Home Service USA Repair Management Corporation Water Service Line Coverage from Home Service How About This One? Lancaster, Pennsylvania
How about this one - I receive mail today form the above mentioned company that strats out with "Your water service line is the pipe that brings fresh water into your home.
".... then "Repairing a broken line could cost you thousands of dollars, and in financial times like these, that's an expense no one should have to bear." So for $59.88 per year you can rest assured except in the following (small print) conditions:
"General exclusions: acts of God, thawing of frozen pipes, emergecy breakdown - to extrenal guttering, arising from disconnection to main water supply, due to pre-existing conditions, caused by faulty construction/improper maintenance, or from a controllable leak; swimming pool/decorative fixtures; faucets or hose bibs;repair of covered parts, equipment and/or systems due to reduction in performance created by normal wear and tear; emergency breakdown to property having remained unoccupied for more than 30 days..." (Are you away on vacation? If so kiss the service goodbye!)"...repairs when parts are obsolete; costs to correct or upgrade any part,...." And this list goes on. In short anything that happens is your fault and they will not cover any of the expenses. The advertising goes on to read that they provide a savings in money, lasts as long as you own your home (this is when they attach themselves to your credit card and you need to close the account down to get rid of them?), make your emergency a priority, both old and new construction is eligible (yet read the fine print - no matter what you do you are screwed out of their service and your money), and a risk free review (and I believe in Santa Clause and truth in advertising!). Sounds pretty fishy to me?
7 Updates & Rebuttals
Norm from GA
United States of AmericaActually BBB is rather non-committal...
#8Consumer Comment
Fri, November 30, 2012
They refer most inquiries to their evaluation of the Home Service Hq in CT, where it received an "A" rating, on its handling of over 250 complaints in the last three years.
While that may seem a praiseworthy report, one must remember that:
1. BBB is only looking at those complaints that were filed with them. It does not, and cannot, use data from other sources, such as government intervention.
2. While 250 complaints may not seem large nationwide, it might just illustrate how low the risk is of ever using the policy. External pipe breakage, especially after deducting the causes listed in exceptions above, is pretty darn rare. I mean, if you have a fear of shooting stars, I can give you a really good rate on insurance against being hurt or killed by a meteorite.
3. And, while the details are not given concerning the "complaint resolutions," probably many of them were just pointing out that according to their contracts, they won't get restitution.
All the BBB reports emphasize that the firm, and their affiliates, are not members of BBB, and that, over the years, the Feds have made them clean up their act, at least as to questionable advertising.
Watch Out Now
United States of AmericaOne of those too good to be true
#8Consumer Comment
Mon, August 13, 2012
If you read the fine print, they supposedly cover only normal wear and tear when most instances of pipe failure are from all the situations that they do not cover! They are now working the Las Vegas, NV area also with just a P. O. Box #.
vvickie2000
Rowlett,Texas,
United States of America
Not ripped off
#8REBUTTAL Individual responds
Thu, March 29, 2012
I have had the water line insurance with Home Service USA for 1 year. Yesterday I noticed water coming up in the lawn. I called them. They came out, dug the area out and repaired the leak. I have an older home, the same thing happened at a different spot 2 years ago and I had to pay over $500 to have it repaired. They gave me NO static, just fixed it and that was it. It cost less then $60.00 for 1 year insurance. Pretty cheap if you ask me.
Bman
Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,
United States of America
Thank you emsy!
#8Author of original report
Sun, March 06, 2011
I have never read or heard abut this type of approach (or system). I will look at the account and see what you suggest doing, and can use this when I use a credit card account again. I am one of the people that the credit card companies have closed down. I have been paying down all the credit cards and using the one card attached to my check account (both as debit and credit card functions). 2008 my 401k was hit hard, 2009 was a terrible year since I lost some work, and having gone through the deposit scam from Quicken Loans for mortgage refinance, was thrown into a financial cycle I am slowing getting out of. With a company like mentioned it will require very careful monitoring to make sure that I do not go through any more fraud or an automatic payment that is impossible to get disengaged with like I experienced wit Sprint and Global
Fit. Sprint owes me about $9, which I do not know if I will ever get back since it is considered a credit. All the financial institutions are now suspect to me, it appears there is no longer any sense of responsibility to the customer, and everything is about the company bottom line. This is systemic and it is only when the whole country bands together can this problem be resolved.
emsy
Bensalem,Pennsylvania,
United States of America
Stop Automatic Rebilling with Credit Card
#8Consumer Suggestion
Sat, March 05, 2011
If you have a CitiBank credit card, you can go on their site and download a Virtual Account Number program. It sits in your task tray at the lower right side. When you want to charge something, click on it, enter your id and password and choose virtual account number. It will produce a citibank account number, expiration date and security code. Enter this to pay for your goods/services etc., whether online or on paper. Here is the great thing about it. It is a one time use only number and expires the following month. NO One Can Use It Again. If they try to bill again, it rejects the card and they will notify you for a new expiration date. Just say no and "please put me on your do not call list."This has saved me many many headaches as I do a lot of online buying. When you get your CitiBank bill, it shows your VAN next to the company who billed you. I wish they all had a VAN.
Also, watch this company. Keep track of when you paid them. They have a habit of rebilling for the same service several times a year.
Bman
Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,
United States of America
Thank You!
#8Author of original report
Fri, August 06, 2010
I appreciate the advice and will definitely look into this - I find that the things they will not cover in the plan that is in the small print is a bit problematic. Thank you.
Adolf
Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
It seems it is legitimate.
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, August 05, 2010
They appear to be a legitimate Co. having no Complaints against then at the PA BBB. The Company is based in Fl. Here is a link to the BBB website'e report on this Company.
http://www.bbb.org/south-east-florida/business-reviews/homeowner-insurance-and-warranty-services/home-service-usa-in-miami-fl-23003640
Pay them with a Credit Card that will Expire before the End of the Year. Remember that paying via a Credit Card protects you if they fail to comply. You can also use the Verizon Yellow Service if they are listed and then Verizon will make good on any repairs.