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How to get the most out of your home warranty

Posted at 7:29 PM, Jul 21, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-21 22:29:07-04

We've all been there: your air conditioner gives out. It's hot and you're frustrated

But if you have a home warranty, that should guarantee help, right?

Nicole Gaskins says, not necessarily.

"We wanted that safety net, where if something big went wrong, we had a warranty."

She says she spent $500 on her home warranty but when she really needed it, it took the company two weeks to come inspect it.

"They told us the compressor was broken," she says.

And she says a few days after the repair it broke again.

"We called another company that was open on the weekends."

Home warranties can be hit or miss. So do your homework.

In Arizona, home warranty companies are regulated by the Arizona Department of Insurance. Check for licenses, complaints and reputations online. What repairs and appliances are excluded? What companies do they contract with?  Do they do quality work?

Nicole says her policy did her no good.

"Even though we had a home warranty it still cost $900," she says.

Also, don't be afraid to get a second opinion and present it to your warranty company too.

Need my help?

Call the Assistance League of Phoenix volunteers at 1-855-323-1515. You can also send me an email joe@abc15.com or a video email where you attach a video explaining the problem.

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