Advice for Homeowners: Don't Use American Home Shield

For any homeowners out there who don't already have a home warranty, I highly recommend against AHS as a warranty company. It's been one hassle after another with them for me and I've finally had enough.

Most recently, my shower stem valve where my faucet connects to my shower was broken. They sent someone out this morning to fix it.

Turns out that the warranty company refuses to cover it because they claim it was broken due to neglect on my part. I tried explaining that it broke because I accidentally turned it too hard on one occasion and so it broke as a result; it would tend to leak if I didn't put enough force into turning it off. I was just trying to make sure it was always fully turned-off.

They didn't care about my explanations and stuck to the "you were neglectful" reason for not covering it. So I finally gave in and accepted that they wouldn't cover it.

At this point I was already considering cancelling my warranty with them anyway but then they had the gall to also refuse to refund my $125 service fee even though the service guy didn't actually do anything. So I basically paid all that money just for him to look at the faucet, call the warranty company, and then tell me that AHS wouldn't cover it lol. Talk about money flushed down the toilet.

After getting upset and cussing at the effeminate sounding soy boy over the phone and him telling me that yelling and strong language wouldn't help me in getting my money back I told the little prick to cancel my warranty with AHS immediately, and for good this time.

This was just the most recent in a long history of issues I've had with AHS. They've been my home warranty company for years and I've reached my limit with putting up with their shit. They will not be getting any more of my money ever again.

And yeah, I know I could always take them to small claims court over them refusing to refund my service fee but it wouldn't be worth the time and court costs for such a small amount of money.

I had AHS with my last home. It just so happened the underground hot-water pipes burst and flooded the downstairs with about 6-8 inches of hot water.

But the warranty expired about 4 months prior.

So I never got to use them. The Home Owners insurance hardly paid for anything. The costs and the debt from that single situation is still part of my debt, to this day.

Total repair costs?

$45,000

That's a nice down payment on a home in the Midwest.

I did the math: the money I paid to my home owners insurance during the time I owned that home was more than the amount that they paid out. Most of that payout went to the emergency water-damage team that brought in 2 dehumidifiers and a sump pump. And they cut out f the wet sheetrock. All of that, I could have done on my own by just renting the equipment. Guess how much that emergency team charged for their "services"? $9,000. The home owner's insurance paid out a total of $12,000 towards the damages. All the "rest" wasn't covered. The only thing that was covered was just the direct damage from the water. Not the ruined ventilation system, and carpet. I ended up retiling the bottom floor, myself.

Insurance companies and home warranty companies are not there to save you money during an emergency. They are there to make money off of their clients. They will find any way possible to avoid having to pay out.

If you make a large enough downpayment on your home, you do not have to have home owners insurance. I recommend NOT getting home owner's insurance. Usually, that's 20% of the principle paid off as either the down payment or through overpayment. But, because you very well may need that money, have money direct deposited into a savings or investment account that is specific to home repairs and home emergencies: the same cost you would normally put into home owner's insurance. If you cannot afford to do that, owning a home is not appropriate for your finances. Rent a shitty place until you can afford to do so.

Anyway, sorry about your AHS experience. I find home warranties to be useless.

American Home Shield, Car Shield and other type coverage plans like them are scams.

Sure they warranty lots if stuff but basically any underlying problem that would cause any malfunction voids the warranty. Thats the stuff thats always in the fine print.

It would be like offering home fire coverage and when ur house burns down and u make a claim u find out on pg 103 of ur contract in fine print it details how any warranty/claim is null and void if said fire is caused by friction/electricity/heat or combustion of any kind etc... Basically if the fire is caused by anything that can cause a fire it becomes void.

Ur best bet would be to contact the Better Business Bureau and file a claim against them.

Originally posted by dadudemon
I had AHS with my last home. It just so happened the underground hot-water pipes burst and flooded the downstairs with about 6-8 inches of hot water.

But the warranty expired about 4 months prior.

So I never got to use them. The Home Owners insurance hardly paid for anything. The costs and the debt from that single situation is still part of my debt, to this day.

Total repair costs?

$45,000

That's a nice down payment on a home in the Midwest.

I did the math: the money I paid to my home owners insurance during the time I owned that home was more than the amount that they paid out. Most of that payout went to the emergency water-damage team that brought in 2 dehumidifiers and a sump pump. And they cut out f the wet sheetrock. All of that, I could have done on my own by just renting the equipment. Guess how much that emergency team charged for their "services"? $9,000. The home owner's insurance paid out a total of $12,000 towards the damages. All the "rest" wasn't covered. The only thing that was covered was just the direct damage from the water. Not the ruined ventilation system, and carpet. I ended up retiling the bottom floor, myself.

Insurance companies and home warranty companies are not there to save you money during an emergency. They are there to make money off of their clients. They will find any way possible to avoid having to pay out.

If you make a large enough downpayment on your home, you do not have to have home owners insurance. I recommend NOT getting home owner's insurance. Usually, that's 20% of the principle paid off as either the down payment or through overpayment. But, because you very well may need that money, have money direct deposited into a savings or investment account that is specific to home repairs and home emergencies: the same cost you would normally put into home owner's insurance. If you cannot afford to do that, owning a home is not appropriate for your finances. Rent a shitty place until you can afford to do so.

Anyway, sorry about your AHS experience. I find home warranties to be useless.

What really sucks is that my shower STILL isn't fixed. I'll have to keep using the portable shower for a while it looks like. I have a 2nd bathroom but the shower in it has been out for many years.

And yeah, I had a Car Shield Warranty for a little while as well, not anymore though. It seemed like they were ripping me off too.

So sorry this is happening to you.

I can't help wondering if you're actually serious or just doing the trolling thing and actually enjoying my bad experiences with AHS.

Wouldn't be surprised if you consider it bad karma for voting for Trump lol.

Wow!

Yeah, "wow!" that sometimes it's hard to figure out if you are genuinely sincere in what you say or just trolling.

Originally posted by eThneoLgrRnae
For any homeowners out there who don't already have a home warranty, I highly recommend against AHS as a warranty company. It's been one hassle after another with them for me and I've finally had enough.

Most recently, my shower stem valve where my faucet connects to my shower was broken. They sent someone out this morning to fix it.

Turns out that the warranty company refuses to cover it because they claim it was broken due to neglect on my part. I tried explaining that it broke because I accidentally turned it too hard on one occasion and so it broke as a result; it would tend to leak if I didn't put enough force into turning it off. I was just trying to make sure it was always fully turned-off.

They didn't care about my explanations and stuck to the "you were neglectful" reason for not covering it. So I finally gave in and accepted that they wouldn't cover it.

At this point I was already considering cancelling my warranty with them anyway but then they had the gall to also refuse to refund my $125 service fee even though the service guy didn't actually do anything. So I basically paid all that money just for him to look at the faucet, call the warranty company, and then tell me that AHS wouldn't cover it lol. Talk about money flushed down the toilet.

After getting upset and cussing at the effeminate sounding soy boy over the phone and him telling me that yelling and strong language wouldn't help me in getting my money back I told the little prick to cancel my warranty with AHS immediately, and for good this time.

This was just the most recent in a long history of issues I've had with AHS. They've been my home warranty company for years and I've reached my limit with putting up with their shit. They will not be getting any more of my money ever again.

And yeah, I know I could always take them to small claims court over them refusing to refund my service fee but it wouldn't be worth the time and court costs for such a small amount of money.

It's because you have a Trump sign on the front lawn.

Originally posted by wxyz
It's because you have a Trump sign on the front lawn.

Weeeeeellllll....

That really could be a thing. If he has a sign like that, he may want to check the coverage policy to see if he is being treated unfairly due to his Trump sign.

Yes, I know you're joking but this could be legit.

Actually, I don't have any Trump signs or flags on my property. I do have an anti-liberal bumper sticker on the back of my car though.

Originally posted by wxyz
It's because you have a Trump sign on the front lawn.

HYG:

Originally posted by jaden_2.0

For anyone who needs it.

That's what you leftists are always using.

Sounds like the good ol' Spartan Insurance model

YouTube video

Originally posted by eThneoLgrRnae
Actually, I don't have any Trump signs or flags on my property. I do have an anti-liberal bumper sticker on the back of my car though.

How dare you have a sticker that is basically anti-dadudemon.

uhuh

Originally posted by dadudemon
How dare you have a sticker that is basically anti-dadudemon.

uhuh

Originally posted by Robtard
HYG:

What's the credit limit?

Originally posted by wxyz
What's the credit limit?

It's based on your feelings.

Insurances should all be required to be non-profits or consumer-co-ops. That would solve some of these problems.