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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

Loading Reviews ...
Troy P
8/14/2018
Update. FAHW has reviewed my claim, and determined that a replacement refrigerator is appropriate. Thank you FAHW.


R
Ray
8/13/2018
Dissappointed. I live in NM in the 2nd largest city in the state. I have turned in 2 claims. They couldnt supply a contractor to repair a refrig or hot water heater. They tell you to find a bonded, licenced, contractor willing to call them to go over estimate. I have to do their job. Do not recommend this company.


Troy P
8/13/2018
Disappointed yet again! When will I learn??? Thought I’d give them one more chance to repair something (being my Contract was still in effect, I’d missed notifying them to cancel their “AUTOMATIC RENEWAL” and I couldn’t get out of it.) What a mistake going with First American Home Warranty (FAHW). To make a long story short, (ever notice when someone says that, that it’s usually too late!), Short story: The contractor rescheduled appointments, parts needed to be ordered, parts were delayed/misplaced, the parts were reordered, the wrong parts were ordered/shipped, and the parts were reordered. It’s two days short of a month, and I still don’t have a final appointment to fix my... Read More


M
Michele W
8/13/2018
THE ABSOLUTE WORST!!! I do not recommend First America Home Warranty to anyone . I have been without my clothes washer for over a month. I submitted a claim, paid my deductible, but still no washer. Repair has been out numerous times to repair a “defective” control board. After replacing the “defective” control board several times, the supervisor recommended the washer be replaced, but First American Home Warranty continues to supply another control board instead. First American Home Warranty contracts a repair company and that company comes back as many times as necessary to try and repair an issue (at no additional charge). There is only one cost to First American Home Warranty... Read More


Denise H
8/4/2018
This company will go above and beyond to avoid paying for repairs! I was told over the phone that they didn't have anybody to provide a water heater repair in Florence, OR., to line up my own repair and submit for reimbursement. My property manager did just as told. First American Home Warranty claimed they stated only $125 was pre-approved (never stated) and only reimbursed me $50 (deducted $75 service call fee-to whom are they going to issue that to?), on a more than $450 repair!


Mandy M
8/1/2018
They are the worst. If I could give them a worse review I would. Their vendors don't show up. It takes them weeks to get the most simple jobs done. They don't care at all about customer satisfaction.


K
Kaylee R
7/30/2018
Slow response to service requests. Does not fully cover all cost for code requirements. We had to pay $460 out of pocket for new water heater. Customer service is rude and flat out lie.


O
Oleksiy
7/30/2018
By accident my fridge and AC malfunction approx at the same time. One month later both of these devices still not working (California summer!) . For fridge they order controller board and after waiting for 3 weeks part is installed, but fridge still dead. They offer generous cash out option $327 dollars for $3000 dollars fridge! Also they send us check for $75 to buy small temporary fridge! - I wonder where they can find fridge which can hold more than one soda can for this price? AC contractor did not report to the FAHW for 10 days, 4 weeks later they assign new contractor - waiting for visit 5 days later. FAWH provides terrible service - please avoid them.


E
Elizabeth
7/27/2018
Worst home warranty company. They use the lowest rated vendors in your region for claims. You will be stuck starting over and over again with no resolution to the issue and customer service quickly declines as you fight to have your claim taken care of.


Emily W
7/25/2018
Worst company ever. Our claim specialist was zero help. We were with our air for over a month in June and July (90 degrees). No one would get in touch with us. We finally canceled and bought our own new unit. We paid for our warranty for over 4 years and they did nothing for us. Worst experience ever. And I NEVER give a bad review.



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