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First American Home Warranty Review


ConsumersAdvocate.org Rating: 4 / 5 (Very good)
578 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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578 Customer Comments & Reviews

Loading Reviews ...
majorjkelly
9/26/2024
Air conditioner inoperative. It is 90 degrees in house. Waiting for repair or replacement for a week now. Have called them over 20 times with NO RESOLUTION. have been bounced from representative to representative most of whom can barely speak English. Each representative had a different story. The company they contacted to service this took 3 days to show up and doesn’t return calls. In meantime I consulted another a/c company for a second opinion and found that the compressor that Complete Air Mechanical of Central Florida insists can be replaced or repaired CANNOT be repaired or replaced that parts NO LONGER EXIST. Oh and by the way this claim SUPPOSEDLY has an emergency tag on it.... Read More

First W  
Official Response

Warranty Care of First American Home Warranty
Thank you for your review. We are sorry to hear that you were experiencing these issues. We try to work closely with our partners to ensure claims are handled promptly. We would like to look further into this for you but was unable to locate a claim with only the information provided. Can you please provide us with the claim number or reach out to us directly and we can assist.

gregwesley55
9/16/2024
I have been with first American home warranty for three years. I initiated a claim. on 9/15/24 Told them that they left side cable on the garage door had broken. and that my garage door was at about a 22 degree angle and about a third of the way open They opened the claim and had a contractor get in touch with me the .next day and told me that they would not be able to come out to repair the garage door until Friday 9/20/24. I called first American home warranty back and told them that this was totally unacceptable for me to have to wait until Friday. because my garage door was in the open position and this was leaving my house totally unsecured. They told me that they would get back with... Read More

First W  
Official Response

Warranty Care of First American Home Warranty
Greg, Thank you for your comments. We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced during your claim. Our records indicate that you placed a claim on September 15, 2024, for the garage door opener not working properly. We dispatched independent contractor, #1 Garage Door LLC (#1 Garage Door), to diagnose the failure. On September 16, 2024, you contacted us to request soonest available service as the cable of the garage door opener had failed. We advised you that per your home warranty contract, cables are not covered. At this time, you requested to cancel your claim and home warranty contract with First American. We honored your request, cancelled your claim and reimbursed the service call fee for this claim in the amount of $85.00.

T
TomK
9/9/2024
Awful service. Been without AC for ALL of July and August. No help from “customer service” and no resolution in sight. Was just told by a customer service rep “I cannot help you, and I do not know why. Maybe you should call back tomorrow morning.”

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First W  
Official Response

Warranty Care of First American Home Warranty
TomK, We do apologize that this took longer than anticipated. We have a process when evaluating and determining an outcome for our customers, and do our best to keep this process moving forward until resolved. We would like to look further into this for you but was unable to locate a claim with the name provided. Can you please provide us with the claim number or reach out to us directly and we can assist.

robertcloe62
9/4/2024
I've had First American Home warranty to cover my appliances breakdowns and it came time to use it. I submitted a claim for my washer that was leaking water. The tech came out but I didn't get a response after a few days so I called in to find the claim was denied because they don't cover a soap dispenser! Now how does a $ 20 soap dispenser affect a leaking washer? I went back and forth with them and now I'm out of a washer going on 2 weeks. I have kiddos in sports so I needed a washer. This company didnt honor their warranty and i canceled their product and bought a new washer. STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!! THEY WILL TAKE YOUR MONEY AND DENY YOUR CLAIM!!

First W  
Official Response

Warranty Care of First American Home Warranty
Robert, Thank you for this feedback. We would like to apologize for any inconveniences you have experienced during the handling of you clothes washer claim. Our records indicate the consumer placed a claim for your clothes washer leaking water. We dispatched an independent contractor, Proper Appliance Repair who reported the clothes washer needed maintenance. Upon review, the soap dispenser was leaking water because it was clogged and the door boot was moldy. Please be advised, we does not cover maintenance. Please do not hesitate to reach out should you have additional questions on this.

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Vikram T
8/23/2024
I wish I could give a negative star. The service has been pathetic.. Its been 2 months since the service request for repairing a dishwasher has been put in. They have hired an incompetent contractor who has visited 5 times( half of the time with wrong parts) and has finally admitted that machine can not be repaired. First American has done nothing till now to resolve the issue and is still giving standard excuses for not able to do anything!!!! This is absolutely appalling and I would recommend everyone to stay away from these crooks.

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First W  
Official Response

Warranty Care of First American Home Warranty
Vikram, We would like to apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced during the handling of your claim. According to our records you placed a claim on July 5, 2024, for your dishwasher not working properly. First American dispatched independent contractor, Astro Appliance Inc who completed multiple dishwasher repairs although the repairs did not hold therefore First American agreed to replace your dishwasher. Our records indicate you declined the replacement offer and accepted the cash payment in lieu of the dishwasher replacement in the amount of $573.37 which was mailed to your property address. We look forward to being there for you, should you ever need us again.

selim.yalvac
7/31/2024
First American Home Warranty, like their many competitors, is a scam company. These home warranties are legally mandated to be purchased by all the home sellers for the new home buyers. This is another indication that our legislators work for these companies. I sold a home in Houston and was forced to buy one for the new owner. Then, I bought a home in California and the seller had to buy one for me. I knew the reputation of these companies but we had no choice. Couple of months after I moved in to my CA home, I realized that my upper oven was not cooking/baking evenly. Proof was in the pastries or pies that I baked in the upper oven came out with the back side baked while the front... Read More

First W  
Official Response

Warranty Care of First American Home Warranty
Selim, Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed experience. We certainly do our best to ensure overall satisfaction for our customers and are sorry that your claim had a delay. We show that it was reported the ice maker was working at the time and the ice bin was able to hold the ice. As you mentioned the claim was further denied due to insulation not being covered under your policy. We hope the next time you may need us, you will give us another chance to meet your needs.

M
Mikeya K
7/23/2024
I was introduced to FAHW when I purchased my first home, I continued the service because I thought it was beneficial to help save if something breaks at my home (I’m not handy at all). Up until now I have been ok with the service except when it came to my HVAC system. I have complained about the HVAC at least two to three times before however because I did not know any better when contractors came and said it was fine I took their word. During those times I did not know I could call back in two weeks if the issue was not resolved. Fast forward to May 21, 2024 summer came a little early and we started to need the AC. I called because the house was not cooling down. A contractor (master... Read More

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First W  
Official Response

Warranty Care of First American Home Warranty
Mikeya, Thank you for letting us know about your experience. We do apologize that this is taking longer than anticipated. We have a process when evaluating and determining an outcome for our customers, and do our best to keep this process moving forward until resolved. We see that your claim has been escalated and our team is working toward a resolution. We look forward to having this resolved for you as soon as possible.

L
liz h
7/9/2024
1.6 rating on BBB. lie to deny the claims - Rundown on my claim today: I pay $90 per month. Pool Salt Cell died, entered request so that I can have it replaced (which is why I have your warranty!!) Pool company comes out, confirms its non functioning and needs to be replaced. Suggests when it is replaced to run at 100% (never had to before - that's merely pool techs preference). The end. Until your rep writes that claim is denied because I set it to 60% instead of 100% - Let me ask you: If your AC is set to 78 degrees instead of 76 degrees and it breaks, would that be because you had it set to 78 ? does that make any sense at all??? & that I use harsh dangerous chemicals but... Read More


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Tony G
6/17/2024
You take our money then deny our claims I have reported you to the BBB.


robyncart75
6/12/2024
First American is not honoring their own warranty contract to repair/replace my house AC that broke a month ago on 5/11. They sent an incompetent contractor to my house who did not completely diagnose the issue. Then this contractor called and tried to sell me a replacement AC, telling me the warranty company would only pay a small percentage portion of the replacement costs and not anything more. Since then I have paid out of pocket for 3 additional HVAC companies to diagnose the issue. I have provided First American with this information in an attempt to get them to understand their contractor did an incomplete job and was dishonest with me. I have been told many times by First American... Read More

First W  
Official Response

Warranty Care of First American Home Warranty
Hello Robyn. According to our records you placed a claim on May 12, 2024, for your air conditioning unit not working properly. First American dispatched independent contractor, South Placer Heating and Air who reported a compressor failure as well as an unrepairable leak in the evaporative coil, with the contractor recommending that the condenser and evaporative coil be replaced. Our records indicate that we are awaiting your acceptance of either the non-covered costs or the cash payment in lieu of the condenser and evaporative coil replacement. You can refer to your home warranty contract under Limits of Liability number Seven and Fifteen, for more information.


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