First American Home Buyers Home Warranty

First American Home Buyers Protection Corporation, PO Box 10180, Van Nuys, CA 91410-0180.

We purchased our home in July, 2005. We have had to have service technicians come out for air conditioning issues on several occasions. Each time we were told that the technician didn't have what they needed to complete the job and would have to return. Each time, even though we requested not to have this particular company come out, they continued to send 3T Mechanical based out of Dallas, Texas.

This final time we called, our indoor unit was leaking and essentially flooding the floor underneath. They said they would put in our claim as an emergency. Once again, they gave us 3T mechanical. Two days later we had to call 3T because no one had contacted us. They had no record of our claim. We contacted First American and the representative said that whoever took the claim didn't dispatch the air conditioning company. They did so and the company said they couldn't come out for 3 days. By this time we were furious. We were draining at least 4-5 gallons of water per day because the condensor drain wasn't draining.

3T finally came out and said that they couldn't fix the leak, but our unit had too much freon and they would have to come back because they didn't have a tank to drain it. They also said they would call First American to file a continuance on the claim since they couldn't fix it. Once again, no call from First American or the plumbing company, so we contacted First American and the call hadn't been dispatched. The plumber (K & H plumbing) came out four days later, was here 5 minutes and said that they couldn't unclog the drain because the snake would not fit thorugh the P-trap, and that we would have to have a ground clean out pipe laid and that it wasn't covered by the warranty.

We contacted First American, only to hold for over 3 hours to get the story that they would contact another company and call us in the morning.

I don't recommend that anyone use this company for a home warranty. When you call, you get placed on hold for very long periods of time, you get transferred all over the call center, and never get the same story from anyone.

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I was searching the web looking for an address to write FA but after seening all these complaints what the use.. having problem now i have been waitin on a contractor for 4 days .. as all other.. back and forth on the phone with FA no results. they are already aware of their f-u services am sorry is all u hear! not sure if one company is better then the other but will defintely be finding out

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TODAY IS A GREAT DAY!!!

Cancelled First American Home Warranty Contract!

Been with FA since we purchased a 10-year old house 8-years ago. They used to be a great reputable company that responded timely and replace/repaired with like for like. That all ended approximately 2-3 years ago and it has been a constant battle and scam since. FA squeezes the contractors, contractors resort to scams and extortion, FA does not hold contractor accountable. It is a big mess all around and not worth it!

In the past 2-3 years:

Leaking Toilet: Neck in toilet bowl was leaking. Called FA, 3-day response time for contractor. We had to pull fixture to repair flooring since warranty did nto cover collateral damage. Because we removed fixture, it was no longer covered, because we "might have caused the leak". We replace toilet ourselves for $100.

Microwave: 18 year old microwave caught fire. Literally, flames and smoke. Also, we called to ask for permission to remove from house since we felt it was an electrical fire risk and was it stinking up house. They told us if we removed it it would not be covered. 4-day response time for contractor. FA would not replace unit, only repair, even though there was clear damage and the unit smelled horrible. Took lowball cash-out and bought new unit ourselves.

Upstairs A/C: Making funny knocking noise. 3-day response time for contractor to arrive. Contractor inspected unit, came up with $1200 in non-covered modifications that were required to be "in compliance". Called out independent A/C contractor who inspected unit and FA contractor estimate and said it was complete BS, nothing was wrong with unit, needed a good chemical cleaning. Claims by FA contractor had "nothing to do with code". We paid out of pocket for cleaning and refused to pay FA deductible. FA suspended our coverage until we resolved the non-payment issue.

DOWNSTAIRS A/C: Dryer line on outside condenser literally icing over in 100 degree heat. We shut down the unit, let defrost then started running again but not very efficiently. Called FA, 2-day response time for contractor to arrive (we requested the previous A/C contractor not be sent out again). A/C technician comes out spends 2-hour inspecting system. Finds Freon low but does not check/find a leak. Says electricals are pulling too much amperage on start-up, tries to sell us hard-start kit (not covered) we decline. He keeps messing with compressor until it no longer works at all. Claims the compressor is mechanically locked and needs to be replaced. FA offers to replace with low end replacement and will have to wait 7-days for part to arrive. Contractor additionally claims there are $600 worth of non-covered upgrades the system needs to "be within code" and they will not replace compressor without additional upgrades. Called out independent A/C contractor. $250, he fixed it that night. Apparently FA technician had messed up rewiring the compressor while checking the electricals, it could have been an honest mistake, the red and orange wires were very similar. The compressor is in bad shape but functional, it will need to be replaced, but in 100-degree heat I'll take a struggling A/C over nothing. We opted for lowball ($550) cashout option from FA for compressor and will upgrade entire outside condenser. The $550 for FA plus the $600 we would have been required to pay out of pocket will be a nice chunk toward that condenser upgrade.

CANCELLED COVERAGE - it is a joke. FA finds any excuse to not cover an event. Contractors have implemented "code violation" scams. Response/Repair time in not reasonable. Between what FA pays and consumer is asked to pay, you can get better quality and faster service outside of warranty.