An HMS Warranty story

Posted by Bubba on August 25, 2007, 9:05 am

Yep, they suck.
My customer called about a month ago. They had moved to a newer home.
The A/C wasnt cooling well and wanted to call me but the HMS company
had their own hack to send out. I told my customer to call back and
tell them they were using me. I would handle the billing/paperwork.
I found a one year old Payne heat pump leaking right at the braze
connection to the suction service valve. They did a wonderful job of
frying both service valves. I fixed it and payment was received about
a month later.
My customer called again yesterday. Water on the floor and cooling but
not well. Inside is a 13 yr old Trane TWE 3 ton air handler. The trap
was clogged. I access the coil pan and see oil spray all over and a
terribly rusted tube sheet on the coil. Sure enough it leaks. I check
with RE Michel on a new coil. It has to be ordered in and the price is
double of what any other coil costs me. I tell HMS warranty co my
price to replace the coil. They dont like that. Its too high. They
want to know my service charge. Then they want to know how much my
recovery and evacuation fees are. I came up with a number. They tell
me they dont cover those two fees and the homeowner will have to pay
that portion along with the $100 deductible. They they ask me if I
will install the coil if THEY can get it. I said I dont normally do
that and I wlll have to get back with them. I call back later to tell
them my decision and they have already started their own "research". I
asked, "What does that mean?". They say they are researching what
would be best for HMS and the customer (not me of course). Within 24
to 48 hrs they will let the customer know if they are going to allow
the coil repair, a substitute hacked in coil or a new air handler.
Meanwhile its was 101 degrees here yesterday.
Thanks HMS. May your business burn to the ground.
Bubba

Posted by lp13-30 on August 25, 2007, 10:20 am

Pretty much the same story here too. Probably the same everywhere. The
home warranty companies usually install Payne here too. I knew they
tried to stick the homeowner with recovery fees, but evacuation is a new
one on me. Wonder how long it will be before they come up with equipment
delivery fee, brazing fee, etc that is not covered. Trane is not alone
in their ripoff pricing of a/h coils. Carrier is the same way. For about
$50 more you can buy a whole a/h-- with a 5 yr warranty vs one yr on the
coil. I could never figure out why a cased A coil costs half of what an
a/h coil in a cardboard box costs, let alone the warranty. Then again,
look at what they stick you for a condenser coil on resi sized units--
more than a whole condensing unit. Larry

Posted by Noon-Air on August 25, 2007, 11:10 am

> Pretty much the same story here too. Probably the same everywhere. The
> home warranty companies usually install Payne here too. I knew they
> tried to stick the homeowner with recovery fees, but evacuation is a new
> one on me. Wonder how long it will be before they come up with equipment
> delivery fee, brazing fee, etc that is not covered. Trane is not alone
> in their ripoff pricing of a/h coils. Carrier is the same way. For about
> $50 more you can buy a whole a/h-- with a 5 yr warranty vs one yr on the
> coil. I could never figure out why a cased A coil costs half of what an
> a/h coil in a cardboard box costs, let alone the warranty. Then again,
> look at what they stick you for a condenser coil on resi sized units--
> more than a whole condensing unit. Larry

There is a reason why I don't deal with *any* home warranty companies...The
home owner pays me PERIOD.

Whatever is worked out with the warranty company is between them and the
home owner. I don't get involved.

I have not had the coil cost issues with the Rheem coils.

Posted by Zyp on August 25, 2007, 4:16 pm

Noon-Air wrote:

>> Pretty much the same story here too. Probably the same everywhere.
>> The home warranty companies usually install Payne here too. I knew
>> they tried to stick the homeowner with recovery fees, but evacuation
>> is a new one on me. Wonder how long it will be before they come up
>> with equipment delivery fee, brazing fee, etc that is not covered.
>> Trane is not alone in their ripoff pricing of a/h coils. Carrier is
>> the same way. For about $50 more you can buy a whole a/h-- with a 5
>> yr warranty vs one yr on the coil. I could never figure out why a
>> cased A coil costs half of what an a/h coil in a cardboard box
>> costs, let alone the warranty. Then again, look at what they stick
>> you for a condenser coil on resi sized units-- more than a whole
>> condensing unit. Larry

> There is a reason why I don't deal with *any* home warranty
> companies...The home owner pays me PERIOD.
> Whatever is worked out with the warranty company is between them and
> the home owner. I don't get involved.
> I have not had the coil cost issues with the Rheem coils.

Home warranty's are a travisty for the Tradesman. They don't pay crap. I
usually handle it the same way kpro does it. It's between the homeowner and
the warranty company. I know what it takes to stay in business and keep my
house running.

They [warranty companies] are users of the worst kind. The send in some
know nothing hack to make an mess that later costs more to clean up. Then
the hack ends up lieing to try to make a buck out of it.

--
Zyp

Posted by on August 25, 2007, 10:23 pm

> Noon-Air wrote:

> >> Pretty much the same story here too. Probably the same everywhere.
> >> The home warranty companies usually install Payne here too. I knew
> >> they tried to stick the homeowner with recovery fees, but evacuation
> >> is a new one on me. Wonder how long it will be before they come up
> >> with equipment delivery fee, brazing fee, etc that is not covered.
> >> Trane is not alone in their ripoff pricing of a/h coils. Carrier is
> >> the same way. For about $50 more you can buy a whole a/h-- with a 5
> >> yr warranty vs one yr on the coil. I could never figure out why a
> >> cased A coil costs half of what an a/h coil in a cardboard box
> >> costs, let alone the warranty. Then again, look at what they stick
> >> you for a condenser coil on resi sized units-- more than a whole
> >> condensing unit. Larry

> > There is a reason why I don't deal with *any* home warranty
> > companies...The home owner pays me PERIOD.
> > Whatever is worked out with the warranty company is between them and
> > the home owner. I don't get involved.
> > I have not had the coil cost issues with the Rheem coils.

> Home warranty's are a travisty for the Tradesman. They don't pay crap. I
> usually handle it the same way kpro does it. It's between the homeowner

and

> the warranty company. I know what it takes to stay in business and keep

> house running.

I don't know where you're gathering the info... but yes, that's how I handle
it. :-)

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