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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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Dennis E
2/5/2019
They were great for the first 2 years, we had several claims and they were always prompt and we would get the call sometimes as soon we made the claim. Then they started using Sears repair. The first claim we had on one house,(we had it on 2), we never received a call from Sears, and when we called them, the earliest they could get there was 2 weeks! That was in our Florida house, when we went to our Tennessee house, which we had our first claims, it was again Sears, and they said 2 weeks, so we cancelled and went with another company.


E
Eduardo T
1/21/2019
Worst service ever, 80 days with out a refrigerator. Every time I call a fell I only lost my time and they don't get any solution, spend more than 30 hours in the phone trying to resolve my problem. 3 different companies had came and try to correct the problem with a 3 and a half year old refrigerator. Please look for a more professional warranty company and avoid them.


Rosemary D
1/14/2019
We discovered a faulty outlet on Christmas day ....that had we not discovered, the fire department who came out informed us would have caused a wall fire within the hour and would have engulfed our home. We then contacted "First American Home Warranty" who sent out an electrician....but only the plastic outlet was changed out. We were not satisfied and again called First American asking for the burned box surrounding the outlet to also be replaced. Our request was refused with the excuse that it was "cosmetic" We then asked the advise of a professional. here were his findings: The source of this fire was the 120VAC electrical outlet in the utility room. This outlet is fed from... Read More


C
Chris F
1/4/2019
Tub simple issue – Install new spot and snake line - Plumber 1 changes spot / removes overflow cover and pipe disconnect and drops under house - Claims installed improperly. FA declines claim - Plumber 2 second opinion states overflow missing (fell under house from plumber 1 mishap). FA declines coverage stating overflow not attached. FA states if a screw is missing then item was improperly installed hence not a covered item? Been a long-time customer but of late company has changed tactics: primary objective DENY claims and increase premiums. Difficult to elevate disputes via their guarded internal system never able to speak with same representative, extension not available to outside... Read More


June D
1/3/2019
I've submitted 3 claims since June 2018. I've had horrendous experience with each one. #1 dishwasher...they sent a technician promptly...one tech of 4 over the next 9 week's. It was a nightmare. Then when they finally determined necessary replacement, dishwasher was delivered and then I learn they have no tech in my area to connect it. By this point I was beyond stroke levels. Also the representatives are cavalier and not helpful. Their supervisors are equally useless. The thing I learned is 99% of the time it's all the same....no technition in my area so I have to secure someone to do the repairs and will be reimbursed. If I had lots of money laying around, that'd be great but it's... Read More


Ryan B
1/2/2019
The absolute WORST experience I've ever had since owning my home has been with this company. Long hold times and contractors who don't want to deal with them makes them very unreliable!


Cheryl T
12/31/2018
Our Dishwasher was not working properly and the dishes were not cleaned. Service tech came out and diagnosed that the control panel was damaged and the motor assembly (motor, impeller and seals) needed replacement. FAHW decided they should review to see if it would be better to replace the entire dishwasher. This took a week, when they decided not to replace it, but order parts. We were told the parts would arrive in another week, but they would schedule the repair tech for the day after the scheduled arrival date. Of course they did not do that. When the parts arrived, I again called FAHW and they said no appointment had been scheduled even though the record showed they had promised... Read More


P
Paula R
12/31/2018
I am currently looking for quotes and leaving this company! They have horrible customer service and zero accountability over the crappy companies they send out. Another issue I am having with this company is that my service payment for each time they have someone come out has been increased again. Started at $65, then to $85 to $95 and now $100! This is also in addition to the monthly payment increases! I have only been with them since January 2016! Find a better company now! DO NOT USE First American Home Warranty.


I
Ira
12/29/2018
I have been a customer for 14 years. It has been rocky, both good and poor service. Most recently with a kitchen faucet water pressure problem First American went from either wanting to replace my faucet or give me a cash out for my own replacement. I got them to agree to either install a faucet I would purchase or replace the part I would purchase. After purchasing the part and calling the technician I found out my case was closed and First American would do nothing to resolve this problem. I tried to speak with a manager but was told no one would be around for 2 weeks and it would not matter anyway. I left a voicemail message for the only on call manager Miguel on Monday asking for an... Read More


M
Mikelle C
12/17/2018
I attempted to utilizes first American for the purposes of a broken water heater. I was routed to a call center in Central America in which there was a language barrier. The vendor assigned was not honest or timely in his response and the company refused to send a new one. Overall the company lacked integrity and accountability for its services. I was in fact hung up on 3 different times passed to an area manager who was not responsive I am very disappointed my realtor recommended this company and will be renewing with a new one. Please be aware that the vendors are not members of the better business bureau and have poor yelp reviews as that is “not how” they are selected.



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