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Old Republic Home Protection

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Houses are a big pain, no doubt about it. Something is always broken, stopped up, leaking or starting to smoke. The idea of a "home warranty" sounds attractive but all too often, the reality is something else, as the complaints in this section show.

Minor appliance repairs can turn into major productions and major repairs are all too often not covered under the "pre-existing condition" clause. So the question is: would you be better off saving the money you'd spend on a warranty and putting it aside to help cover routine maintenance problems?

Henry of Pacheco CA (1/21/03) thinks so:
Their standard plan covers nothing. They won't cover things that can be cleared from your sewer line, they won't cover things that can't be cleared from your sewer line and they won't cover you sewer line at all unless it breaks right under your house.

I'm out three grand to replace the sewer line on the house I just bought, plus carpet cleaning.

Paul of Cookeville, TN July 2, 2009

We purchased a home in TN in December 2008. At that time we were offered a "Comprehensive" 1-year home warranty for 450, which we understood would cover everything except washer/dryer and pool/spa. In June 2009 after a heavy rain we had a roof leak. Upon calling Old Republic I was told that we were not covered for any kind of roof leak because we had not purchased a "Limited Roof Leak Repair Option" for an additional 100. At NO time during our purchase transaction were we told of or offered such additional coverage. So basically Old Republic weaseled out of their "comprehensive" coverage and our 450 bought us very little peace of mind after all.

Eddie of Chesterfield, VA June 3, 2009

I just purchased my first home in VA and not even two weeks after I start having a leak from my A/C Handler. I called the Old Republic and they send All Hours Mechanical out to check on it. I'm with the guy the entire time in the attic as he is checking it out. He tells me that the unit is a little off level and fixes it. He blows out the drainage pipes which weren't clogged. Then we go outside to the unit. He places a pressure guage on it and states that the pressure should be up around 58psi but it is reading 25psi. We talk and then he says he was going to call me back the next day to set up an appointment to come back and fix it (it was already 7pm so I understood).

The next day rolls around and Old Republic calls me and states they are going to deny my claim because the unit was installed improperly and that my warranty does not cover it. The house is a 2000 and has had the same unit in it. Therefore, the unit has worked for almost 9 years and without a problem (becasue the previous owner had Old Dominion and didn't submit his own claim) however now when a problem occurs it is all of a sudden installed improperly. It worked for 9 years with a so called improper install and now they won't cover service.

Not one time did the service rep that came out mentioned that it was installed improper. He didn't even open the unit up to see what the problem was inside the unit. After that the owner of All Hours Mechanical calls me and states that he can send a guy out to fix all the problems with my unit but it would be a normal charge without the assistance from the warranty. Of course it would be without the warranty because they can make more money on it and Old Republic wouldn't have to pay for anything. What a scam!

When I called Old Dominion back to ask for a 2nd opinion and offer to pay the extra 55 copay they refused to send out another contractor from a differnt company. The lady at Old Dominion was not only rude but was not even listening to me. This entire experience has been horrible! I will never purchase a home warranty from Old Republic Home Protection ever again!!! The worst part is now I have to fork over the money to pay to get my a/c handler fixed because it is almost 90 degrees outside and it's barely summer. What a ripoff!

Mondy of Semmes, AL May 22, 2009

We have had to use the warranty over and over again for our air conditioning and heating system. Everytime they just do the minimum work and we have to call atleast once or twice each hot or cold season. Finally they replaced the inside unit and our air just wouldn't come on as the temps. got hot in early May 2009. After several attempts to get both Old Republic and the company they said to use 2 weeks later, they finally came out and said we needed a new unit outside. This was in early May.

They ordered the wrong unit and the AC company just left the old unit sitting on our front lawn and left. We cannot get Old Republic or the AC company to return our calls. We are going on weeks of no ac. Luckily it is has finally cooled off a bit but the humidity is awful. Our dogs are miserable, my daughter is sick and Old Republic and the AC company could care less. After 3 years of buying a renewal we are disgusted! Never again.

While most of the people were nice, they obviously just don't care. Also, we had a good Bryant system it is just older but they want to replace it with a lesser brand name's off branded unit...wonderful - replacing with an off brand! They did offer to pay us off with the money they spent on the off brand not to replace with a decent well rated brand. Can you say - taken to the cleaners!

Denise of Geismar, LA May 16, 2009

I purchased a home in 2008 and my central air stopped working. I called Old Republic & their AC tech said my home had faulty wiring and they would not fix my AC. I had to pay the service charge. I called a local company to fix it. They told me the unit didn't run because of a breaker that needed to be changed. I had to pay them 337. The next day, I received a renewal policy in the mail from Old Republic. They want 425 to extend my warrenty! What a joke!

R. Poole of Surrey, BC April 16, 2009

Purchased their best warranty. 5 years 100,000 km. Had warranty work done on the top and bottom end of the engine. Left the dealership the Flag, drove 30km down the road the engine went. Old Republic stated it sounds like oil starvation before the dealership even looked at the engine or Old Republic had their rep look at the engine. They requested all my service documentation. I gave them all required service records for the last 42 months including oil changes every 5,000km. They oked the dealership to open the bottom of the engine then disallowed my claim saying it was oil stavation.

I asked Carlos at Old Republic to look at the documentation from the dealer showing they had just had the bottom of the engine apart for warrenty work and they had put oil in it. Carlos would not do this nor would he indicate anything had been done by the dealership showing their was nothing wrong at that time and that they had put oil in the engine. The manager of the dealership Dave indicated it was definetly not oil starvation and the engine shows this is not the case.

I was tool by the dealership that since it was so close to the end of my warrenty they felt that Old Republic was just trying to get out of it. Here was a well maintained vehicle and Old Republic refused to warrenty it. I would not recommend buying anything from Old Republic no matter what you want to warrenty. Imagine if this was your home you would be left outside in the cold.

THe cars engine was a total lost and possibly the transmition. Old Republic treated me rudely.

Dan of Dawsonville, GA April 8, 2009

Our home was sold with an Old Republic Home Warranty. We had an occasion to use them during a recent cold snap. Our heater failed, we called Old Republic and they dispatched Allstar Mechanical to diagnose and repair the problem. Unfortunately for us Allstar Mechanical isn't an authorized dealer for our system, additionally our system is under the manufactures warranty. Turns out in the small print Old Republic doesn't cover manufactures warranted items, so much for a one call solution to a problem. Old Republic also uses incompetent service agents (check Kudzu). Allstar Mechanical couldn't get information on the replacement part and didn't see fit to communicate the delay.

After two days of dealing with Old Republic and the run around I called a local authorized dealer and they found the part locally within 5 minutes. Do yourself a favor DO NOT purchase a warranty from Old Republic or any insurer. The coverage is junk, full of delay meant to dissuade you from filing a claim and full of ways not to cover an item. Old Republic doesnt follow up as requested. To their credit they are polite and excellent at defusing a situation. Also to their credit they did agree to cover the labor on my choice of another HVAC service agent.

Lost time, initial diagnostic fee and a cold house under 40 degrees.

Karen of Kennesaw, GA March 18, 2009

Bought a house with a home warranty from Old Republic. The dishwasher started leaking from the base a few days after we moved in. Old Republic is refusing to honor the warranty because I can't state with absolute certainty that the dishwasher was working fine the first time we used it. I know for certain that it was working fine when we had the home inspection a week before closing. This policy is worthless.

Rene of Kenner, LA March 17, 2009

i bought my house in October 2008 an got a home warranty through old republic i was told they will cover anything that goes wrong in my house so far I've had 3 problems and they always send a tech to tell me that my problem is pre-existing an is not covered the latest is my ac has gone out and there tech says that it was improperly installed by the previous owner of the house.an they will not cover the 3500.00 cost to repair it.

now we are stuck with a house with no ac in Louisiana and summer is coming soon and I'm out 450 for the fake home warranty 180 for the 3 service calls 400 for plumbing work they would not cover, an a 3500.00 repair i cant afford to pay

Susan of Oklahoma City, OK January 30, 2009

When I bought my home from Century 21 All Pro in October of 2008, my Realitor bragged and bragged about Old Republic Home Warranty Company and strongly encouraged me to purchase a policy, she said she had her Policy with them and went on and on how great they were. I paid 410.00 for the home coverage and an additional 150.00 to cover my hot tub.

When a Mechanical failure occured causing the tub to freeze when the temp droped to 17 degrees the tub NO longer held water, kept leaking out, and would not function. I had a company that dealt with hot tubs come and diagnosis the problem. In their letter they said that freezing caused damage. Hot Tubs do NOT freeze on their own. There has to be an equipment failure to enable any hot tub to freeze. Old Republic to date has denied the clain because they said they do NOT cover Freezing, only equipment failure.

The Hot Tub facility that made the diganosis told them that in order for the damage to have occured there had to have been an equipment failure and or a mechanical failure, or power failure and or surge to have done/caused what happened. In addition to a verbal report I have sent to Old Republic written documentation.

I had back surgery July 2008 and the use of the Hot Tub helps me with my pain and movement. I can NOT afford over 5000 dollars to buy a new hot tub. The repair costs are estimated at 2,900. Old Republic wont honor the claim because they say they do not cover Freezing, only equipment failure. I have tried unsucessfuly to try reasonable communication. A Hot Tub can NOT, and does NOT freeze on it own, it takes a mechanical failure for that to occur. What can I do if anything to encourage them to honor my claim.

Todd of Glendale, AZ January 6, 2009

I have had my downstairs A/C charged 3 times and no one will look for the leak when it's 115 outside. Now it's cold and my heat doesn't work yet they won't call me back.

Very hot inside the house during summer and freezing cold in the winter. Electric bill skyrocketed because the unit just runs and doesn't cool or heat when it's supposed to.

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