Secure Home Warranty was a Philadelphia-based company that offered home warranties to cover repairs and replacements for appliances and systems. In January 2017, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) raised concerns about a pattern of complaints from customers, including denied claims, difficulties in canceling contracts, and delayed refunds.
The BBB requested additional information about the company’s policies and promotional materials and advised Secure Home Warranty customers to review their service contracts, given confusion around coverage thoroughly. Due to mounting issues, Secure Home Warranty went out of business by the end of 2017. In this article, we go over several alternatives to consider from our list of the best home warranty companies available nationwide.
Alternatives to Secure Home Warranty
Since Secure Home Warranty is no longer in business, we go over the pros and cons of a few highly–rated home warranty plans that provide comprehensive coverage to their customers.
American Home Shield
- Is a veteran in the home warranty industry
- Offers three plans, including an impressively comprehensive ShieldPlatinum plan
- Customers can choose between a $100 and $125 service call fee
American Home Shield (AHS) has been around for over 50 years and is one of the oldest companies in the home warranty industry. AHS provides three home warranty plans, including a ShieldPlatinum plan that covers 23 appliances and systems.
First American Home Warranty
- Has a risk-free, 30-day money-back guarantee
- Doesn’t have coverage caps on heating, cooling, or ductwork
- Covers replacement on some items that are too damaged to repair
First American Home Warranty (FAHW) has three plans that range between $77–$130 a month, according to our 2025 survey results. What makes FAHW different from other home warranty companies is their First American Advantage add-on, which covers systems and appliances even if they were improperly installed, modified, or maintained.
Our Final Secure Home Warranty Review
We don’t recommend Secure Home Warranty, or any home warranty company that operates with unethical practices. When reviewing Secure, we found that numerous plan holders felt that the group was eager to sign them up for service contracts, but when assistance was needed, the company failed to deliver.
As of the spring of 2019, lawsuits were filed against the company’s officers, Alan Maleh and Ellion Ashkenazie, that suggest both face a permanent ban from operating a business in Pennsylvania and pay restitutes of $1,000 per violation and $3,000 for breaches against senior citizens.
If you’re looking for a home warranty company you can trust, we suggest investing in a policy from a reputable company such as American Home Shield, Elite Home Warranty, or Liberty Home Guard.
Our Recommended Provider: American Home Shield
As one of the oldest home warranty providers in the industry, American Home Shield has built a strong reputation with decades of industry experience, comprehensive plans, and a vast network of service professionals. American Home Shield stands out for covering appliances and systems regardless of age, making it ideal for homeowners with older equipment. Unlike other brands, it offers unlimited coverage caps on most systems, which can save you from paying out-of-pocket expenses.
How To Choose a Reliable Home Warranty Company
When buying a home warranty company, consider these key factors to ensure you receive dependable coverage and quality service. A trustworthy provider should offer clear terms, responsive customer support, and fair coverage limits.
- Check provider reputation: Look at customer feedback on sites like the BBB and Trustpilot to gauge response times, claim approvals, and overall satisfaction.
- Compare costs: Home warranty companies charge a service fee per claim. Higher deductibles typically lower monthly premiums, so choose an option that balances cost and convenience.
- Compare coverage limits: Some companies impose payout caps per repair or replacement. Read the fine print to understand exclusions and ensure the coverage meets your needs.
- Decide on coverage: Most providers offer home warranty coverage plans with optional add-ons for specific items like pools, spas, or secondary appliances.
- Look beyond the price: While affordability matters, the cheapest provider isn’t always the best. According to our 2025 home warranty survey, homeowners paid an average of $82 monthly for a top-tier plan.
FAQs About Home Warranties
What is a home warranty supposed to protect?
A home warranty covers major systems and appliances when they break down due to normal wear and tear. This protection plan also covers the cost of expensive repairs or replacements and prevents homeowners from paying unreasonable, out-of-pocket expenses. For a thorough understanding of these service contracts, explore our article that explains the essentials of home warranty contracts.
How do I avoid being scammed by another home warranty company?
If you’ve been scammed by Secure Home Warranty or another home warranty company, know that not all home warranty companies are bad. Before deciding which home warranty is right for you, consider the costs, coverage limitations, and the company’s reputation regarding customer service. You may also want to consider what other people are saying about the company, the company’s BBB rating, and how long the company has been in business to avoid a home warranty scam.
How much does a home warranty cost?
A home warranty costs an average of $56 per month, based on responses from our 2025 survey. Your monthly premium will vary depending on which provider you choose, your home’s location, and your selected plan.
Are home warranties worth it on older homes?
Yes, a home warranty is worth considering for an older home. Older homes typically have aged appliances and home systems, which are more likely to break down from wear and tear. The exception is if your home systems and appliances have preexisting conditions, as many providers exclude these.
Our Rating Methodology
We use a detailed rating methodology to objectively score each home warranty company we review. We conduct research by speaking with company representatives, requesting quotes, analyzing sample contracts, and running focus groups and homeowner surveys.
We use this information to score each provider in six comparison categories that we think are most important when choosing a home warranty. We rate each provider across 23 factors within those categories. Each factor is assigned a point value based on its importance to a homeowner, totaling 100 points. We convert the final scores to a 5-star rating.
Here’s a breakdown of our weighted factors:
- Coverage (35%): This category looks at how comprehensive each provider’s coverage is, including whether it covers unique items. Companies that cover the most items and have higher annual limits received the highest scores. We docked points from providers that impose long waiting periods or have depreciation policies that decrease your payouts for aging items.
- Cost (20%): We looked at average monthly prices and service call fees. We gave the most points to companies offering pricing at or below the industry average that don’t impose any surcharges or extra fees.
- Trustworthiness (15%): To gauge reputation and reliability, we reviewed customer ratings across sites such as the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot, as well as companies’ responses to complaints. We also checked for National Home Service Contract Association (NHSCA) membership. Providers with the highest ratings and longest workmanship guarantees received higher scores. We deducted points for any ongoing legal issues.
- Plan transparency (10%): We read terms, policies, and disclosures in provided contracts and on each company’s website. Providers with transparent contract details and policies received more points.
- Customer support (10%): Companies with multiple claims filing options, fast response times, and accessible customer support scored well in this category.
- Flexibility (10%): We awarded more points to providers offering more plan options, larger add-on catalogs, the ability to choose your own technician, and customer-friendly cancellation policies.