American Home Shield - Page 8

NEWARK, DELAWARE -- We took up American Home Shield's policy when we bought the house as the realtor recommended them. We had one instance where we called for our pool which was covered, but apparently, it wasn't, and we still paid $75. We were a bit disappointed with that. It may be in the details of the policy, but I didn't know that the pool light wasn't covered. The other thing that actually made me even more disappointed was because we'd already replaced the filter, two pumps, the heater. We just decided to replace them and I didn't use them on the other pieces that I should've used which is not AHS' fault.

But other than that, we don't have any major complaints. There have been instances when we've used them for a dishwasher and a doorbell light, and both of those were resolved very effectively. Also, the technicians they sent have all been excellent.

CHANTILLY, VIRGINIA -- I have a problem and it has a week to have it resolved. A stopped leaky tub and faucet. The staff and their partner contractors at AHS to be very unresponsive. I've experienced bad and unreliable service in every instance. For two years I had AHS, their service company they outsource to came out and did nothing, was supposed to order parts and failed at that. The us waiting for days and failed to call. And worst of all they failed to honor the contract regarding the part.

AHS, sent me a survey asking how was the service. I said "WHAT service? I did receive any service!" I also, informed their contractor as well. I waited for over a week, still no services. You can't complain online so you have to go to no service department. After waiting on phone for 55 minutes, I hung up, no help!

STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT -- My most recent claim with American Home Shield was for some plumbing issues. However, the company that they use for plumbing, Malangone Plumbing, is disgusting. They're rude, obnoxious, and don't do what they say they're going to do. It was so bad that I canceled my contract with American Home Shield. I'm also a real estate agent, so I sell home warranties all the time, and I will never recommend them again.

AHS needs to get better companies working for them. Furthermore, they don't call back, and I have to wait 20 minutes on hold to get anybody to talk to. In contrast, when I went to one of their competitors, the people there answered on the second ring and were very helpful. Overall, it was frustrating, unprofessional, and not helpful at all with them.

OAKHURST, NEW JERSEY -- Our most recent claim with American Home Shield was with our washer. The piece where the soap dispenser comes out wasn't distributing the soap and the technician replaced it. Earlier, he had also replaced a water pump. After the repair, our washer is very good and working fine, and things are running smoothly in our home.

I submitted the claim online. I've learned that when I do it online, it's so much easier and I get a much quicker response. Getting through on the phone is impossible. I could be on the phone for hours, trying to get somebody to answer or on hold, so I don't even bother with that anymore. That's my biggest complaint that nobody answers. But trying to reach them verbally is the only negative thing. Otherwise, everything's good.

My interactions with the reps are really good. Everybody is personable. They get through and send people out, and the contractors they send are all professional. Sometimes, though, I have to wait for a part because it's not yet available. But so far, so good. I'm happy. I've already recommended AHS. On the whole, it was very good with them.

NEPTUNE, NEW JERSEY -- American Home Shield is like a good safety blanket. I recently submitted a claim with them for plumbing. The valve broke and they took care of the issue and then they had some more work done, too. They took care of everything and it was good.

When I submitted the claim, they contacted me right away and we made the appointment. The AHS representative was very informative and he always checked up. The website was great as well when putting a claim in. The service contractors explained the services they do, what they were going to do on that day and showed me what to look for if it happens again. They were good and professional people. The valves are working much better now.

HOLMDEL VILLAGE, NEW JERSEY -- When we moved into our house, there were a few things that did not work right. I was fortunate that my real estate agent told me to purchase American Home Shield. I am extremely satisfied and glad that I have it. I would consider it for my second home.

Our most recent experience with AHS was very good with the exception of having to wait 20 minutes before we talked to someone. There was a misunderstanding with payment, and the person I talked to was very nice. It was for the washer, and luckily I don't have to pay again when they come back because it was never resolved.

With the washer, it doesn't seem like a very serious thing, but it kept making the same rattling noise. The tech told me I could use it. Otherwise, I would have insisted for them to come back and repair it properly. Also, they tried to repair the dishwasher. I'm sure they spent a lot of money for the parts that the man ordered. Unfortunately, the company just wasted cost as they had to give me a new dishwasher.

Having AHS gives great peace of mind. I would renew it even though it's expensive to have the contract. I wish they would have more people answering the phone, though. It's unfortunate because some people do things on the computer, which is much faster and I don't do much on the computer. I don't feel comfortable because I don't know much about the computer, and in order for me to get something that I feel is important done, I need to talk to someone.

CLIFFSIDE PARK, NEW JERSEY -- The garage door opener was not working, and I submitted a claim with American Home Shield. I called them up and I explained to them. The AHS representatives told me that I can go online as well to submit a claim, but I don't know how so I called them up anyway. The tech who came out was great. He was polite, and did a good job. He replaced the garage door opener and it is working great now. My experience was great and I told my friends about them, and they plan to get it for their new homes.

SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS -- American Home Shield was very good about the latest claim we filed with them when we had to have our water heater fixed. We had lost all our hot water. The AHS reps were very good and helpful. I had tried to get somebody locally and they gave us the name of another contractor who actually had done some work for us before.

We set it up with the contractor, but since it was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, he said that the soonest he could do the work was five or six days away, over the Thanksgiving weekend. I called back and said that I can't go without hot water that long so we put the work through as an emergency and the guy called back, and he came right away.

The contractor was great. He had also been great when we had some work done by him before. He got his co-worker to come out and fix the problem, and everything went great. Our hot water heater needed one small part, and something readjusted. It works fine now since the repair. In general, American Home Shield is very reliable and responsive.

LITTLE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY -- We recently submitted a claim with American Home Shield for our stove and refrigerator. Submitting the claim was very effortless. I went through the internet and put the claim in. The service tech was very knowledgeable. He called before he came and said when he was coming. He was right on time. They had to order a part, and then within a week, both of the appliances were fixed. So, I had a very good experience with my claim.

I have four Home Shield policies. All my kids have houses. My mother has a policy too. She lives a couple blocks away. She put a claim in and they came but didn't fix the problem. I was taken aback. They walked away when it was so simple. It was the doorbell. She was unsatisfied, and I was a little bit disappointed with that.

EAST WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT -- Every three days the sink would need to be plunged although there didn't appear to be anything in the pipe. I've been here for a couple of months since I moved in so I called AHS to see how it would work and they sent someone out the next evening. The techs were great. The issue was the disposal, so they removed the old one and left. They got a new one, and came back and installed it.

The next day after it was completed, someone from American Home Shield called me and said that they don't cover it, and I needed to contact the plumber and pay them. I told them that on the phone, they said they'd pay. I contacted them via the web, and they called me and we verified the whole thing and it was not my problem. I haven't heard back from them.

I've had AHS in the past and they're horrible. It just happened to come with the house so I won't renew it because I've never been impressed. Previously, I had a home I bought that had some air conditioning issues and they helped with that. I spent $16,000, and they would compute and deduct things but it wasn't deducted properly.

Additionally, they haven't improved their time and they are charging more than they used to. My friends who have it are paying $75, and I pay $100 for them to come. They said I should have upgraded to the appliance, but with the way they're acting I'm not going to upgrade it. My experience has been disingenuous.