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First American Home Warranty Review


ConsumersAdvocate.org Rating: 4 / 5 (Very good)
580 Customer Comments & Reviews - see all comments
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First American Home Warranty is a California-based company founded in 1984 for the purpose of providing home warranty products and services in the United States.

They provide coverage for home systems and appliance repairs for homeowners, sellers, buyers. The company is BBB-accredited, with a B+ rating, and a four-star TrustPilot score.

How is First American rated?

Breakdown

4.5/5
Transparency
4.0/5
Claims Processing
4.1/5
Coverage Options
4.0/5
Additional Benefits
3.5/5
Customer Experience

Overall Rating: 4 / 5 (Very good)

With more than 30 years of experience, First American has proven itself a leader in the home warranty industry.

The company serves over 450,000 customers across the nation, offering year-round repair and replacement services, even on holidays.
Some of the most attractive features of First American home warranty plans are their comprehensive coverages, standard prices, and lower-than-average service call fees.
First American is an excellent option for anyone looking to protect their homes at a reasonable price and receive quality service 365 days a year.

Coverage

Key Facts

Plan Types
Appliances
Combo Plan
Benefit Limit Type
Per Item
Unlimited

Coverage Options - 4.1 / 5

First American offers two plans, the Basic coverage, and Premier coverage.

While their basic coverage protects mainly kitchen appliances, their Premier plan offers complete protection for all main home systems as well as appliances.

In line with most businesses in the industry, however, they will not cover cosmetic damages, damages due to improper maintenance or installation, and any known or unknown pre-existing conditions.

Coverage amounts differ by contract, yet their limits range around $3,000 in the aggregate for kitchen refrigerators, $1,500 for heating systems, and $500 for ductwork, which are substantially higher than comparable companies.

What does First American cover?

Covered Built-In Systems

  • Air Conditioning
  • Heating
  • Electrical
  • Plumbing
  • Water Heater

Covered Appliances

  • Refrigerators
  • Clothes Dryers
  • Clothes Washers

Exclusions

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

Specialty Items

  • Pool/Spa
  • Well Pump

Contract & Price

Contract Details

Annual Premium
Starting at $300
Minimum Contract Length
12 month(s)
Online Quote/Application

Contract & Price - 3.8 / 5

Annual premiums with First American can range from $300 to $500+ depending on the plan and option selections, quite reasonable within the home warranty industry.

The company extends a standard 12-month contract term and allows customers to obtain quotes and enroll online. Contracts seem to have different cancellation policies according to geographical location, so customers are advised to read their warranty agreements thoroughly before signing.

For instance, Texas residents may cancel their plans within the first seven days of coverage for a full refund, whereas Virginia residents have 20 days to cancel and receive back the entirety of their payment, provided they have not filed any claims under said contract.

Sample Contract

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

Claims & Service

Claims

Service Fee
$75 - $100
24/7 Claims Department?
Waiting Period
30 days

Contractors & Service

Contractor Selection
In-Network Only
Service Recall Period
0 days

Claims Processing - 4 / 5

First American has some of the most affordable service call fees in the industry, which range from $75 to $100, depending on the plan selected and state.

The company also offers a vast network of pre-screened contractors and technicians, as well as a 24/7 claims department.

Although their service offer is similar to that some competitors, it must be noted that First American contracts are short and easy to understand, which is another feature that potential clients will surely appreciate.

First American Reputation

Company Details

Year Founded
1984
NHSCA Membership
Number of Customers
450,000
Number of Employees
351
TrustPilot Rating
8.0 out of 5
BBB Rating
B+
BBB Positive Reviews
6
BBB Neutral Reviews
4
BBB Negative Reviews
277

Reputation - 4 / 5

First American is a BBB-accredited business with a B+ rating and composite score of 2.82 out of 5 stars based on 321 customer reviews.

Although they have received a considerable amount of negative client feedback at the Better Business Bureau's website, the agency has granted them accreditation based on their commitment to making a good faith effort to resolve consumer complaints.

Additionally, the company is a member of the NHSCA and holds a noteworthy Trustpilot score of 8.0 (Great).

Contact & Additional Information

Homepage URL
Company Phone
(800) 992-3400
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 7248, Santa Rosa, CA, 95407
Year Founded
1984

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580 Customer Comments & Reviews

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Steve F
1/27/2020
THEY ARE AWFUL. First American sends out the lowest bidder contractors who alwasy state there is not problem. Currently the control panel on our 5 year old oven/microwave combo went out in November and three monts later, First American has not had it repaired. The unit does not work at all. They stated the parts don't exist until we called the Mnfr. and confirmed they had them in stock. Then First American said they ordered the parts until 4 weeks later when they stating they forgot to order them. They are one excuse after another and we going on 4 months without an oven or microwave.


T
Tom
1/12/2020
I had 2 issues during the year that I had this warranty. My dishwasher went out and it took over a month to repair waiting on a part. I also had a hot water heater go out and after over a 2 weeks of their back and forth, I ended up taking a cash payout for the water heater and getting my own contractor to repair. Their contractor was out of Florida who hired local subs to do the work. As a consumer and a Realtor, I would not recommend this company.


E
Ehab
1/6/2020
They are a scam. No help and they run away from fixing or Replacing stuf. So far Sitting without no heat in my house for one month


M
Marie z
12/27/2019
I would give zero star If I could . I had coverage with them since 2011 with very minimal service calls through 9 years and now when I have a problem with the heater and they would probably have to do a major repair they denied the claim alleging not wear and tear on an old furnace that is probably over 20 years old and the worst part of their service they gave me the run around for over a week , until 12/24 /19 when they said they will order the part and on 12/26/19 I was told the contractor will call me to schedule the appointment to fix it and to find out on 12/27/19 that they are denying the Claim as it is not wear and tear. Every day I spoke with different person and different... Read More


Joanna T
12/24/2019
Cancelled my contract after many years due to a contractor who said there was nothing wrong with my garbage disposal because the pipes were vibrating and humming....said it was normal. That is not normal. Didn't even attempt to look at it because ice cubes chopped up just fine. Said it would cost $300 to replace the smallest horsepower garbage disposal...builders grade. What? Funny the total amount this AHW would pay for this job was $300. Someone came out who didn't know what he was doing and was scared to deal with this company, so paid $75 for nothing. Will never ever recommend this company to anyone.


R
richard
12/14/2019
The service was terrible! Do not pay $75 unless they actually inspect or diagnosis the problems. The repair guy came into the house for about 5min and decided he cannot fix the problem with the airflow and left. I will not pay $75 when the guy did not inspect or diagnosis the problem of why there is a lack of airflow going into one of the bedrooms. The work was mentioned in the "Repair Detail" that the symptom is "Lack of Airflow". He looked at the AC unit in the house and said it is working fine. I know that already! The requested repair call was not for him to inspect the AC unit but to inspect why there is "Lack of Airflow" coming into one of the bedrooms. I do not recommend that you... Read More


jwallace12334
12/3/2019
Water heater leaked on Tuesday 11/26, I immediately turned on a service request. Contractor called around 8pm that day to schedule for Wednesday 11/27. Contractor came to diagnose issue on 11/27 and stated that he would be getting approved for replacement and there would be some out of pocket costs. He also stated that he would be there on the 11/29 the Friday after Thanksgiving and then immediately started backing up that it would depend on if the company would approve with the holiday but still made it sound like he would probably be there Friday. I know from experience he could have called in for approval in about 10 minutes in my garage if he wanted to. But fine. So I wait around on... Read More


ralrob23
11/27/2019
Horrible company, horrible service, they operate as a big scam. They refuse to honor their own policy. They make you pay $75 up front just make up different and contradicting excuses why they won’t cover it. Wish I would have seen all the bad reviews before I did any kind of business with them. Would advise to stay away. They will just steal your money just as they stole mine.


L
lynnwood c
11/22/2019
No hot water on 11/13/19 and I had my own repair person to come check, maybe I needed pilot relit or something minor. He informed that it would need replacing. I called First American to file claim on my water heater on Wed 11/13/2019 and they sent plumbing company out on Thursday 11/14/2019. They came stayed 5-10 minutes and told me they would have repairs approved by late that day or next morning. Could not put me on list for service until they got approval. I heard nothing Friday 11/15/ or 11/16 so I called plumbing company 11/17. I was told I needed to agree to pay $460 in "modifications" before I could get water heater replaced. I called First American who told me they did not have... Read More


dk3369
11/22/2019
Worst service experience ever. If you are in the market for a home service warranty, do not use First American Home Warranty. They use every excuse in the book to not honor your claim. Customer service will not answer any questions. they will leave you feeling like you were scammed.



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