Hoveround
reviews and complaints

When my husband went from strait medicare to Humana, Hoveround refused to send Humana the paperwork which they had from the doctor which they submitted to get the chair approved to begin with. I called and asked them to do this every week for months. Finally, Humana denied the claim for the rest of the chair because Hoveround would not provide them with the paperwork. We were told we had to make the rest of what was owed (over $1200) in three payments or they were coming out to take back the chair. I was able to borrow the money for 2 months of it. We are on the final month, there is approximately $500 owed and we cannot pay it. They are now going to take back the chair from a totally disabled man that cannot walk at all. Now he will have to crawl on the floor to even go to the toilet.

This lady they sent to my home was very rude and sarcastic! Just because I didnt look a certain way and because I live in a doublewide, she immediately told me that because I wanted to take the chair outside that I just blew it for medicare paying. But when I called they said I could get one for outside use, and you also told me that there were other people that would pay any additional cost. The lady that came to my house said I would have to pay 800 dollars up front, she rolled her eyes at me and said I doubt you can pay that. Thanks for nothing, you made me go to my doctor, have the test and I know I passed them because the lady came to my home to evaluate me and could not wait to leave, so I told her to just get up and go and she left.

Sorry we coulnt do business!
Arthur Lee Swift
2000 Velma Road
Athens, Tn. 37303

I received my Hoveround October 25, 2012. At that time, I thought I had jumped through all of the hoops in order to comply with their requirements. Apparently I had not. After many, many visits to my physician for repeat information that supposedly was required by Medicare, we sent all information to Hoveround for them to get paid. This was a waste of my time, gasoline to get to town to the doctor which is 15 miles away, time for the doctor and his assistant to do several hands on (sight on) evaluations, filling out mounds of paperwork and sending off to Hoveround. Last August 2013, I was notified by Hoveround that Medicare had approved my chair and it was mine. I specifically asked if Medicare had paid for the chair and they said that yes, it was paid for. I could not have been happier. Hoveround even came to the house and put in brand new batteries, which actually were not needed, but who was I to complain about free batteries.
About a month ago, I received a letter from Medicare stating that they were denying the claim and that quote, " Since the supplier has been determined to have had knowledge of the non-covered item, the supplier is liable for the cost of the denied item. The supplier may not bill the beneficiary for the cost of the denied item, and must refund any monies collected from the beneficiary, unquote.. Monday I received a phone call from Hoveround that they wanted to schedule a time to pick up the chair. I have been hounded by them to pick up this chair after I was informed that I could have two weeks to find another one. I just received another call. I asked my social worker to talk with them and she got them to give me the two weeks to find another chair. She said I needed to contact my doctor AGAIN and schedule a face-to-face appointment with him. I did this and called Hoveround to ask what paperwork was needed that I could get done at this appointment. After being on hold a considerable time, I was notified that Hoveround would not be doing business with me any longer, that Medicare had denied me and unless I wanted to fork out $2, 500 they were going to pick up the chair. I said thank you an hung up. I contacted my social worker again and relayed the information as I was told by Hoveround. I am very upset with the whole thing. I have not been treated so poorly by a company that supposedly was interested in the welfare of its customers. Please, anyone who reads this, do not do business with Hoveround if you want to be treated fairly. I am unable to use a manual wheelchair and have no replacement, so I guess I am now confined to my bed. I hope everyone has a better relationship with their supplier than I have had with Hoveround;

My uncle purchased a wheelchair from this company approx 2 years ago. The chair needed repairing after and we were told that a Doctor's authorization was needed. After faxing the information to Hoveround from the Physician, it has taken 3 months to get hisd chair repaired. Needless to say, the customer service is an aweful representation of the company. STAY AWAY FROM HOVEROUND!

I am disabled in a power chair. With a power chair I am completely independent. Without a chair I would be in a nursing home. I use the chair 90 percent of the time for everything. I go to doctors, grocery shopping, and malls. Do laundry and everything else that needs to be done. Medicare was kind enough to purchase me a new chair that the list price is $11, 800.

The company I chose to supply the chair was Hoveround. I based my decision only on two factors, distance to be able to travel, and performance. I talked to the sales staff and looked at everything on their website. Hoveround offers the largest batteries of any manufacture that Medicare approves of and highest performance.

The first thing that they misrepresent on the website is they advertise 70 amp hour batteries. The owner’s manual said it comes with 75 amp hour batteries. The batteries in my Hoveround Technique XHD are 60 amp hour batteries. They advertise on their website speed up to 5 miles per hour, mine goes 3 miles per hour. The manual states the chair is programed for 90 percent forward speed. The highest speed the service technician could set on it was 85 %. Their cane holder for the chair is advertise at $25.00 on their web site but when you go to buy it is $60.00.

First of all I don’t know if Medicare knows they paid for a used chair not new. The man who delivered it told me it was a demo. The right arm rest was all scratch up and I made him replace it. In the first month these are some but not all of the things that have happen. Batteries went bad and had to be replaced, elevated leg rests fell off on the side walk and I ran one over with the chair. Seat adjustment knob fell off. The cup that is supplied with the chair the handle just fell off. Most all the bolts and nuts came loose and I personally had to put lock tight on all nuts and bolts that don’t have a nylock nuts on them, battery charger went bad. The best distance I can get out of the chair is 5.5 miles before the batteries are completely exhausted. Not very good for a chair that is rated at 20 miles on their website.

I was told by head of Technical support that the chair should give at least 10 miles no matter the terrain or riders weight. Well this chair won’t do it. The foam filled tires (I have had them on all my chairs and they were all excellent) get no traction at all. Spin all the time trying to get up the ramps in the local buses. I can put the wheels up against a one inch speed bump and spin them until I set them on fire. They are Junk!

I was told a reclining seat cost $1874.00. No other manufacture has a reclining seat that even is half of that price. I wrote a letter to Medicare about the problems over a month ago but no response from them. Well I am stuck with this chair for 5 years. I am glad I still have my old chair so I can get where I need to go because this Hoveround chair won’t do it and is unreliable. I had to push this chair home twice and that I shouldn’t even be trying to do that. So now this American made piece of Garbage sits in the corner. I will have to spend money on my old chair so I can do what I have to do.

Hoveround advertises their chair falsely in their manuals and on their website. It is ashamed they find it necessary to miss inform disabled people about their product simply to make a profit. Well I guess that is the American way! Under the Medicare rules the chair is leased to them and then after 13 months owner ship is turned over to me after the warranty is gone. If it was mine legally I would sue Hoveround immediately and let a judge decide the outcome. I can’t believe Medicare will let them get away with this. I can’t say anything about Hoveround other products just the product I got. It is no wonder Americans buy Japanese and china products.

It seems Americans can’t build anything reliable anymore. One other thing Hoveround on their website advertises is their chairs are indoor outdoor chairs. This is one American that is not going to let them get away with it. I am going to the better business bureau, consumer affairs, attorney general’s office and the president of the United States if need be! It is time someone stands up and fights back. Well I got lots of time on my hands and a good computer! Either Hoveround makes their promises come true on this product or the WAR is on. This is not a Threat it is a FACT. I will find someone out there that has the power to put a stop to all this if I spend the rest of my life doing so. I am an honest and fair man and won’t be taken advantage of. Hoveround do what you say you will, or get out of the business.

PS: Their technicians are nothing but parts re-placers; they know as much about how a chair works as I know about making atom bombs.

I have a neighbor that has a Hoveround. He is completely dependent on the chair. He got a flat tire on 11/21 and called me. I looked up Hoveround and found they have flat free tires for $50.00. I called the number and after going through 5 or 6 different options, finally got a live person on the phone 5 minutes into my call.

I ordered the tires and asked them if they were in stock. They assured me that they will ship the next morning. Today is 12/4/12 and no tires. I called Hoveround and again taking 5 or 6 minutes, get a live person. They do not have have my name in the system. I give them my confirmation number, they cannot look it up by that number. transferred to billing... Billing finds my receipt and confirms that is was indeed ordered 11/21/12 but never shipped... transferred to customer solutions... "Hi this is Ben" I tell Ben that I have a neighbor that is dependent on a power chair and I ordered new tires for him on 11/21 and I have not received them. Ben apologizes. I tell Ben I need them now. Can they ship them overnight so I can have them tomorrow? Ben states; " Sure, no problem. I have to clear that, can I call you back" I tell him that my confidence in them is rather low and I prefer to wait. He assures me that it will only be a few minutes, read back my phone number and told me he would call back. I have now been sitting by the phone 2 hours, where are you Ben?

I got my hoveround XHD two weeks ago. They simply misrepresent the product both on their website, by their sales staff, and in their owners product manuals. My chair doesn't have 75 amp batteries like the manual says. On their website it says 70 amp. I only had my chair one week and they had to install new batteries in it. The batteries are on 60 amp. They advertise the cane holder for 25.00 it not it is 60.00. They advertise it to goes up to 20 miles based on rider weight and terrain. I haven't be able to go even 5 miles total. The manual says the forward speed is set up on the computer at 90 percent. Mine was set at 80% and they tried to reprogram it but the highest the technician could get it to program was 85%. My doctor ordered elevated leg-rests but they don't work properly without the reclining seat which hoveround says cost a additional 1, 874 dollars. The seat is uneven and leans badly to the left. Everything has come loose and i had to tighten all the nuts and bolts. Now i was informed that the optional headrest which they told me( cost 40.00 is now 150.00) won't work without the reclining seat that cost 1, 874.00. Had to push chair home twice. I sent certified letters to hoveround, Medicare and attorney generals office. Their not going to get away with this. I am going to do everything i can to stop them from misrepresented their product.. I called to get the seat straighten out and they set up appointment so i canceled doctors appointment so i would be there. Four hours later they called me again said they couldn't make it until three days later after i just canceled my appointment with my doctor so i would be home.. I called them and said never come out again, EVER! I should of got the Jazzy 514 HD

I, ve had my chair fro 4 yrs. When I called for a replacement battery, I was told I have to pay 162.00 deductible, 129.00 for the battery, plus the service call. Where is the "no cost to the customer"? I, m on retirement, not the executive secretary to Donald Trump! Apparently Hoveround doesn't care about the disabled consumer to whom they are allegedly supposed to be concerned about. With them, it's all about the cash, not the customer!