AHS - American Home Shield Warranty Company Small repairs ARE covered; large repairs are NEVER covered! Carroll, Iowa

My home came with a home warranty. I purchased it in 2005. In 2006, I began paying the 500.00 annual premium. I didn't use the service at all in 2006 because I forgot I had it. In 2007, I paid 60.00 co-pay for them to repair the hot water heater. No repair was made and when they told AHS that I needed a new one, they refused the request. If I had kept the 500.00 premium, I could have purchased a new water heater.

In 2008, I called again about no hot water. This time, the company said my hot water heater was too low gallon for my house. They said they would contact AHS; they never did. I paid 60.00 for the service request. In 2008, my shower started leaking. I paid 60.00 for them to come out. They replaced the faucet. A month later the shower was still leaking. They charged me another 60.00 and replaced THE REST of the faucet. Why wasn't the whole faucet replaced at once? I also paid 60.00 service fee to have AHS replace a garbage disposal.

In 2009, I called about the AC. I was charged 60.00 for the service call fee and told that the filter needed to be cleaned at a cost of 400.00 and AHS would not pay for it.

In all, I have spent 2000.00 in premiums, 300.00 in service cost fees, and received approximately 500.00 worth of work--the faucet and the garbage disposal. Remember, however, that I paid 300.00 in fees for the 500.00 worth of work so I really only received 200.00 worth of work.

If I have been putting that money in savings, I could have paid for my own work and used the companies I wanted to use instead of the shady companies suggested by AHS.

Sadly, I have decided not to use AHS anymore. If all their companies are going to say you have an uncovered problem, it is better just to put the 500.00 a year in a household savings account and pay for the repairs yourself. You also get to shop around and choose the company that you have heard good things about and does the work at the best price. AHS requires you to use their contracted companies.