Home Warranty

Overview

Usually, the family home is the most valuable asset that most people will buy and own during their lifetime.
Many consumers look for a dependable insurance-like service to protect their investment and avoid a potential scenario where sudden astronomical repair bills must be paid out of pocket.

A typical home warranty is a service agreement that helps cover costly, unexpected repairs or replacement of covered items for a fixed duration of time.
Good plans provide adequate coverage in circumstances when critical mechanical or electrical home systems and important appliances break down due to normal wear and tear.

Each company offers its unique plans that include different levels of coverage.
Some enable homeowners to build their customized contract and choose which components will be covered, which enables the customer to obtain a policy that fits his individual needs and budget.

A service contract may cover components such as:

• Household Appliances (refrigerator, dishwasher, oven, etc.)
• HVAC System
• Water Heater
• Plumbing Fixtures
• Garage Door Opener

For many, it’s a preferred way to get more reassurance and better peace of mind for their biggest investment. This is because the consumer knows that if a significant failure occurs, the company shall send a professional to diagnose the problem and offer a technical solution that will keep the fundamental home elements functioning.

Consumer Tips: How Avoid Home Warranty Scams Online

Just like any other sector that involves consumers, businesses, and money that switches hands, the home warranty industry also has its fair share of scammers, fraudsters and cybercriminals that operate online and look for potential victims.

Scammers use many illegal or unethical ways to trick homeowners.
Some shady companies simply do not honor their commitments as specified in their contract – even when a customer files a legitimate claim.

Other scammy players in this industry often use contract loopholes, tricky wording or pretexts of “preexisting condition” or “lack of proper maintenance” as a weapon to deny claims, leaving customers high and dry.

In addition, poor quality providers process claims at a snail’s pace, place unrealistic limits on spending and repair costs, impose extremely low payout limits (coverage caps), charge ridiculously high deductibles and service fees, have an endless list of exclusions, offer inferior customer service and give customers a false sense of security.

Taking these steps will help you find credible and reliable companies and purchase a good protection plan in a safe, secure and satisfactory way:

Read Carefully the Actual Coverage Details

Read the entire terms and conditions of the policy, including the fine print, to avoid nasty surprises or additional expenses when something breaks or ceases to function properly.

Don’t get into a contract without completely understanding what the plan will cover, to what extent and how a claim will be handled.

Investigate the Home Warranty Company’s BBB Record

Check the company’s record on the Better Business Bureau’s website.
What you’ll find there, will help you evaluate whether it’s a legitimate business that deserves your money and trust or if you must look elsewhere.

Look for current BBB rating, customer reviews, complaints, warnings and alerts on their business profile.
Also, learn how long it has been in business – a potential indicator of experience and reputation.

If the company is not even listed with the BBB, this is a bad sign.
On the other hand, if the home warranty service provider is certified as a BBB Accredited Business, it’s an important positive signal.

Pay Close Attention to Red Flags

Learn how to protect yourself better when ordering goods and services on the internet, to avoid scammers and keep safe in general.
Knowing how to check if a website is legitimate or not is the first line of defense.