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New home warranty is a scam!
Good luck getting anything covered under warranty. Their brochure indicates from the day your claim is submitted, everything will be evaluated and completed within 60 days! Wow! Awesome! It has now been over 6 months, and I have to constantly call to find out what is going on. Btw, basically nothing is covered under warranty. So to those of you that have pacific home warranty, good luck. To those shopping around, look elsewhere.
P. S. My floors are sinking, my siding and trim are falling apart, cracks in interior walls, electrical problems and the list goes on...
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Has anyone had more recent experience with Pacific? It is my understanding that they have been purchased by HUB International Insurance, and seems that there have been no complaints since then... Any new info before I buy a house with this warranty?
Thanks!
Yes. In short we have had a recent experience. Nothing from what I have read on this board has changed. I would not recommend buying a home insured by Pacific Home Warranty. There is a definite conflict and they definitely represent the builder. It's a conflict of interest allowing a horrible contractor to choose a horrible insurance company. They will find every reason to reject every item on you list. Expect months if not years getting a resolution that nothing on your list is covered. Good luck.
Still in business- total scam
Absolutely no adjusters to sort out claim no
Timeliness and no straightforward answers
Yes class action is needed
I am going through the same thing with Pacific Home Warranty. I submitted my claim in December of 2015 and it was supposed to be completed in Feb 2016. That date has come and gone. I have been calling every week to get an update and they keep telling me the same thing - "Your claim is under review and should be completed next week". This has been going on for the last month and half with no definitive timeline. Very frustrating considering they probably won't cover half the stuff on my claim after seeing all the comments on here!
Anything where time is of the essence - they let you sit as you will have to fix on your own as subsequent damage is not covered
These people are absolute crooks. Out of the four claims we have made for problems that have developed AFTER moving in (the builder and his tradespeople were basically crap) we have managed to get some small things done but have waited almost a year for the larger stuff. We are in the process of getting our ducks lined up and will be suing them shortly. My advice to anyone who has to deal with them is firstly, do not bother being overly nice with them - it doesn't work for any claim of any consequence and they will keep you hanging forever. They have these great-sounding policies which they do not follow at all. Call them on their so-called deadlines in writing. Secondly, and most importantly, keep records of everything - every phone call not returned, every email not answered, every lie they tell (in writing), every time they send the builder to try Mickey Mouse fixes, take lots of videos, photos, etc. Get copies of inspections done by their "independent" assessors (you'll have to nag and nag for these). Thirdly, don't give up! That's exactly what they want you to do.
Have similar issues with realtor cum builder Paul Bal group. Apparently he is the representative of this builder - a numbered company 0749813 BC Ltd. Despite a clause in the purchase contract to fix deficiencies within 10 days, it has been 9 months still procrastinating nor willing to release the negligible hold back amount. Regarding claims to Pacific Home Warranty, when called we never get the same person who know our case facts and their system is not updated with submissions owner make and mostly deny receiving documents or claims submitted at least till 2-3 times follow up. Usual response I get is waiting for builder to respond, and I wanted to let Pacific warranty know, because the builder does not respond to the home owner, he is forced to make a home warranty claim. There is no respect to time limits or a definition for "reasonable time" When I take up with warranty company, the builder is getting even more upset and now threatens legal action on me for defaming. I do not know if going through Small claim would speed up this as I am living in the house going through the mess in fear. - Roger
I am having the exact same problems with PHW in Alberta. This company is an absolute disgrace!
Keep records of everything you do . Phone calls to the company all letters . This home warranty is a big scam they make it so frustrating and nothing gets done. They have had stories on the news about new homes and all the problems people have with bad builders. They showed couples going to the builder than to the warranty company and it went back and forth with little success . We took the builder to small claims court. We did get some money back so we could repair our house. My mistake was I should of also put the Home warranty also on the claim when I went to small court. You have to fight and don't give up because that is what they want you to do. Good luck Franca
Scott Stevenson works for CBC in Edmonton and does online articles about things like this. I believe if enough people called him or emailed him he would do a story.
Email: scott.stevenson@cbc.ca
Phone: [protected]
Bang on
They are crooks
They take a complex situation and don't arrange for on sitter visuy they then make a determination that the claim is terminated without looking at it ... total total scam - especially when the item
You know and any of your technicians know it is warrantame ore
. Your technicians make Money fixing it and they say
It new home warranty - they did send someone out once but their own contractors said they did not have the authority to fix it properly -- totally unreal
I'm dealing with the same thing with Progressive Home Warranty. They're assessments and understanding of the legislation and the rights of homeowners is a complete joke. Has anyone had any luck dealing with Echelon directly, more recently?
Sorry to say they are a hand and glove situation .
They act amorally rational . Why pay out when the new home warranty office does nothing . Sorry to say you are hooped .
I dealt with Echelon directly. The process will move quicker but you'll still get screwed. Best bet if you have the time and money Ian legal action. Also I'd be very willing to join if anyone wanted to start a class action lawsuit.
Worst service ever! We have been getting the run around on a BRAND NEW built home. Dual realtors involved in this. The builder is the seller and lives on the same street as the house we bought. He walks around with a chip on his shoulder and no care in the world. Pacific Home Warranty do not communicate but keep giving my poor retired parents to add the run around and now stating that these defects are not covered. They are hiding the builder and not holding him accountable. The gas stove does not work we had to call in Fortis as after the carbon monoxide detector went off. We could have DIED if we didn't have that but still no remorse for human life! Fortis gave us in writing that the stove installed by the BUILDER is not usable and needs to be replaced. And still nothing. The concrete stairs going to the main entrance sway but this is not considered a hazard according to Pacific Home Warranty. As long as the builder/seller/realtor and warranty people are paid, we don't matter after paying a million dollars for a new home! I agree we should all go to Global with this, this company needs to be called out for their lack on concern and so do these multi million dollar builders!
Somebody needs to take initiative and start the process...any volunteers?
Try some new ndp Mla 's
This can be private memberz bill
It is easy to fix 90% with instant arbitration concept
It would be most effective to combine all the complaints from Pacific and Progressive Home warranty.
I also have a big issue with these jokers. Has anyone stepped forward with this process?
Yes, I have an engineers Report and am also getting a Geo Technical Engineer out to do a report. Major problems. I am in Supreme court in 2019 bought this house in 2014. All Windows out! all siding off! tons of rot under siding. mould in coach house. the list goes on and on..should be around 400, 000 ish to repair all. Nothing is to code.
We have 2 claims with our builder threw Pacific Warranty. I agree 100 percent . First Pacific played me for 2 months saying our warranty was not registered. They had to wait for the builder to fill out the paper work. After i contacted the HPO to get more info i called Pacific more informed . after over 30 calls so many emails it is crazy. We got a claim in 4 months later.
Same game Pacific works for the builder games over and over np repairs. And the time frames passed when work was to be done. Then warrantable claim was sent and the builder has more time for the repairs. More games. Hundreds of calls emails. No returned emails or calls.
Finally contacted John and got some progress.
Still getting repairs now all thanks to getting John involved.
After over 600 photos videos they still decline items. Do not worry your floor will collapse well before you will get anything from your builder with Pacific. They are a scam and lay the screws to everyone day in day out.
Call Echelon Insurance directly. John Mulcahy [protected]. He's a bit of a [censor] but at least you'll start seeing results or a payout to keep quiet.
Sorry Allen, I see you already contacted him.
To anyone else that's reading this do yourself a favor and do the same.
Also please leave a review on "Google" and file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
I spoke to John Mulchay and he put me on ignore.
Agree I been fighting with pacific since summer 2017 and they never call back or care. They offered arbitration but said they are bringing the builder who won't even respond to their lawyer. The same builder that still controls the strata and the maintenance of the common structure that has been proven to be full of code violations leading to the leaking and failures of the structure. The same builder that they want to submit a claim as the current manager of the Strata but refuses to respond.
I agreed with all the complains. I have bad experienced with Pacific Home Warranty. They are on the builder's side. They hired a Technician Assessment to check all the defects from my brand new house. At that time, the Technician agreed with our complains, he said "yes, it should be", "yes this and that", but turned around, after talking with he builder, he wrote the report differently. They denied most of my claims. The only one left they need to ask the builder to fix because we have photo, video that showed the problem. However, after the builder fixed the defect issue, we hired a professional one to double check the work. Our professional one said it is not right, the builder need to do it again. Pacific Home Warranty did not even physical check the work done, they just looked at the photo was provided from the builder and said it is okay to them. They refused to listen to us and our professional license one to explain about the issue. They just want to protect the builder and close the case quickly. It seems that we have to beg them to fix the defect issues. So why we have to buy the home warranty from them. BUYER ! DO NOT BUY HOME WARRANTY FROM PACIFIC HOME WARRANTY.
I will be in Supreme Court in 2019 against "Echelon" or Pacific Home Warranty. The best thing you can do, is contact "The Insurance Council of BC" and lodge a formal written complaint, via "FAX" ( they don't accept emails ) You will be complaining about Pacific Warranty. They are a broker and governed by The Insurance Council. I have an open complaint with them currently. They have contacted me, I will be sending them my judgement after my court date. The council has advised me there will be disciplinary action at that time if I have a judgement "for". I hope they will have their license pulled.
P.S I contacted John Mulcahy, ( from Echelon ) and he put me on ignore.
Go for you! Let me know if you need at help or backing with anything. I would love more than anything to see them go out of business.
Hi Leroy! Thank you... I will win, I have a strong case and an excellent Lawyer, the problem being is that I have to sue Echelon, and not Pacific Home Warranty..so the best thing anyone can do is to lodge a formal complaint with The Insurance council of BC that way PHW will be investigated and have their license pulled and will be out of business for ever! That is the most helpful thing anyone can do right now, going forward. We want to protect any one else that has to go through this horrible process. Thank you!
I also have been experiencing the exact same meat grinding process as everyone else here. We have multiple issues and thousands of dollars worth of defect repairs that need to be done and we can't even get past the denial of blatant defects that are stated in the BC Building code. Apparently having qualified experts and their own assessor doesn't stop them from denying the evidence. I am exploring all options and getting all my ducks in a row for the next steps.
If you need my lawyers name..let me know.. he can give you a consult visit
Any success? Same issues here after 3 years of denials...
Just note this board, please let us know your case and share your lawyer's name please.
You, I and all the thousands of other honest new home buyers across Canada are all facing the same incredible denial rating from PHW. Hub Insurance is the owner of Echelon, Avia, Pacific Home Warranty and Progressive Home Warranty and the head office for many others in this racket. The numbers of people caught up in this scheme is staggering but Hub is so rich and powerful and has a well financed lobbyist so as individuals we have little recourse except to complain to deaf political ears. We bought in to a town house development built by Pivot Construction in 2015 in Langley B.C. and have had every last defect and deficiency claim denied by PHW to this date, March 2019. The most significant reason for the incredibly efficient scheme is that Hub/PHW were hired by Pivot Construction, the builder of this fiasco is PHW client and they are protecting him form us. This is the same across Canada and our government is fully behind it and continues to approve this scheme to this day. Why? you might ask? Well it is the same ancient answer. The people are being treated to the TRUMP method of doing business, don't take my word for it, follow the money!
After four years of a losing battle with PHW/Hub insurance we are now faced with a mandate from the Strata Property Act that forces us to pay to have all the denied claims repaired at our own expense, Perfect!
In 2005 Anne Drewa (Global National) did a story on this rip off. Hub/PHW all agreed that they must look in to this problem and make improvements to help home owners. The new improvements include not doing any more interviews and training their telephone/email help line people in the latest baffle gab and delay tactics.
After two years of trying to meet with PHW to do a review/mediation of our denied claims they no longer try to bully us in to submission, they have cut off all communications with us and our property management company. WOW! these guys are really comfortable with themselves and their ability to dismiss whole strata corporations and private home owners. Our next effort is starting a GoFundMe project in the hope of getting enough abused home buyers to participate in order to collect enough funds for a class action law suit and get some media coverage. individually it has be demonstrated that I will never win, the real power for political change rests with the collective approach.
Hub International owns Avia, Echelon, Pacific and Progressive Home Warranty and many others in this racket.
If you read the PHW insurance paperwork you will see that PHW client is the builder of your home, you are not the one who hired PHW and you are not being protected from anything. We now know that part of the claim denial process is: Home owner files a claim, PHW alerts the builder and asks for an opinion on the merits of the claim. The builder obviously denies any fault and then PHW reports back to you that you claim is not accepted for a variety of really cleaver reasons.
I have started a GoFundMe in order to gather enough money to initiate a class action against this insidious scam. I intend to build a list of as many abused new home buyers, beginning with B.C. then do some advertising to get publics support for a political change across Canada. There are thousands of us added each and every year to the unbelievable list of Hub victims of this preposterous scheme purporting to be insurance for the home owner. Hopefully some of the people who have been victimized by this scheme will read this and spread the word about my GoFundMe campaign.
You have to submit a letter in writing for a warranty claim. If denied it can be disputed. Request a manager. Search for the online and guess the email. It’s easy. Persistence is key. Quote your claim items directly from the construction performance guideline for housing online. Request copies of technical assessments. If not resolved it can be escalated to ombudsman.
Pacific Home Warranty and Echelon lied to me just to avoid to repair the damages under the coverage. My house is overloaded but both Pacific and Echelon hided the electrical report. They allowed the builder to install heaters in my house even they knew the house is overloaded. I sue them in the court now, and like to share information if anybody has interesting in it.