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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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Toy G
9/6/2019
Cancelled contract on 7/23/2019 with"RJ". Was Debited $100 for service call that was not completed. Was contacted "Joy" on 8/2 regarding monthly charge for August. Joy stated that she would cancel the contract. Phoned on 8/9 to verify cancellation and was hung up on. On 8/11 called again and was hung up on. Phoned today and spoke to "Mark" who was unable to give the phone number to the Cancellation Dept. Will be filing with the BBB and the FTC regarding unfair business practices.


astubb0416
9/6/2019
We had AHS when we first moved and didn't renew. When our Heat Pump went down this summer we thought it would help us to just start another contract...WRONG. We waited a month to even put our service request in and once we did the contractor sent out did nothing but put his hand over vents and say it wasn't our ductwork check the freon charge; which is low, and then tell us he wasnt sent out for that (our order was for heat pump and ductwork)so he wasn't going oto fix it. My son has Cystic Fibrosis so minimum isn't and will never be okay. When I contacted them I was told diagnosis hasn't been put in. When enquiring about upgrading and explaining why we preferred that because they won't do... Read More


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JT
9/5/2019
Worst service ever! Worst customer service ever! I paid a significant amount of out-of-pocket money to get the AC fixed, and it took over a month to get it fixed. After two years with them, I have been trying to cancel my contract for over 2.5 months, but they keep bouncing me from number to number and now they are sending me urgent messages for past-due balance... What a mess!!


Hilda L
8/31/2019
The only reason why I give 4 stars is because American Home Shield paid to filter out bad reviews. *I am a realtor, American home shield came to my old company every month to promote how good they are and I believed them. Even after I moved to another company, I still recommended american home shield to my buyers and have them for my new home as well. Our AC stopped working today, we called AHS, they told us they do not send contractors on weekends... On a day it is 110 F outside and rising swiftly inside to unbearable conditions, we must wait until 3-6 pm Monday- three full days from now for the AC company to evaluate the problem. It could be days after for the repair to be made.... Read More


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tammie
8/31/2019
I have used AHS a few times over the past 4 yrs that I've had coverage. for the water heater it was great had to re-wire connection. But for the plumbing problem in my kitchen it was AWFUL The pipes were breaking down and needed to be replaced. Per AHS it was not covered as it was not from normal wear and tear. I could not get the rep to explain HOW this could not be NORMAL wear. They could not offer explanation. I had to pay cost out of pocket and was not happy. My attorney said I should file a claim for reimburse, but I just wanted to put it behind me, so I let it go. How I live in Tucson AZ and the temperatures here now exceed 100. I have a mother in home Hospice care and they... Read More


David A
8/30/2019
American Home Shield sends incompetent contractors to fix your covered service need. They have charged me a $75 service fee on 8 separate occasions and have never repaired my spa heater over a period of 4 years. Then, without any advance notice, they doubled my home warranty insurance premium from $700 per year to $1,400 per year. Their customer service is atrocious, with 99% of their customer service representative unable to speak legible English. They have a clause in their warranty agreement contract that requires their arbitrator to settle any disputes you may have with American Home Shield over coverage, so, you cannot sue them to settle any issues they refuse to resolve. STAY AWAY!... Read More


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Phillipa Z
8/30/2019
STAY AWAY! I have appliance insurance with American Home Shield. On July 31 I paid an additional $106 for a technician to go out to check the dryer because it was leaving orange marks on the tenant's clothes. I was advised that a part was being ordered, however it never arrived. I called on August 21 to find out what was going on, as I hadn't heard back from American Home Shield. Apparently the home warranty company declined the purchase of the part. The drum of the dryer is rusting which is causing the orange stains. Due to some small print in my contract, apparently this falls under "cleaning of an appliance" and is not covered under our warranty. I spoke to a supervisor and then a... Read More


Luis A
8/28/2019
I’m writing to you as a very unsatisfied customer. I started with your warranty in November 2018, because our washer broke and had to buy a new washer. I spoke to one of your representatives on the phone, and she said, I quote “ we can’t fix it we replace it.” Well I called on Jul 3rd, Wednesday, 2019 and spoke to one of your representative who answered the phone in a joking way couldn’t even understand him and laughing. So I hung up and called again. Spoke to a woman who was trying not to laugh. She took my information down. I was calling about our Air Conditioning Unit. She said that someone would be in contact with me with in 24 to 48 hours. Someone from a company emailed me with... Read More


jagibbs2000
8/27/2019
I had to give them up after 7 years same thing every time you called them for washer or dryer repairs send sears out 2 weeks to get parts in don't work another week to get parts in to repair lot of time and money going some were to wash cloths heating and air patch patch and patch never repair right pay 75 dollars plus the price of the Freon over 10 dollars canceled with them then they sent me an email for 75 dollars for cancellation fee ot turn me over to collections i told them turm me over to them i knoe how to hang upm the phone.


Fiat Z
8/26/2019
You need to KNOW BEFORE YOU PURCHASE FROM AMERICAN HOME SHIELD. This is the worst company to have to protect your appliances. They will Charge $100 for every single item that is wrong with your appliance. Example: You call to report issues with your Refrigerated, you tell the company and the technician what is wrong as follows: 1. Ice maker, 2. ice drawer, 3 Seal on Refrigerator 4. Button for ice. THIS will cost you $400 dollars. Because the technician will break these issues into four trip and American Home Shield is going to charge 100 per trip that is $400 dollars. This insurance will blame you for not communicating correctly or state it was miscommunication but you are still... Read More



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