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American Home Shield Review


ConsumersAdvocate.org Rating: 4.7 / 5 (Excellent)
4,138 Customer Comments & Reviews - see all comments
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American Home Shield is a Tennessee-based company founded in 1971 to provide coverage on home appliances and systems in the United States through its network of home service professionals.

The company offers service contracts that cover the repair or replacement of major components of home systems and appliances. Customers can also purchase optional coverage for pools and spas, guest houses, home electronic systems, roof leaks, maintenance services, and more.

How Do We Rate American Home Shield?

Breakdown

4.8/5
Transparency
4.8/5
Claims Processing
4.7/5
Coverage Options
4.7/5
Additional Benefits
4.7/5
Customer Experience

Our Overall Rating: 4.7 / 5 (Excellent)

American Home Shield's coverage is among the most comprehensive we've seen in the industry. The company covers considerably more appliances and systems than its competitors and has fewer coverage limitations.

The company recently updated its plans—they now have three to simplify choosing the right one for your home. American Home Shield focuses on the repairs that offer the most value to consumers, removing items that are inexpensive to replace, increasing its coverage limits on appliances in its most expensive plan to reflect today's higher-priced, "gourmet" appliances, and adding roof leak coverage.

Coverage

Key Facts

Plan Types
Systems
Appliances
Combo Plan
Benefit Limit Type
Per Item
Typical Appliance Benefit Limit
$3,000
Typical Systems Benefit Limit
$0

Coverage Options - 4.7 / 5

American Home Shield offers consumers a choice of three plans, following a good-better-best model. Its ShieldSilver plan warrants systems only, but can be amended with certain add-ons, including pools, electronics, and guest houses. Its ShieldGold plan covers a range of systems and appliances, again with add-on options. Its ShieldPlatinum plan covers everything in the ShieldGold plan, plus roof leaks up to $1500 and some routine maintenance services. These include free HVAC tune-ups, unlimited top ups on your AC refrigerant, coverage for code violations including permits.

All told, American Home Shield covers 23 systems and appliances, considerably more than most of their competitors, and fully covers 11 of those items. There is no limit on the number of claims a customer can file over the year’s contract, either.

What does American Home Shield cover?

Covered Built-In Systems

  • Air Conditioning
  • Heating
  • Electrical
  • Plumbing
  • Water Heater
  • Instant Hot/Cold Water Dispenser
  • Doorbells
  • Ceiling Fans

Covered Appliances

  • Refrigerators
  • Dishwashers
  • Clothes Dryers
  • Clothes Washers
  • Ranges/Ovens/Cooktops
  • Built-in Microwaves
  • Freestanding Ice Makers
  • Built-In Trash Compactors
  • Garage Door Openers
  • Built-in Food Centers

Exclusions

For a full list of American Home Shield exclusions, check out this page.

Specialty Items

  • Guest Unit
  • Pool/Spa
  • Well Pump
  • Septic
  • Roof Leaks

Contract & Price

Contract Details

Annual Premium
Starting at $0
Minimum Contract Length
12 month(s)
Home Inspection Required for Contract?
No
Online Quote/Application

Contract & Price - 5 / 5

American Home Shield has a flexible pricing policy and offers three different coverage plans and two trade service call fee levels: $100 and $125.

This allows consumers to have input into the annual price based on their budgetary needs.

We requested a quote for a single family home under 5,000 square feet located in a medium-sized midwestern city. The minimum annual premium (Shield Silver Plan) was $59.99 per month. The maximum premium (Shield Platinum Plan) was $109.99. So AHS prices are somewhat higher than many competitive plans. Consumers should note that their final price will vary by plan, service call charge selected, and location.

Sample Contract

American Home Shield provides a sample contract for potential customers on its website: American Home Shield Sample Contract

Cancellation Policy

Customers can cancel anytime within their 30 day wait period and receive a full refund, and can cancel anytime during the contract term, as this is a non-binding contract.

Claims & Service

Claims

Service Fee
$100 and $125
Maintenance Records Required for Service?
No
24/7 Claims Department?
Waiting Period
30 days

Contractors & Service

Contractor Selection
In-Network Only
Contractor Network Size
14,000+ contractors
Number of Technicians
45,000 technicians
Service Recall Period
30 days

Claims Processing - 4.8 / 5

Consumers can submit a service request online 24/7/365. American Home Security does not require an inspection prior to purchase.

The company has a large network of service professionals and offers a 30-day workmanship guarantee on their services.

American Home Shield Reputation

Company Details

Year Founded
1971
NHSCA Membership
Number of Customers
1.7 million
Number of Employees
1,700
TrustPilot Rating
2.1 out of 5
BBB Rating
B
BBB Positive Reviews
392
BBB Neutral Reviews
50
BBB Negative Reviews
1,874
Date Collected
2023-07-24

Reputation - 5 / 5

American Home Shield has been in business since 1971, making it the oldest player in the industry. It has over 1.7 million customers.

In 1989, the company was acquired by ServiceMaster, an established firm that also owns Terminix and Merry Maids.

American Home Shield is accredited by the BBB and has a B rating. In this industry, negative customer reviews far outnumber positive ones.

Contact & Additional Information

Homepage URL
Company Phone
(888) 429-8247
Headquarters Address
150 Peabody Place, Memphis, TN, 38103
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 849, Carroll, IA, 51401
Year Founded
1971

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4138 Customer Comments & Reviews

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Laurie H
4/19/2017
My experience with AHS has been horrible. I've gotten conflicting information from people I talk to, and had repair people out that are incompetent. I have no confidence in them at all and I'm canceling.

AHS A  
Official Response

Company Rep of American Home Shield
Hello Laurie, I regret to hear about the experience that you have had with your services, If you send your information to social@ahslink.com , I will follow up with you. Thanks Daryl

P
Patricia
4/19/2017
I have had good experience with AHS. The technicians have been very professional and friendly. Show up on time and do repairs needed to correct the problems. So far, so good!


K
Ken G
4/19/2017
Quick response to my problem.


R
Reine P
4/19/2017
I have had AHS for almost 20 years. They were fast with service and contractors for the most part were excellent. But as of late, their contractor base is not there for my area. I am told to find my own contractor and pay them and I will be reimbursed up to a certain point. This issue is a big one for me. If I wanted to review individual service contractors and look at prices in the limited time I have to do so and then pay myself for the service, why do I have AHS? This has happened on the last two calls. I ended up having to pay $700 for the first time and now again - I have no clue. This is very frustrating. I need to have no service fee for the call given that I have to do all... Read More


L
Luna
4/18/2017
I had a mixed service with AHS. One call out was very satisfying and other is still ongoing due to the contractor they used for my area. So I think it is down to who they use in your area. So the AHS should listen to the customer and not use the contractors who will pull their ratings down.

A
AHS A  
Official Response

Company Rep of American Home Shield
Hi Luna, I am sorry to hear about the ongoing experience that you have had with your services. Feel free to send your information to social@ahslink.com attention Daryl and I will see how we can make things right . Thanks Daryl

R
Rob
4/18/2017
AHS (American Home SHield) sent an A/C vendor (Air Dynasty) to us that charged $76 per pound for 410 freon. AHS only covered $10 per pound. At 11 pounds that is $726 just for starters! Total cost for my "covered" A/C repair was $1,055. When I complained to the A/C tech that I only spent $15 a pound with another vendor on a different call for my rental property, he said "That couldn't have been a home warranty call. No one charges that little for fren on home warranty service calls". Ah, but I have the paperwork to prove it! The AHS Customer Service rep said they do not control the price vendors charged for freon. So if you need A/C work don't be surprised to get hit HARD !


J
Jim L
4/18/2017
I have had AHS probably 4-5 different times over the past 15 years, and their service and accessibility continues to improve. This past 3 mo, they have been extremely attentive. Love their new website. They took care of my broken oven and even completely replaced it with a new one, even though they could have repaired it with a rebuilt computer panel - but they have an internal policy not to make customers wait that long. And all this after I lost all my money on a competing home warranty last year that went bankrupt and took my 2 years up front money with them. Love AHS!

A
AHS A  
Official Response

Company Rep of American Home Shield
Thanks so much Jim! We appreciate the feedback.

Rebecca C
4/17/2017
I have had American home Shield warranty for over three years ,i've called on them three times , this last time I called on them it took the company that they recommended to come out two weeks later that two weeks turned into a month and I'm still waiting I had asked American home Shield to give me back my money for that it's in my contract that they cannot nobody wants to take responsibility for this company being this bad. And having such horrible service. I will no longer pay home Shield to come and fix my problems I will be looking for another company.


T
Tammie
4/17/2017
located the problem, went and got parts, fixed it. They were on time and very friwndly

T
T. W  
Official Response

AHS Rep of American Home Shield
Tammie, I'm glad to hear that AHS met your home warranty needs. It is always good to hear about work orders that have completed the process almost seamlessly. Thanks!

James S
4/17/2017
Warning! Do not use this company-Rip-off At one time this was supposed to be the best one, however, something has changed. Not only have they increased their prices but their service is the worst. Recently they sent two different HVAC Contractors to my home. The first one stated I needed 16 lbs of r22 Freon; the only problem my unit only holds 10. That's 6 libs of Freon at $70 per lb = $430 rip-off. The second one tried to sell me a new unit which AHS paid nothing for. The contractor stated zero interest for 5 yrs. When I went to sign the contract it stated $10,000 cash which was about $3000 higher than other estimates and then 12,000 if I financed it. I have been trying to... Read More



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