Money Research Collective’s editorial team solely created this content. Opinions are their own, but compensation and in-depth research determine where and how companies may appear. Many featured companies advertise with us. How we make money.
Fidelity Home Warranty Review
By Shelby Bennett MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
A home warranty can potentially protect you financially against unexpected repairs or replacements of major home systems and appliances.
That said, it’s smart to question whether a home warranty makes sense for you, and which company and plan might be the most suitable.
This examination of Fidelity Home Warranty reviews the company’s pros and cons, inclusions and exclusions and coverage options. We also look at how the company fares in online customer reviews.
Fidelity Home Warranty overview
Fidelity Home Warranty offers service contracts to current homeowners and home buyers. The company started in 1974 and is headquartered in Concord, California. It has a Better Business Bureau rating of A+ and accreditation from the National Home Protection Association (NHPA).
Here are the company’s pros and cons:
- No age limit on items covered
- Web-based based service request platform
- Variety of options available to add to your coverage
- Numerous customer service complaints
- Available in only 17 states
- Inadequate online information on warranty annual costs
Pros explained
- No age limit on items covered – Many home warranty companies only cover items that are less than a certain age or have been used for a limited time. Fidelity has no such restriction. That might make a good choice for those who seek coverage on older items.
- Web-based service request platform – Service requests can be submitted online; that makes it easy to get the help you need when you need it. Once a service request is submitted, a technician is dispatched to your home.
- Variety of add-on options available – You can tailor coverage to meet your needs, which allows you flexibility in what your warranty covers and costs.
Cons explained
- Numerous customer service complaints – As with many other home warranty companies, customers have posted many negative reviews of Fidelity Home Warranty’;s home service.
- Available in only 17 states – Where most home warranty companies are national, or nearly so, Fidelity Home Warranty is unavailable in the northeast, much of the midwest and in select other states. The company writes policies only in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, Georgia, Missouri, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington.
- Inadequate online information on annual warranty costs – The Fidelity Home website provides scant information about warranty cost per year.
Fidelity Home Warranty coverage
Like its competitors, Fidelity Home Warranty covers the repair or replacement of home systems and appliances due to normal wear and tear. The company offers four plan options: a Standard Plan, a Comprehensive Plan, an Enhanced Plan and an Enhanced Plus Plan.
What it offers
Fidelity Home Warranty promises comprehensive coverage for your home systems and appliances. For a monthly or annual service fee, Fidelity will cover the repair or replacement costs of covered items like your HVAC system, water heater, washer, refrigerator and more.
The coverage limit for each item varies by state and by the plan. For example, the diagnosis, access and repair of the plumbing system in California is capped at $1,000 per contract term.
Fidelity offers add-on coverage for items not included in the basic plans, most of which will also have coverage limits. For example, the Standard Plan does not cover the water expansion tank, so you’ll need to upgrade your plan to cover it, or pay out of pocket for repairs and maintenance.
Fidelity Home Warranty says it provides qualified and licensed contractors to repair or replace the covered items. A workmanship guarantee promises to redo the job if it wasn’t done right the first time.
What it doesn’t offer
When it comes to home warranty coverage, understanding what is and isn’t covered under the plan can help you decide if it’s worth the cost. It’ll also help you avoid misunderstandings or disputes with your warranty provider.
Fidelity Home Warranty has an exclusion list, which is pretty standard across warranty providers:
- Pre-existing conditions: Coverage will be denied for any home appliance or system problems that predated the purchase of your home warranty plan.
- Unauthorized maintenance: Excludes any items for which changes or modifications were made without Fidelity’s approval. The company also will not remedy unauthorized repairs or replacements that failed.
- Damages caused by neglect: Excludes damages to home appliances or systems caused by your own negligence, such as not providing proper maintenance.
- Cosmetic damages: Repair or replacement to remedy cosmetic damage, such as scratches or dents, are not covered.
Fidelity Home Warranty plans
Fidelity Home Warranty plans vary from state to state. In California, for example, Fidelity Home Warranty offers four different home warranty service plans: Standard (or Base), Comprehensive, Enhanced and Enhanced Plus.
All plans offer basic protection against the cost of repairs or replacement for major systems and appliances in your home. There is a $75 service call fee – which is actually lower than the $100 that is standard for many competing companies.
In other states, covered items may vary. Add-ons (as listed below the plan descriptions) can be purchased for many items not included in the contract you choose.
There is a budget cap limitation for some items, as in a maximum dollar limit the warranty will pay for a covered repair or replacement.
Here’s a rundown of what’s covered under each plan, along with its cost in California.
Standard Plan
$300/year
- Plumbing systems
- Sump pump
- Built-in whirlpool bathtub
- Pressure regulator
- Garage door opener
- Ceiling fans
- Kitchen exhaust fan
- Doorbell
- Smoke and carbon dioxide detector
- Trash compactor
- Range/oven/cooktop
- Plumbing stoppages
- Whole house fan
- Toilets
- Telephone wiring
- Electrical system
- Garbage disposal
- Instant hot water dispenser
- Water heater
- Central heating system
Comprehensive Plan
$430/year
All items covered under the Standard Plan, plus:
- Air conditioning/evaporative cooler
Enhanced Plan
$520/year
All items covered under the Standard and Comprehensive plans, plus:
- Washer, dryer and refrigerator
Enhanced Plus Plan
$630/year
All items covered under the above plans, plus:
- Stoppages due to the growth of roots
- Water heater expansion tank
- Radiant/hot water/steam heat
- Labor cost on manufacturer’s warranty-covered items
- Code violations/modifications
Supplementary add-ons to plans
You may need additional coverage or a more inclusive plan than the provisions of those listed above. Among the add-ons Fidelity Home Warranty offers for its home warranty plans, for an additional fee, include those for the following:
- Septic tank system and tank pumping
- Well pumps
- Pool and spa equipment
- Sewage ejector pump
- Limited septic tank leak
- Additional refrigerators in the home
- Roof leak repair
- Water dispenser and ice maker in the kitchen refrigerator
Customer reviews of Fidelity Home Warranty
Fidelity National Home Warranty offers an online claim submission process and a service line. While both are pluses, most online reviews suggest that customers are, at best, unimpressed with the customer service they’ve received from the company.
Many complain about the time it took to receive service, the number of service calls required to repair an issue and the quality of repairs performed by Fidelity National Home Warranty contractors.
The company could seemingly do better, too, in addressing the complaints. According to many reviews, the warranty company has been unresponsive to customer service inquiries. While the company has a high response rate on the Better Business Bureau website, the BBB data reveals a low percentage of resolutions that are considered satisfactory by the person who filed the complaint.
Regarding the quality of repairs, customers have been less than impressed. Many repairs are done poorly or not done at all, according to reviewers — who mostly gave Fidelity a dismal 1-star rating.
Fidelity Home Warranty FAQ
How do I file a claim with Fidelity?
Fidelity Home Warranty offers an online claims-filing system that's available 24/7. You can also file a claim by calling their customer service number, 1-800-TO-COVER.
Filing a claim requires providing your policy number, the date of loss, a detailed description of the issue and your contact information. Once you have done so, a customer service representative will contact you to schedule an appointment for a technician to come to your home.
Are there repair limitations?
Yes. As with most home warranty companies, Fidelity imposes limitations on what its protection plans will cover. These limitations can vary depending on the system or appliance being repaired or replaced. For example, coverage may not include items like outdoor equipment. It may also exclude failures due to code violations or neglect.
How often are claims denied?
According to Fidelity Home Warranty, a claim is only denied when it breaches the terms and conditions of the home warranty contract. For example, if home damage is caused by poor maintenance and negligence, the Fidelity Home Warranty company will not cover the repair or replacement costs.
However, numerous negative reviews suggest Fidelity Home Warranty frequently denies claims for other reasons. Some of these might result from misunderstandings or ambiguity about the warranty does and doesn't cover. It's wise to thoroughly read the terms of a home warranty before signing for one. Ask questions of the company if the warranty language is unclear to you.
How we evaluated Fidelity Home Buyers Home Warranty
When evaluating home warranties, we looked at Fidelity Home Buyers’ warranty and how it measures up to the competition. We focused on the typical warranty cost and the availability and quality of online tools.
A sample contract for home warranty service was thoroughly reviewed to better understand the company’s coverage. This document provided a detailed explanation of what is and isn’t covered under the warranty.
The company’s customer service policies, the length of the warranty, the waiting period and the ease of filing a claim were analyzed. We also looked at and assessed the number and tenor of the online reviews of the company’s customer service.
Finally, the company’s website and social media were evaluated to understand their relative effectiveness in helping to solve customers’ queries and pain points.
Summary of Fidelity Home Warranty
Fidelity National Home Warranty offers competitive pricing compared to competing providers. Also, the promised coverage under their plans stacks up well enough against their competition.
However, it’s also important to find a warranty provider you can trust. And here, as with some other home warranty providers, Fidelity often falls short, based on the volume and nature of online customer reviews. These suggest the company too often denies coverage and is otherwise unresponsive to its customers’ needs and expectations. .
Research your options before selecting a warranty provider to ensure that you’re getting one that offers optimal coverage and service. Our listing of the best home warranty companies can be helpful to locating such companies.
Shelby Bennett is a veteran freelance writer with eight years of experience. She has a name for herself in the publishing industry, and her byline appears under some of the most well-respected authorities in the space. Shelby is a Guest Contributor for Capterra, Software Advice, GetApp, EC-COUNCIL, and many more.