Home warranties are popular, because they promise peace of mind if a major appliance breaks in your home.
But many homeowners end up unhappy with their warranty company.
Many homeowners purchase a home warranty. And among them, Choice Home Warranty is one of the most popular.
But it's now battling an attorney general's lawsuit – and thousands of complaints - and the complaints just keep coming in.
Callie Gant needed a new water heater.
Hers was leaking all over the laundry room floor.
So she called Choice Home, her home warranty company, for her water heater.
"They said they would not do it,” she said. “Said the warranty did not cover that."
She was stunned. She has purchased the coverage for almost $500 a year for her.
"Clothes washer, refrigerator, air conditioner, water heater, electrical systems, plumbing."
But even their own plumber's work order didn't help.
"He called Choice Home Warranty, and they told him they wouldn't cover it,” she said.
Callie says the worst thing is she still had to pay $60 for the service call just for a man to come out and tell her it wasn't covered under her warranty.
“Every time I put in a claim I would pay this guy $60 to come out, and nothing ever got done,” she said.
It’s a familiar complaint.
Choice Home has thousands of complaints with the Better Business Bureau, and last fall …
"Now the Arizona Attorney General Office is going after the company."
Arizona’s AG says contracts actually exclude many items.
The suit also says the company promised “24/7 customer service” that was “swift and timely,” but many repairs drag on for weeks.
We emailed Choice Home, and in the end the company agreed to pay $500 toward her new water heater.
Some home warranties can be worthwhile: but check the company’s Better Business Bureau report, and google them for complaints … so you don't waste your money.
