don’t understand the fuss
Except they won’t. It should be that easy.
@@chargeeverywhere
I’ve done this before, takes 5 minutes .. Chargepoint can remove the charger from previous driver
@@Leotheking-d1k he tried but they didn’t unlink it. He even communicated with them pretty much daily but no go.
I am planning to get a Charge-point but now I am changing my mind.... First ebay should give you money back some one has to be responsible for that. but too bad they got your $ it is your problem now.
Buy new. Ours has been flawless for 4 years
Probably stolen....
Chargepoint thinks of their product as a single use item to be thrown away after use.
So it's best to say, "Don't buy EV charger used!"