First American Home Warranty
Home Warranty Plan Details and Reviews for First American Home Warranty
Premium: $355
Deductible: $55
Effective: Upon payment receipt
Web: homewarranty.firstam.com
Deductible: $55
Effective: Upon payment receipt
Web: homewarranty.firstam.com
Coverage Area: USA - All States
| Home warranty is a complex insurance product. Unlike home insurance, it does not provide blanket coverage for all appliances. Pre-existing conditions and problems resulting from lack of maintenance of appliance are are generally not covered by home warranty companies. Home warranty sellers may not state these factors clearly, and this will create dissatisfaction among customers. Due to these factors, you will see many negative reviews here. Don't be intimidated by some negative reviews here. If you have maintained your appliances in good condition and go with a reputed home warranty provider, your coverage will be fine. |
We do not endorse any company in particular, however you should ignore the reviews that are overly negative or positive. Such reviews are not likely to offer a balanced view and some of them could be fake reviews posted to promote or demote a company. It is always a good idea to check BBB ratings and make sure the company is licensed to do business in your State by contacting State Insurance Commission. Try to avoid paying annual premium and keep your cancellation rights
Reviews
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Pages: [25] 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 … 1 » Show All
I would not recommend this company, like most all home warranty policies, they almost never replace anything. Had a furnace that was shut down by the gas company as dangerous, CO emissions, etc, and they refused even to pay half the cost of a new furnace. Don’t waste your time or money!!
I ahve had Fa for 6 years hd no proble with other getting a new hotwaer heater, disher, but when it came to the HEATER, THEY SENT OUT DISVOREY HEATING HE TOLD ME WE NEED heater, A NEW HEATHER BUT WHEN HE TOLD FA THEY SAID NO The heater was put in wrong, we got a hold of the carrier heater they told me it was put in right, so they sent disvory back out, wrong part, when the right part came it still dose not work right, sev tech said just clean the vents tops i did, the scrvice tch told AF i need to have the coils cleaned and duck cleaned, there tacking out money form my debit card, Ilost my debit card but the bank still gave the the money for the monthly papment, I cancled my service iwth them, I was told it would take 30 days to get back any money due me, I did not pay the $60 i was told i did nto have to pay untill it was workign right, they need to be put out of bussines.
Undoubtedly the WORST excuse for a service company I have EVER encountered!
This is a definitely an example to use for “how not to service a customer” !
To state my experience thus far has been unacceptable is an understatement.
First American Home Buyers Protection contracts substandard service providers who at best do a shoody job, and when you need to be re-serviced they are in no hurry what-so-ever.
To top it off, even after escalating to a supervisor at two different times, I have yet to received the promised call back – or the service promised!
I will blog this on EVERY site I find! UNACCEPTABLE TREATEMENT! A PLUS PLUMBING – YOU MUST HAVE FORGOTTEN – YOU ARE A SERVICE COMPANY!!
The worst customer service, absolutely the worst service people. I’ve had numerous other warranty companies and First American would not even be close to any other. DONT EVER GET THIS WARRANTY.
God forbid anything major ever breaks in your home in you have this insurance. I went without hot water for months before any repairs would be authorized. I had to contact the BBB in order to get my water heater fixed. The service tech was a joke. I called and paid for my own tech to come out and tell me what was really wrong. In addition to this, I had to locate and provide the service booklet to 1st American to prove the heater was installed according to the specs. They tried to claim my heater was installed wrong and they were denying my claim. They sent a second tech out who wanted to file a claim to replace my heater, charge me eight hundred bucks and then he would have charged 1st american. What a scam! If they contract people like this they can’t be any better. After providing proof they couldn’t deny my claim. I ended up being contacted by the local area manager about this whole fiasco. She wasn’t any help. I learned all about plumbing codes for my state and how to install my tankless heater and copper piping as a result of this incident.
We’ve had an FA warranty for several years, and their s-called “pre-screened” contractors that they send out are more than a little questionable. We have had one positive experience with their garage door repair contractor. That’s been offset by multiple screw-ups. They’ve assigned us one plumber who was basically unreachable; an air-conditioning service that tried to sell us a duct-cleaning ($1K) service but didn’t manage to fix our problem that had nothing to do with ducts; an appliance repair service that took 4 visits to change an oven thermostat; and another plumber who didn’t bother to call for 3 days after our septic sump pump failed, even though FA said it was to be treated as a same-day emergency. All in all, I’d rather pick out my own repair companies and not play telephone tag for days. I won’t renew the FA contract when it comes due.
Working as a Property Manager/Owner with Home Warranty companies for years now, I realize it is confusing at times to understand the process of how home warranties work, but from a Property Manager standpoint and having worked with all the Home Warranty companies. FAHW does have the best customer service than the rest. Always purchase your warranty with the first class upgrade and almost nearly everything is covered! Initiate your requests on line and BE reasonable folks! They do try very hard to get in touch with you and service your failure in a prompt manner. The small print does tell you if an appliance needs to be replaced and yours is a high end appliance, a credit will be given or a replacement up to a certain value is done. Example- We had a property with a $1200 DW that the mother board went out on, they needed to replace it but the credit was for about $400. (the cost if an average DW) We applied the credit towards the new and identical model and paid the difference. It was BETTER than having to buy the DW outright. Your premium covers so many items in the house, some are more expensive than others. Again BE reasonable. If you had to purchase this type of replacement, not only would you be out the cost of the new DW, but the service call and labor too! This is an extreme. Most appliance that need replacement will fall under the covered allowable limits. Some high end properties with expensive covered items are typically not the norm. Bottom line- READ your agreement! Know what will happen on covered items! I read mine on a daily basis to ensure what is and is not a COVERED item. These warranties do work and can save you thousands. I manage over 60 properties and have seen every kind of failure!
I have had FA for almost a year and had two AC problems for my renter. I had to repeatedly call and beg them to get someone out there to fix it. It was summer in AZ and over 110 degress. It took several phone calls from me and two days to finally get someone out there. Very poor customer service for an urgent issue. I also had problems with the AC repair company they use. I finally got approval for a quality AC repair team to get out there and fix it. FA just sent me my quote for next year, $100 more a year. I am now shopping for a different company.
The customer service reps are rude, replacement products are garbage (cheapest, lowest quality available) contractors are questionable as well. Three days wait, in winter, to have the furnace repaired. A/C replaced with a unit is not the correct size/tonnage for our home, so now it runs all the time in the summer.
Purchased a home with home warranty. (Value Plus Plan). 4 days after moving in we sprang a plumbing leak under the kitchen sink. Water, leaking all over the hardwood floor. Happened to have a licensed repair person in the home working on installing washer and dryer at the time the leak appeared. He said, Call the warranty company and ask if they will authorize repair and we can do it now. Company said no. It needed to be from their authorized list. They would have that company contact me. Cal Home Plumbing promptly contacted me and we arranged a service call almost immediately. I also showed him the laundry room faucet which was dripping. He said, just install the sink, it will be fine. Said he needed to order a part for the kitchen faucet. Did a temporary fix and said go ahead and use it. Part would take 3-7 days. I started to write a check for the service fee but he said, pay when we come back with the part. Several days later, called the plumbing company but was told the part actually took about 10 days to come in. 2 weeks after the initial call for service, called the plumbing company and asked if the part was in yet. The woman answered no. Stated she didn’t know when it would come in. 4 days after that, another leak. Called Roto Rooter. Prompt service, went to truck and came back with $3 part and repaired faucet in 10 minutes. 5 months later, no leak. Husband went to plumbing supply and purchased parts for laundry faucet.Fixed it himself. Has not dripped since. Just before Christmas, started getting bills from warranty company for service fee. Figured, I’d call and take care of it after holidays. 1st week of January, received collection notice for unpaid service fee. Called the company and explained they would have received service fee if technician had returned with part. Asked me to fax them invoice for repair, which I did along with the initial invoice showing repair not completed. Just got off phone with 2nd customer no service rep. Asked for supervisor, and was twice denied. Bottom line, they say, we owe the service fee because we didn’t notify them that the repair was not completed. Had the contract in front of me, pointed out contract only says they will not reimburse for unauthorized service. Not asking for reimbursement. Just didn’t think we should pay for a service not completed.
Home Warranties sound great on paper when you’re offered one as an incentive to buy a house. Wrong! This company doesn’t cover anything, outrageous!
We discovered a mold issue in our Heating system – not covered and we had to replace the whole thing to the tune of $7,000!
Our dishwasher was leaking and they were unable to fix it, but they don’t replace things (this is news to me) so we had to purchase a new one to the tune of $700.
The clock on the microwave doesn’t work, but this doesn’t inhibit the microwave from working – their explanation – so that isn’t covered.
I paid them $60 to look at the dishwasher and they did nothing – I asked for my money back and have been unable to get a refund – what a joke!
It took First American 3.5 MONTHS, 6 different companies and 9 appts to fix a simple repair on our refrigerator. They sent out “F” rated companies (per the BBB) that put parts in wrong or were rude and refused to even acknowledge there was a problem. I had to cancel my Thanksgiving vacation with family to stay home and wait over and over again for (incompetent) techinicans to show up. Finally, the 6th company sent a knowledgeable tech who fixed the problem. We’ve been with this company for several years, and they offered no compensation (or written apology) for our inconvenience. We won’t be renewing. Enuf said.
Please don’t buy insurance with this company. I placed a service order for my garage door opener, tech arrived and mentioned it was build wrongly and insurance denied my cliam.
I had my garage door for 5 years, never had issue. When I had real issue, they denied my request for no reason.
Please don’t take insurance with this company.
A call to file a claim should take no longer than 5-7 minutes, right. Well 45 minutes and three transfers later I finally got an appointment scheduled in the next 3-5 business days!! The repair is for a 4 year old, top load Maytag washer with a squeaky belt that wouldn’t drain on the spin cycle.
First American Home Warranty is the worst warranty company I’ve ever dealt with. When trying to make a claim, they make you feel like a criminal. They ask questions about how the appliance was treated and if the damage was my fault. “It’s a washer; it’s used to wash clothes.” What do they expect, it’s meant to do work, and things break down over time. That’s why people buy warranties!!! So that when things do break down they can afford to have them fixed. I was told that a belt going out on a clothes washer was owner neglect, and may not be covered, but they would send someone to check it. Then I was told “it isn’t an emergency so the service company would call me at their convenience.” As the customer, they should ask what is a good day & time for me. They assigned a company and said that their appointments were 3-5 days out, and would not reassign it to another service company. Tim #3410 told me “You need to make yourself available to this company at their convenience or pay for it yourself and try to get reimbursed” and he started to laugh. Real professional “TIM#3410″!! First American Home Warranty only deals with a few service companies and do not check these companies out before contracting with them or sending them to your home. Of course their ads say they do, but their ads lie. Just like saying that the service call is only $60 per claim. We paid the $60 up front and then we were sent a bill from the warranty company and the service company. Unfortunately I have been with First American for over 4 years and their service has always been this bad! So I guess I’m also to blame, for staying with them for so long and allowing them to treat me that way. But no more, once my contract is up with First American I will never renew with them again and will be searching for a good warranty company with customer service reps that know their job and realize that without customers they wouldn’t have a job!!!!! So much for the customer always being right.
I would never refer this company or recommend them to anyone!!!! Rip off artists!!!!
I am very disgusted with this company. I have been having problems with the components of my garage door for about four months. At first, I had to have a new garage door opener. Next, I had to have the springs replaced. Well, every since the replacement of the springs by First American’s “chosen contractor”, my garage door consistently comes off track. I called First American on last week with this problem; I was told that my existing claim was still under the 30-day recall period; as a result, the contractor would be dispatched. Due to the New Year’s Holiday approaching, I assumed that the chosen contractor was behind in work claims. Needless to say, I made a return call to First American for a follow-up. This time when I called, I was told that nothing was noted in reference to my calling last week and that the 30-day recall time frame had expired. ARE YOU SERIOUS?? Now, they want me to pay another $75 service call fee. I don’t think so! I’m in the process of finding another home warranty company because I’m fed up with their horrible customer service and incompetent contractors!!
Had a one year warranty with First Am paid for by seller as part of a home we purchased. In the year I made 2 claims, neither of which they would pay. For the first, my AC unit needed repair (condensor fan spindle had rusted through due to age). They only had one approved vendor in “my area”, but when I called that vendor they said they were too far away and had asked First Am not to assign customers not in their range. So I was told to find my own vendor. When I finally found someone available (it was during a hot spell so everyone was booked) they said the repair quote was too high so they wouldn’t pay. I said I would pay anything that was over what they considered “reasonable” since I couldn’t find anyone else and I had a health issue in the family where I needed the AC fixed soon, but was told “we don’t work that way”.
The other claim was on my oven. The part that was needed wasn’t on their list of specific parts they pay for, so that was denied as well. unfortaunately I didn’t get to choose the company my warranty was with since that was the sellers’ choice, but I would definitely not use First Am if I ever get another warranty.
the pluming repair people seems like the know little (CAL HOME PLUMBING INC.)Have a leak in upstairs shower and i guess I will have to knocking holes in walls or on outside stucco to give them an access point. First American is not in your best intrest. I have contacted another plumber and I think First American should contract another plumbing company, for Cal Home Plumbing the contractor for First American is shoddy and First American does not care.
Bottom line: this is a company you can not trust or depend on.
Was a happy customer and even advocate for the previous 5 years. I mostly used them for minor repairs handled in a single visit. However, recently when the heat pump went out in a rental property I owned they showed their true colors.
Long story short, the technicians they contracted were incompetent and not interested in troubleshooting or diagnosing the problem. The end result was that after 5 visits over 30 days they made no progress in repairing/replacing the system so I replaced it in the interest of the tenants living in the house. Their response for me resolving this situation that they were completely incapable of dealing with is to deny me any compensation. They simply do not care how much their customers suffer and have no concept of customer service.
If you are looking for a home warranty company save your money and go with someone else.
If you are already a customer, drop them and save yourself the time and aggravation that you’ll face when you do need them and they aren’t capable of being helpful.
And if you’ve been a victim of their indifference and incompetence then I strongly encourage you to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.org/). First American may not be interested in resolving your issue but at least your complaint stands against them with the BBB. Right now they have an A+ rating which is tragic when you consider how terrible they are at serving their customers.
The verdict is not quite out… As for First American’s customer service , it depends upon with whom one speaks. I had a garbage disposal issue and each time I called First American, I was told something different. Also I question the technicians sent to assess the situation. The first technician diagnosed the problem as a clog, despite the fact that the disposal was 18/19 years old and clearly at its end with noteworthy rusting. Essentially, I paid a $60 service fee to have the pea trap cleaned. As problems persisted and a severe leak sprung, another technician from another plumbing company confirmed my suspicions that the disposal needed to be replaced (that equaled two service call fees or $120). When the second technician called in the claim he was told (or so he told me)that First American would only cover $77 since a lesser quality disposal of the same brand was available on ebay for that price. I asked the tech to wait while I called First American and after about 20 minutes of hold time, I was connected with a customer service rep (Joel) that was very helpful and patient with my disgruntled attitude. He indicated that he could not understand why the tech told me the claim was, basically, denied since there was approval for more than what was necessary to replace a 1 hp disposal. I’m not sure what the deal is or who is up to what, but the whole thing seems odd. The disposal is being replaced as I write so, like I said, the verdict is not yet out. Customer service is a mixed bag with First American; I recommend calling until you get a competent person on the phone (kudos to Joel). I don’t believe First American properly screens the service companies they use, as it’s of my opinion that both plumbing companies that have been here are dishonest and one of the reasons insurance is so costly.
I had a problem with the AC for over a Year they kept half way having it repaired evrn though several companies recommended a new unit finally they decided to replace the unit after over a year of frustration and the loss of a tenant. The plan did not cover the crane for removal of the unit only the crane for the installation. How crappy is that?? Also a PVC pipe they approve the payment under non covered for the drain of $135.00. We had to pay over $1,600 for non covered items even though I have a premier plan and AC coverage. Why would we think that so many things would not be covered, Be sure to look under Important that states Thjis contract only covers items mentioned and excludes all others. They charge you to haul away the unit $250.00. We will be changing companies
We have been without heat or air for most of the year. They refuse to fix the root of the problem only adding freon to “get us by” until they receive the next call for the same problem. I demanded the contact information for the CEO of the company, surprise !, they have no clue who that is. I have wasted many days off trying to get this issue fixed to no avail. Never again will I fall for their sales pitch. Fool me once…
This company was chosen for us when we closed on our house this year and I don’t plan on renewing my contract with them. We had to use them when one of our AC units broke this summer. We spent a whole month with no AC during the summer and our house was 85 degrees every day. First American clearly didn’t have any care about this since it took so long to fix the unit.
The first company they sent came out twice and said the unit was not broken and that the breaker was bad. We spent a total of $500.00 dollars to fix the breaker and have a another company come out and temporarily fix our AC unit. Not only was the first company incompetent but the workers were very rude. The second company they sent finally told them our AC unit was broken and we had to wait over a week to have them fix the unit.
I don’t know why anyone would renew their warranty with First American!!
Horrible company. They never fix anything. They always come up with an excuse why not. You end up paying a $60 service fee for some one to come out and do absolutely nothing. I can not believe there has not been a class action suit filed against this horrible company.
We have been with First American Home Warranty for about seven months. We have requested service on our dishwasher (x2), an oven (x1), our pool pump (x2), a water heater (x1), and a plumbing leak (x1). We pay a $60 deductible for each visit. When you call, you get an automated response but then are either connected to a representative or one calls back within a few minutes. Sears Home Repair came out for the kitchen appliances. It took several visits to get the each of the issues resolved, so the repairs were stretched out over a month or so, but they were eventually resolved without question. Our pool pump motor failed and it took about a week and a half to get the repairman out here. The water was green by that time, but he fixed it the day he came out. The replacement motor failed within three months. First American sent the same repairman out again, about a week after we called, even though we said we were skeptical. We got another new motor but paid the $60 deductible again. Our water heater was serviced within two days after our call. When we called about a plumbing leak, they had a plumber out here in a few hours. Overall, I am satisfied with First American and relieved I have not had the experience that others have reported. Yes, you have to deal with a “middleman” and the timing of the service visit is not what you would get if you called to the service company yourself. On the other hand, I think they have saved us quite a bit of money in our first year in this 20-year old house.
We bought an old house with appliances that were all 30years old and up. They were always good about going ahead and replacing them. But as for timeliness and care.. forget it. I went over a month without a dishwasher (there were no problems with the service order either, just being slow), which was aggrevating but manageable. But, now my range is out… And, theres been some issues, so I can only imagine how long this will take (were at 2.5 weeks now without even having a replacement picked out yet). But, they don’t seem to care in the least that I’m down a stove top and 2 ovens right now.