HomeServe USA Review UPDATED Sep 2019

The Appliances Plan covers kitchen refrigerator, clothes washer, clothes dryer, range/oven/cooktop, dishwasher, built-in microwave, trash compactor, and garage door opener. The Systems Plan provides coverage for heat system, internal plumbing system, interior electrical system, water heater, cooling system, ductwork, garbage disposal, attic and ceiling fans, doorbell system, and central vacuum system.

All the appliances and systems included in these two plans are covered by the Combo Plan. Out of the three plans, the Combo Plan offers the best value, providing comprehensive coverage at a significantly lower price than if purchasing the other two plans separately.

The company does not require a home inspection before signing a home warranty contract. If one of your home appliances or systems covered by the warranty breaks down, you need to call the toll-free number and file a claim to the company’s customer service. The company will send one of its licensed local technicians to your home to inspect the issue and repair or replace the covered item. You can request a service call 30 days after you purchase your home warranty.

Every time a licensed technician is sent to your house, you need to pay a service call fee regardless of the actual cost of the repair. The fee is determined when you select a plan; you can choose whether you want to pay a $75, $100 or $125 service call fee per visit. These amounts are within the industry standard. The lower the fee you choose, the price of your plan will be higher. If the technician needs to make more than one visit to fix the same issue, you are not required to pay any additional fees.

The company pays the technician directly for the work he or she performs up to the annual benefit amount, which is $1,500. If your covered appliance or system cannot be fixed, the company will provide a like-for-like replacement up to the same annual benefit amount.

One of the things that is not clearly stated on the company website is the time it takes the company to respond to customers’ requests for service. When we asked the support staff, we did not get a clear answer – we were told it depends on the availability of the service provider.

We should also mention that you can choose billing frequency when you select your HomeServe USA plan: you can either pay monthly or annually.

Before signing the contract and filing each claim, it is extremely important that you read and understand the terms and conditions of the warranty. The contract contains exclusions for each of the items covered by your plan. For instance, the coverage for your central vacuum system applies to all its components and parts except ductwork and any accessories. Apart from this, there are also general exclusions that apply to all covered items. For example, the company will not repair an appliance or system that is otherwise covered by a manufacturer’s warranty or insurance policy. Any known pre-existing conditions are also not covered. Bear in mind that you cannot avoid paying a service call fee if it turns out that the breakdown you reported is not covered by your home warranty plan.

You get a one-year guarantee on all covered repairs. At the end of every term, your contract will automatically renew for another 12 months. The company has the right to change the price at renewal. You cannot transfer the contract to a third party.

Pros: 

• 15+ years on the market
• Pre-screened, high-quality contractors
• Customer support available 24/7/365
• One-year guarantee for covered repairs

Cons

• Non-transferable contracts
• Many coverage exclusions