Beware First American Home Buyers Protection Corp.
Paying Claims does'nt bring in profit.
You are bucking a system that makes money by getting your premium without paying claims.
Over 1000 claims filed against them with better business bureau.

Check out this website http://www.ripoffreport.com
Just type in First American Home Buyers Protection Corp.

FA and their (contractors?) are scam artists to rip you off. Insure yourselves and hire your own contractors! Get the job done right!

Add me to the list of those taken by first american

My heat worked for a month, then it stopped. They sent a technician out to check on things, and sure enough, it was a pre-existing condition.

A policy from First American Home Buyers Protection Corp is any thing but home protection. You would be better off to save the money and use it to pay for the repair if something goes wrong.

I do not understand how something can work for a month and then be classified as a pre existing condition.

Is there a class action lawsuit against First American Homebuyers? I am not a litigious individual, but I can tell you that this company cost us our plumbing business. Not only do they control what they pay their contractors, but they certainly don't want anyone to know this! Much of it is designed so that you pay your annual fees, and the "Service fee" to the contractor. The company is truly hoping that the service fee that you pay to the contractor will be the end of the billing, as they don't want to pay out at all! Contractors are expected to use the cheapest parts possible. We were often called out on second opinions, following other "plumbing" companies who frankly went in, did nothing and collected a service fee. We learned that many contractors just have a "body" at minimum wage show up for the appointment. We soon learned why they did that; it keeps them in business! The good, honest contractors could never possibly win doing business with this company! First American require mountains of paperwork from the contractors for tiny invoices, and that the contractor call in status reports. Well, you can never get through to a real person (the line is always busy) and if you leave a message, it sort of "gets lost"....then they send you a letter attached to your invoice telling you that they are not going pay you because you never gave them status on the job! This happened to us on countless occasions until we literally went out of business! They just move on to another company. That's only one example of what goes on!

Dec7/08--First American-what a nightmare!
Our realtor suggested that we might want to buy this policy as the home was 15-20 yrs old. I have since called and told him that before he recommends this company again he'd better look at the documentation of their poor service record.
We lost our hot water and heating system on a Sat am-after my husband had surgery on Friday. Our hot water and heating pilot would not stay lit-without manually lighting it. My husband could not get down to light it and I could not reach where it needed to be lit. Thank God, for our son and my brother. On that Sat, we finally limited ourselves to lightiing it twice a day.
The calls to First American were too numerous on that first Sat. We explained over and over about my husnband's surgery--etc etc..to no avail. Finally, I lost my temper and threatened to call my congressman to a supervisor. We then got an authorization# for the work to be done by an outside source as the two sources that we were given did not respond nor (I learned later on) did they work on this type of system. It appeared that First American knew those facts after talking to both companies that were recommended. Remember, my authorization # was suppose to work- not so!! It appears that the outside contractor was then jerked around" to get another authorization. The whole process took two weeks and we both got ill-my husband seriously so--Imagine that!!-surgery, cold water, no heat, who'd guess!!
This is the 3rd time we have had problems with First American. I feel like a fool!! We kept the insurance because of this hydronic hot water heating system BUT I am sending in a COMPLAINT to the Dept of Insurance-Steve Poizner's office...www.insurance.ca.gov or you can use the consumer hotline 1-800-927-4357.
I was lucky to find the outside contractor who was a gem. He had worked for them before on these units and it appeared that First American knew this fact. Why they didn't just give us the right company to begin with is such a ripoff. Thank God this guy was willing to help us w/a number of tricks just to keep it working for the 2 wks..including checking out the heavy gas smells.
Please file a complaint where it will do some good. When I called the person did know of the company and suggested that I might want to wait to file the complaint until I got the problem resolved. The outside contractor also suggested the same idea as First American can pull the authorization # and stop the work!

I Just found this page about First American..mmmmmm Lets just say they do not have 90% satisfaction rating ! Were do you or they get there facts ?
Any way, I had them in 2004-2005 they were really bad.
I went with another company that was even worse..this led me back to First American.
So the choice is between terrible and bad........mmmm

They have gotten better however I still feel it's a big scam because they do not cover most expensive work that needs to be completed..
i.e They will pay for a $250 water heater but fail to pay for the up grades and all the extra cost that end up more around$700
They have very miss leading wordy contracts and make a lot more then they put out.
When we sign up and pay money to this company we are depending on them to bring only honest, trust worthy lagit companies but when the company pads all the cost and makes a list of extra things need that are not needed.
They don't protect the client they say sorry this is what we can offer.
Its not really worth it they don't care about the customer really but hay this is the America we live in..

I Just found this page about First American..mmmmmm Lets just say they do not have 90% satisfaction rating ! Were do you or they get there facts ?
Any way, I had them in 2004-2005 they were really bad.
I went with another company that was even worse..this led me back to First American.
So the choice is between terrible and bad........mmmm

They have gotten better however I still feel it's a big scam because they do not cover most expensive work that needs to be completed..
i.e They will pay for a $250 water heater but fail to pay for the up grades and all the extra cost that end up more around$700
They have very miss leading wordy contracts and make a lot more then they put out.
When we sign up and pay money to this company we are depending on them to bring only honest, trust worthy lagit companies but when the company pads all the cost and makes a list of extra things need that are not needed.
They don't protect the client they say sorry this is what we can offer.
Its not really worth it they don't care about the customer really but hay this is the America we live in..

I have been doing plumbing for FA for over 20 years even before FA it was Ticor. They used to be a great company and frankly because I am one of the few plumbers that give honest service to the customers I keep the customers even after the policy is expired.

What I am seeing now is FA gives most of the work to the cheapest contractors first, these cheap contractors keep their "cheap status" by lying to the customers and claiming "improper installation" "not normal wear and tear" so they bill out a small service call to FA and then charge the customer retail for the repairs OR if the customer disputes it they will send us as a second opinion then we find out it is covered and they pay us their cheap flat rate to make the repairs alot of the time it costs me money. I find this happeneing more and more. Some of these companies will charge 65.00 for non covered "vent modification" on a water heater that involves no more than unscrewing a screw and screwing it in again.

These contractors blatently lie, the customers complain, some of us contractors complain and FA does nothing about it.

I'm almost to the point of dropping them as a vendor BUT I do look at it as an avenue of advertising my service and we do get a large volume of repeat customers that were FA customers. I actually have some that have been using us since 1990. To this day I still dont play the game the other guys play as I would rather make less and have a good reputation than make a fortune and have a bad one. All I can say is when a FA contractor says "not covered" request a second and third opinion if needed and make them pay for what is covered.

Honest Plumber who works for FA

by the way, water heaters dont cost 250.00.....more like 500.00 now a days. This is what we charge for upgrades....vent modification (not just removing a screw) 40.00, earthquake brackets 65.00, smitty pan 80.00, haul away 50.00, gas flex and valve 65.00. FA buys most of the Wh's for the contractors and we have to pick them up at no charge to them. They pay from 90.00 to 120.00 for installation, I charge anywhere from 225.00- 300.00 for installation retail So you can see why we charge for any "non covered" costs. But you have to look at it another way, we charge 1295.00 for a 50 gallon wh installed with everything which is avg in SO. CAL with our AQMD spec expensive Wh's so if you pay 300-350 bucks you are getting a deal.

But like I said in my last post, a lot of the contractors are liars. An ex employee who rents had a WH replaced by FA at his landlords expense, The "big" company down here charged him 385.00 in "non covered" expenses, one of which was the 65.00 for removing and replacing a screw in the vent
they also said the earthquake straps were not installed properly and needed to be moved 2 inches, they left them exactly how they were previously but charged 125.00 for the "modification" They didn't know the tenant was a former home warranty plumber for 20 yrs. They also charged a T&P modification for a huge amount of money which took 5 minutes and a 50 cent part.

I dont work for free but I will never rip off a customer, when a customer refuses the extra costs, the warranty company will "cash them out" at the cheapest price they have on file even from a contractor that doesn't work for them anymore at 2-3 years ago prices and the policy holder will find they cant even buy the item for the "parts and labor" price the HW company offers them.

cancel

This company is terrible.

My wife and I spent five months (21 phone calls, four letters and countless other documents) trying to claim reimbursement on our furnace.

It wasn't until we threatened Daniel Langston, the company’s president, with litigation and a grievance with the California Department of Insurance that someone actually moved forward on processing our claim.

I would suggest anyone who has a contract with this Van Nuys, Calif.-based company to drop their contract NOW!

Langston is a member of a number of regulatory boards, but those regulations, apparently, do not pertain to First American.

If you are looking for someone to work with at the company, I would suggest Oscar Arrechea in the Claims Evaluation Department. His phone number: 888-955-4415 ext. 3651.

You may also reach Daniel Langston at 818.781.5050. I would give out his home address— he’s a graduate of California Lutheran University and resident of Ventura County— but I think that’s a bit over the line.

I am having problem with plumbing. The pipe from kitchen is being blocked some where between the disposal and the basement. I called them last Wednesday and they assigned the job to a 'company' that I had to call him on Thursday. He is an old man (>70) working alone, and not capable to get any job done. He came to my house and only use clog opener (chemical) to pour into the pipe, but this case will need to open the pipe and use electric snake or some equipment to blow the clog
I called them again and again but it seems I am going to add my name in the negative list

I'm glad I found this site, I will gladly join any class action suits out there. Talk about an efficient system of putting you off, wearing you down, and increasing the frustration level.
My wife is 7 months pregnant and we have been without AC in Houston, Tx for over a week in 90+ degree heat. Its very hard on her and is killing me! She is looking to me to handle the situation, and there is an endless loop of non-action. Do not purchase this warranty! - it is not Insurance and is not regulated.
They blantantly input false information, and delete any information that would be favorable to your claim on their records.
They have a very well formulated system of how not to get anything accomplished for their customers. If anyone recieves a call back from one of their representatives they should play the lottery immediately.
Does anyone know how to file with the BBB, - they're of course not listed.
I just want to help anyone else from suffering the frustrations of dealing with this company. Their actions border/are on criminal.

We should all report them to the BBB, I already did. It's easy, just google better business bureau, and go to the part about filing a complaint. Type in their name, your zip, and you can see that their rating is actually not that bad. So the more people on this site that submit complaints to the BBB, the higher chance that their rating will really plummet and real estate agents will stop using them. That's the other thing, go to your real estate agent and tell them your troubles with this company, they need to stop using them as well.
I could tell my story, but it's the same as everyone else's. They also use contractors that do not affiliate or report with the BBB, like the HVAC company we are dealing with now. They just yelled at me and hung up.

I am a first time customer of First American (3/17/08).I have had the most horrendous experience that a new customer should not have to encounter with the first service call request. My situation is unique in that the AC/Htg company that First American sent out (Hartford Services - Houston, Texas)damaged my unit. Hartford's service repairman accidently screwed in the wrong size screw as he was putting my AC cover back on thus puncturing my condenser coil. I immediately called Hartford's owner and he stated that the puncture would have to be welded closed. To make a long story short it is June 9th and I still have not gotten my AC unit repaired.
I am being passed from one rep to the other to no avail. I have experienced almost all of the previously stated tactics & customer complaints.
I would love to join a class action suit. Anybody out there know of one?

Pat Tyrone
pat-lewis @sbcglobal.net




Pat Tyrone
pat-lewis@sbcglobal.net

bump

I currently have an issue with FA and I'm wondering what to do about it.

Our A/C went out. I call FA, they send a contractor, who says the condensing unit needs to be replaced. He points out some damage to the coils and says this isn't normal wear and tear, and that it will therefore not be covered. Cost to replace: $2.8K.

I thought I'll get my own second opinion and/or cheaper quote, so I called another contractor. He also says it needs to be replaced, but clearly states it's because of old age (it's probably the original unit installed with the, built in '68. Either way, the model has been discontinued 20+ years ago).

So I call back FA and ask for THEM to send a second opinion. They guy comes, and also says it's because of old age. I call back several days later to see what he told them. This time I'm told it won't be covered because of improper installation. They told me something about the unit being installed without a base (it DOES have a concrete base).

Is it possible to deny a claim because of improper installation, when the unit has worked for at least 20 years? More than the average life span for such a unit?

Am I wrong? Most importantly: What can I do next?

Thanks to all!

I agree with everyone, and I now wish I had researched ratings and opinions of this company BEFORE I switched from American Home Shield to First American. I only switched because the monthly payments were a little cheaper. Well, I have learned, if something is cheaper, there is usually a reason. It is really worth less than the competitors. I have been put on hold for over an hour at times, and almost every time. I request that a specific contractor not be hired, and they hire him anyways, I wait 48 hours, and that horrible contractor calls me. I waited over 2 months to have my dishwasher repaired. I waited over a month to have my refrigerator repaired. It is now my A.C., and I called a week ago, it was looked at. I called a week later to confirm with First American that it would be replaced, and they said "we are sending a fax now". I called Thursday (today), and they say, there is no fax.

This is what I have learned when it comes to "working the system" with First American. When, you talk to a claims resolutions specialist, and they say "I will fax it." You tell them, "I will wait on hold while you fax it. When it is faxed, you can verbally tell me as so." When they confirm the fax, you ask the name of the representative. If you are told, "I will go ahead and re-dispatch this for you." Tell them, "I will wait on hold as you do that. When you find a contractor, please give me the contact information." Then, you can reassure that they give you a "GOOD" contractor. I usually get the contact information and call the contractor myself. It's quicker that way.

American Home Shield is the best. I never had any of these issues. I never had to do any work (like I mentioned above). If you do not have any current problems in your home, Cancel First American and get American Home Shield. I am cancelling myself once my A.C. finally gets repaired. Then, I am quickly goin back to American Home Shield.

With First American, you will waste A LOT of time and eventually money.

I know that some of our negative opinions regarding First American put you in the defense and forced you to write your recent posting. But, if you are trying to keep customers, your response did not do so. You made your customers out to be ignorant consumers who obviously have no clue what they are talking about. The reason we feel this way is because most of us know how other home warranty companies are running. Every home warranty should run the same, hire the best contractors, send out contractors efficiently, provide the best customer service, and resolve claims as quickly as possible. If your company is not doing that for most of your customers, then they will most likely not be happy. American Home Shield provides this quality and exceeds the expecations of a home warranty with every claim I have made through them. Your customers will slowly begin cancelling their services, and then those people that are there trying to make a living may lose their jobs, because of the lack of customers the company possesses. The quality of service has to get better, or there will be an undeniable fate for this company. Review your business, your ratings, your customer service, your efficiency with resolving claims and try to make some changes. It is the only way that there will be more positive postings regarding your company on websites such as this.

I have been working to get an AC unit function for well over 8 weeks. First technician reported the unit was beyond repair. Sales rep calls another tech to look at the unit. Second tech says the unit needs to be cleaned. The unit continues to fail. The second tech is asked to return only to install a new breaker. The unit continues to fail. Sales rep tells me she can no longer help me and refers me to another representative. I have yet to talk live with the other sales representative. The unit continues to fail. I feel that I have been scammed by group of professionals.

First American Home Buyers Protection is a complete waste of money, a scam, frauds, unethical and have no customer service. Do not sign up, or if you did cancel the contract. They are frauds and deal with unethical fraudulent contractors. Specifically, we had our a/c checked by three different contractors on three different dates. Contractor one said the air filter was dirty but fact is it wasn't but it cost us $55.00. Contractor two said compressor unit was dirty, fact is it wasn't, cost us $55.00. Miller A/C,Contractor three after feeling cold air coming from underneath the house(without inspecting anything) stated to us the duct work is probably leaking at the connections. Miller a/c did not inspect any duct work underneath the house, even stated I don't crawl in the dirt. BUT, Miller A/C filed a claim with FA that the duct work was rotted and had holes in it. Miller A/C Contractor lied to us and lied to FA, took our check and cashed it right away. What a move, no inspection, but takes the money and runs...He even quoted us $2000 to replace a $69.00 plastic duck if we wanted him to do the job wow what business practice making $1930.01 profit.When I contracted claims 4 times and stated we wanted a $55.00 refund because Miller A/C did not diagnose anything, committed fraud. FA stated no but offered to send another a/c contractor for a $55.00 fee. So in the end a total of 2-3 weeks without air in 90 plus temperature, all the while paying $55.00 service fees we cancelled. FA does not offer any significant,valuable or worthwhile financial assistance in home repairs..FA does absolutely nothing but profit from home owners contract fees...