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Jesus Sanchez Garcia is a senior writer for USA TODAY Homefront. His expertise focuses on home warranties, with over 50 hours spent reviewing provider sample contracts to understand their benefits. He also regularly performs consumer research, such as surveys and customer interviews with an eye on incorporating data into his writing. Jesus has a bachelor’s in business administration from California State University, Stanislaus, and is still located within California’s vibrant Central Valley. When he is not researching or writing, he enjoys supporting his favorite sports teams, spending time with loved ones and chasing new adventures outdoors.
Cinch Home Services, founded in 1979, offers some perks other home warranty providers don’t — such as a homeowners insurance deductible reimbursement. Cinch also covers rust and corrosion damage, making it a solid choice if you live in a harsh climate.
Our review provides an in-depth look at this popular home warranty company’s other perks, coverage plans, costs, add-on options and other details.
We gave Cinch 4.3 out of 5 stars after analyzing it against our in-depth review standards. Key parts of our process included requesting quotes, contacting customer service and reading the company’s sample contract.
Cinch excelled in our review standards’ service request and workmanship guarantee sections. However, it scored fewer points in the service call fee and pricing sections.
Cinch offers an extensive list of covered items, several of which are unique to Cinch, such as built-in food centers. Cinch provides a 180-day workmanship guarantee for all completed repairs, which is six times the industry standard of 30 days. This can offer extra peace of mind if you own older home appliances and systems.
Another unique feature we like is Cinch’s homeowners insurance deductible reimbursement. Cinch will cover up to $500 of your home insurance deductible once per policy term. On top of its additional perks, Cinch covers damage other home warranty companies exclude, such as rust and corrosion.
Part of our research involved investigating Cinch’s reputation. Cinch is a National Home Service Contract Association (NHSCA) member, meaning it must follow the NHSCA’s code of conduct. Member companies that act in bad faith get their membership rescinded, according to Pierce Haley, executive director of the NHSCA.
Cinch charges the highest service call fees of all the home warranty companies we’ve compared. Its fees range from $100 to $150 per claim, which is 23% higher than the industry average.
What Cinch makes up for in perks it lacks in roof-leak coverage. Unlike most home warranty companies, Cinch doesn’t offer roof-leak repair in standard plans or as an add-on. If you live in an area with frequent rainfall, opt for a home warranty company that offers this coverage.
Cinch covers many major systems and appliances in its standard coverage plans but offers limited add-ons. If you prefer more customizable coverage and add-on variety, consider our other top-ranking companies, such as Liberty Home Guard and 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty.
Here’s how the best home warranty companies compare on key factors:
Cinch offers three home protection plans. While secret shopping on Cinch’s website, we found that it includes a $25 air conditioner and refrigerator filter credit in each coverage plan. You can use this credit to purchase a new AC or fridge filter at select retailers. Below is a quick summary of each Cinch plan:
Several other factors affect the cost and value of Cinch’s home warranty plans, including the following:
The following tables highlight the items Cinch covers in each of its protection plans:
During secret shopping, we found that Cinch offers limited additional coverage options — six in total. However, one of its add-ons, the Premier Upgrade Package, has significant benefits. This add-on increases your plan’s coverage limits, adds code violation protection and more. Cinch’s add-ons including the following:
Cinch’s notable exclusions include the following:
We found it interesting that Cinch also excludes coverage for items that don’t have a visible model or serial number. If you’re considering Cinch, check that the items you need protected all have visible model or serial numbers.
When we requested a quote using Cinch’s online tool, it linked each plan’s sample contracts at the bottom of its “compare plans” drop-down menu. After reading all three sample contracts, we found they had the same items listed in the “general exclusions and limitations” section.
Like several other home warranty providers, Cinch offers three service call fee options. Selecting the higher service fee lowers your monthly premium and vice versa. We suggest choosing the higher service fee if you are on a restricted budget because Cinch will charge a lower premium.
The table below features monthly cost data based on a quote I pulled using a 2,188-square-foot, single-family home in Boca Raton, Florida. Your pricing could vary depending on your location, home size and plan selection.
Cinch holds accreditation and a B rating from Better Business Bureau (BBB). Cinch has poor customer reviews on BBB; however, low BBB customer ratings were common for several other home warranty companies we reviewed. BBB helps facilitate customer complaint resolutions, which may explain why customers write mostly negative reviews on the site.
Cinch has 3.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. Multiple customer reviews note Cinch’s quick and easy sign-up process. This Trustpilot review from Sandra N. highlights Cinch’s sales representatives’ professional service.
Many negative reviews reference Cinch’s slow claims resolutions. Jamie A.’s November 16, 2023, review reported that she’d had an unresolved claim for a broken shower handle since October 26.
After purchasing a plan from Cinch, you won’t be able to file your first claim until after the 30-day waiting period. You can find this information in your coverage plan’s contract. To effectively use your coverage plan, you must understand the stipulations that apply. This involves reading your service contract carefully and knowing your options for filing a claim.
Once you sign up for a plan, read your service contract fully. While most of the information is available in the sample contracts online, you should familiarize yourself with your plan’s terms to avoid claim denials. Here are the sections you should review:
Cinch provides two options for requesting service: a 24/7 claims hotline and an online claims portal. Section IV of Cinch’s sample contract has all the service request provisions you must follow for a successful claim. For instance, you must submit a claim immediately after you notice a covered item has broken down. Waiting until the next day to contact Cinch can lead to a denied claim.
Cinch indicates that it will respond to your service request within two hours of receiving your claim during normal business hours. If you file your claim after normal business hours, Cinch will attempt to respond in 24 hours.
Section III of Cinch’s sample contract mentions your coverage plan’s effective date and length. Your plan will last 12 months unless you sign up for a multiyear policy.
Section VIII of Cinch’s sample contract provides detailed information on canceling your coverage plan. Like most reputable home warranty companies, Cinch provides a 30-day free cancellation period during which Cinch will refund your entire premium. However, if you terminate your plan after the free cancellation period, you’re responsible for a $25 processing fee and any applicable fees.
If you have a contractual dispute with Cinch, there are some things you can do to reach a resolution.
Cinch covers a generous list of appliances and systems with its protection plans. Its unique perks, such as its homeowners insurance deductible reimbursement feature, add value to an already robust coverage lineup.
However, you must purchase Cinch’s most expensive plan to take advantage of its perks. In addition, you’ll pay higher service call fees with Cinch compared to other top providers.
We recommend pulling quotes from at least three home warranty companies before settling with Cinch to compare pricing and coverage options. Fill out Cinch’s quote form to request your personalized estimate.
We research and rate home warranty providers to help you choose the right one for your budget and home. Our research includes gathering customer insights via consumer surveys, interviewing industry experts, secret shopping all of the companies we review and analyzing customer reviews from third-party review sites such as Trustpilot and BBB.
We compare home warranty providers across the following five categories:
Read our full home warranty company methodology for more information.
BBB and Trustpilot ratings are accurate as of December 2023.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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