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Fidelity National Home Warranty Review


ConsumersAdvocate.org Rating: 2 / 5 (Poor)
144 Customer Comments & Reviews - see all comments
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Fidelity National Home Warranties is a California-based company with over 25 years of experience in the industry. The company offers a convenient automated repair tracking system and consistent customer support through a team of highly trained local service providers and sales agents. Fidelity National Home Warranties holds a Better Business Bureau rating of A+.

How is Fidelity National rated?

Breakdown

0.0/5
Transparency
3.5/5
Claims Processing
3.0/5
Coverage Options
0.0/5
Additional Benefits
3.5/5
Customer Experience

Overall Rating: 2 / 5 (Poor)

Fidelity National's prices are inline with industry standards, though their service fees are slightly higher, and its guaranteed response time is a bit longer than that of other companies. We feel the need to mention that Fidelity National has been the target of a state insurance regulatory action and a class action suit, requiring that customers give up their right to a jury trial in any legal dispute.

Coverage

Key Facts

Plan Types
Combo Plan
Benefit Limit Type
Per Item
Per Term
Typical Systems Benefit Limit
$1,000

Coverage Options - 3 / 5

Fidelity National covers many of the usual systems and appliances, as well as a few specialty items. However, coverage for refrigerators, washers/dryers, air conditioning units, pool and spa equipment and septic tank leaks and roof leaks are not part of the standard coverage, but must be purchased separately when the contract is signed. Unlike some other home warranty companies, the company does not cover system or appliance failures due to lack of maintenance.

What does Fidelity National cover?

Covered Built-In Systems

  • Air Conditioning
  • Heating
  • Electrical
  • Plumbing
  • Water Heater
  • Instant Hot/Cold Water Dispenser
  • Central Vacuums
  • Smoke Detectors
  • Doorbells
  • Ceiling Fans
  • Ductwork
  • Sump Pump
  • Telephone Wiring

Covered Appliances

  • Refrigerators
  • Dishwashers
  • Clothes Dryers
  • Clothes Washers
  • Ranges/Ovens/Cooktops
  • Built-in Microwaves
  • Freestanding Ice Makers
  • Built-In Trash Compactors
  • Garage Door Openers
  • Garbage Disposal
  • Stand Alone Freezer
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Exclusions

For a full list of Fidelity National exclusions, check out this page.

Specialty Items

  • Pool/Spa
  • Well Pump
  • Septic
  • Roof Leaks

Contract & Price

Contract Details

Annual Premium
Starting at $350
Minimum Contract Length
12 month(s)
Home Inspection Required for Contract?
Yes
Online Quote/Application

Contract & Price - 3 / 5

Fidelity National's minimum annual premium is $350, but add-ons for common coverages can raise this number considerably. The contract is non-cancellable

Sample Contract

Fidelity National provides a sample contract for potential customers on its website: Fidelity National Sample Contract

Cancellation Policy

The contract is non-cancelable, except for non-payment of contract fees, fraud or misrepresentation of facts by the customer, or when the contract is for Seller's Coverage and close of sale does not occur. If the contract is canceled, the customer is entitled to a prorated refund of the paid contract fee for the unexpired term, minus an administrative fee and any service cost incurred by the FNHW. A 10% penalty per month will be added to the refunded purchase price when not paid within 30 days of the date the contract was returned to FNHW. The contract holder may cancel the contract after the initial 20 days and will be entitled to a prorated refund of the contract fee less a $50.00 administration fee and any service cost incurred by FNHW. Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing.

Claims & Service

Claims

Waiting Period
30 days

Contractors & Service

Contractor Selection
Any Contractor
Service Recall Period
30 days

Claims Processing - 3.5 / 5

Upon receipt of a warranty claim, the company pledges to contact a qualified subcontractor within three business hours and within 48 hours on weekends or holidays. Customers must pay a diagnostic fee of $65 on each claim, which must be paid even if the claim is subsequently denied.

Fidelity National Reputation

Company Details

Year Founded
1984
NHSCA Membership
Number of Employees
5001-10000
TrustPilot Rating
6.1 out of 5
BBB Rating
A+
BBB Positive Reviews
4
BBB Neutral Reviews
0
BBB Negative Reviews
97
Date Collected
2017-07-20

Reputation - 4.5 / 5

Fidelity National is accredited by the BBB and has an A+ rating. It has four positive reviews and 112 negative ones and 549 customer complaints. However, it is not unusual in this industry for companies to have numerous negative customer reviews and complaints. The company has no presence on Trust Pilot. In 2012, the company settled a claim against it by the Insurance Commissioner of California which alleged that the company had unlawfully paid rebates and offered inducements to real estate brokers. The company agreed to cease and desist from the allegedly unlawful practices and paid a settlement of $1.25 million and attorneys fees of $175,000, but admitted no wrongdoing. In 2008, a class action suit was brought in California against Fidelity National which alleged false advertising and insurance bad faith. The case resulted in four separate appeals and was eventually refiled.

Contact & Additional Information

Homepage URL
Company Phone
(800) 862-6837
Headquarters Address
1850 Gateway Blvd, Suite 400, Concord, CA, 94520
Year Founded
1984

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144 Customer Comments & Reviews

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Nikki L
11/11/2019
We have been very pleased with service from FNHW. About 1 month after we moved into our home, the hot water heater was failing. We were charged $75. The service tech they sent the next day was very helpful and professional. He said we needed a new heater and he replaced it that day. A rep from FNHW kept in contact with us to be sure we were satisfied with the service. Ten months later our clothes washer wouldn't spin. Another call to FNHW and another $75 service fee. A service tech was at our house the next day and told us the control panel was broken ($400 part). Instead of just replacing the part FNHW decided to send a new washer ($642). We were told it would take about 2... Read More


Trish D
11/4/2019
WORST SERVICE EVER! Could NOT get my hot water heater fixed after 7 weeks! What a complete run around. No details of the numerous calls I made, always starting from square one with each call. Finally gave up and paid a plumber on our own FOR THE SAME PRICE ($1200,...what happened to the $75 fee?) they were charging us. The plumber they had contracted with even told them they wanted nothing to do with this service request because they were beyond frustrated in the process. A total waste of money and my time.


Trish D
11/4/2019
WORST SERVICE EVER! Could NOT get my hot water heater fixed after 7 weeks! What a complete run around. No details of the numerous calls I made, always starting from square one with each call. Finally gave up and paid a plumber on our own FOR THE SAME PRICE ($1200,...what happened to the $75 fee?) they were charging us. The plumber they had contracted with even told them they wanted nothing to do with this service request because they were beyond frustrated in the process. A total waste of money and my time.


stephanietrains
11/1/2019
My garage remotes stopped working. I called Fidelity National Home Warranty, who I have had for over 3 years. I explained the problem to representative on the phone. She told me the garage remotes are covered. I asked her to make sure because in the past Fidelity has sent someone out that would find some way that my broken household item wasn't covered but they took my $75 service fee anyway, even though nothing was accomplished. She assured me that my garage remotes would be fixed to my satisfaction. I agreed for to put in a service order and they took the $75 immediately. 2 days later the "service" guy showed up. After 10 to 15 minutes, he said it was a "frequency problem" which is not... Read More


Thomas D
10/31/2019
Hot water heater broke. Told part not covered. tried for 5 days to reach to resolve. . No one except twice that a supervisor would call, no one called. Got call today with number to call person out of office. Three contact email no luck. NO Service No response. A scam! Just called and had it fixed without warranty. Will file BBB claim and maybe small claims. For $845 a year I was cheated. Ask to have policy cancel as of November 1 These people are intentionally unavailable, dishonest, unresponsive. SCAM!


judyinindy
10/15/2019
I would give this company a Zero rating if It was available . I am still fighting to get coverage for the refrigerator which had a freon problem when we bought the house. I paid the extra $50 to be sure that the appliance WOULD be covered. The company has denied me because they said it was a "pre-existing condition." I sent them the disclosure statement from the seller who indicated that the dishwasher was not working, but did not mention the refrigerator. Why declare one appliance and not the other if he knew about it? Also, I had a home inspection. The inspector looked into the frig, saw it had a light on and was somewhat cold and called it good. When we moved in--the first... Read More


smilefores
9/4/2019
Good afternoon. I have been extremely busy and having to deal with FHW has been stressful and frustrating to say the least. i had my microwave looked at and after the first service call it malfunctioned still... It was a sporadic malfunction so every time it was used it did not necessarily fail. The tech came out a second time and determined there was no issue because it wasn't malfunctioning in the 10 minutes he spent at the house. He left and I never heard back for a resolution. Funny thing is I had my dishwasher looked at and after the service call it wasn't fixed and i have been a year without it working still. My issue now is with the microwave it still isn't working...and... Read More


stickpony
8/29/2019
Unfortunately I have Fidelity Home Warranty service. This company has given me the run-around. I have a phantom Icemaker/water dispenser problem where it randomly stops working every 7-10 days, and i have to reset the breaker, otherwise the ice melts, but i couldn't duplicate the problem with a technician onsite, so I took video each time it happened to show the technicians when he would arrive. After 5 visits from technicians, they have replaced every single electronic component in my Kenmore refrigerator, and the last visit was from Sears, the MFR's of said refrigerator, and even they recommended replacement of the refrigerator, because there is nothing left to replace, but... Read More


stickpony
8/29/2019
Unfortunately I have Fidelity Home Warranty service. This company has given me the run-around. I have a phantom Icemaker/water dispenser problem where it randomly stops working every 7-10 days, and i have to reset the breaker, otherwise the ice melts, but i couldn't duplicate the problem with a technician onsite, so I took video each time it happened to show the technicians when he would arrive. After 5 visits from technicians, they have replaced every single electronic component in my Kenmore refrigerator, and the last visit was from Sears, the MFR's of said refrigerator, and even they recommended replacement of the refrigerator, because there is nothing left to replace, but... Read More


stickpony
8/29/2019
Unfortunately I have Fidelity Home Warranty service. This company has given me the run-around. I have a phantom Icemaker/water dispenser problem where it randomly stops working every 7-10 days, and i have to reset the breaker, otherwise the ice melts, but i couldn't duplicate the problem with a technician onsite, so I took video each time it happened to show the technicians when he would arrive. After 5 visits from technicians, they have replaced every single electronic component in my Kenmore refrigerator, and the last visit was from Sears, the MFR's of said refrigerator, and even they recommended replacement of the refrigerator, because there is nothing left to replace, but... Read More



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