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Old Republic Home Protection

Home Warranties • American Home Shield • Buyers Home Warranty • Choice Home Warranty • First American Home Warranty • Home Warranty of America • National Home Protection • Nationwide Home Warranty • Old Republic --- • Home Warranties Not Always What They Seem • Old Republic Responds • Think Twice Before Buying an Extended Warranty --- • Home Warranties Not Always What They Seem

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.

Kara of Humble, TX August 13, 2008

Kara of Humble TX (08/13/08)
Seller gave me a air-conditioner inspection from his agent. Stating that the a/c was checked and certified as a good unit. I made a complaint as the A/c was not working. Old Rep. sent 3 different agents out and at first said Prexisting condition and the last a/c guy said General Maintenance They denied my claim even though I had the previous owners maintenance form which was done on May 5,2008

I have asthma and have spent weeks in this home without air-conditioning. I am trying to get into my doctor now and have an appointment for 10:45am on the 19th of August (if there isnt a cancellation sooner). I suffered every day until I paid 1775.00 to have it repaired. I have statements from my A/C agent that the whole system needed to be replaced and I believe that is why Old Republic wouldn't help me. I will be taking this to small claims to try to get the A/C unit replaced including the dilapidated duct system that had been plugged with duct tape and glue.

Peggy of Phoenix, AZ July 25, 2008

Peggy of Phoenix AZ (07/25/08)
My roof air-conditioning unit died in the middle of the Arizona monsoon season. I contacted Old Republic for repairs and was advised the a/c repirman would call me for a time of arrival. I never got a call!! I call Old Republic again,they tell me they will have him call and I hear from him a day later!!! My roommate had to move to a hotel while all this was going on due to the temp in the house being near 100* Repairman comes to my home at the cost of 55.00 repaired it and left. Approx 2hrs.later it wasn't working AGAIN...roommate moves out again I stay with friends, I call Republic, they say the a/c guy will call, i hear from him the next day!!!

He comes over,and tells me the unit is too old and needs to be replaced!!! (Why he couldn't figure this out the first trip----who knows??) I call Republic,they say they will replace the unit but I have to pay 1300.00 for the crane and to haul away the old unit!!!

I asked how they would replace and install the unit w/o a crane?? and they say they wouldn't unless I pay for the crane. I contact a reputable a/c company and they advise that for half the price they will put the unit on the roof and do a complete install....but Republic refuses to deliver the unit to my home without they're contract company doing the installation!!! When I had a friend in the a/c business check my unit last summer he found that one of Republic's a/c contractors had used a 1/2 inch piece of copper tubing as a fuse for my a/c unit.....lucky the house didn't burn down!!!!! There won't be a renewal in the future!!!!

Gina of Cypress, TX July 24, 2008

Gina of Cypress TX (07/24/08)
On 7/21/08, We contacted Old Republic to place a claim since our A/C went out. We are in South East Texas and the temperatures over the last few days were close to 100 degrees. We were told their contractor would be out on Tuesday between 2-7. They never showed even after we called them direct and they said they were on their way. I called at 7 am on Wednesday and was told that the contractor (Kool Breeze) said they would be out between 5-6 pm that day. It took me completely losing my cool with several of their employees and my realtor threating them to get the contractor to give us the time of day and actually do the job they agreed to do. We are told by Kool Breeze that they were doing Old Republic a favor.

The contractor's office had the nerve of saying that Hurricane Dolly was affecting their arrival. The hurricane only brought slight rain to this area and while I was talking to her, the sun was shining. They finally came out and fix our system. Within a few hours, we had water pouring through our ceiling from the repair, something that was not wrong before they came out. As I write this, we still have water coming through.

I was told to contact the secondary repair line. I have left a message and left at the mercy of these people. The person I spoke to at Old Republic already started defending their contractor wanting to know what we did to cause this problem. We did not have water coming through the ceiling prior to their visit. I was also told I will have to pay an additional 60 for a new service call to have the original work corrected and then wait to have the repairs done to my ceiling and whatever damage is in my attic. I am sure they will try to charge me a deductible on that too.

I would have rather have gotten the policy money from the seller and paid a qualified contractor that I hired to make the repair in the first place. I am a licensed Realtor in the state of Ohio and just moved to Texas, I can't believe this company has not had class action suits against them. I so disappointed in their services, their employees, the contractors they hire and the total lack of disregard for the clients that they are serving.

So far, our A/C is still in need of repair, we are out 60 in deductibles already, they want another one to correct their error (if anyone would even show up) and we don't have a quote yet on the ceiling damage repair, carpet cleaning and damage to our floors and any damage to our attic from the water.

Raju of Na, TX July 19, 2008

Raju of Na TX (07/19/08)
Old Republic sent out a plumber to fix my bathtub cold shower knob. The plumber showed up and reported it was overtightened when installed and would not be covered. This is a problem becuase I bought this house and was told a warranty would protect me.

DO NOT BUY FROM OLD REPUBLIC--they will tell you that you are simply out of luck. This company does not understand customer service. You are better off just fixing the problem yourself or going to a more customer friendly company.

Jesse of Arcadia, CA June 25, 2008

Jesse of Arcadia CA (06/25/08)
Main water gate valve got stuck and could not be turned off. Called Old Republic for repair. They asked where the gate value is located. It is right outside the kitchen. They won't cover it since it is outside the house's main foundation. But all gate valves are supposed to be outside the house. They didn't budge.

Had to pay someone to replace the valve.

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