Update:
- In February 2021, a federal judge granted a motion to compel arbitration for a class action lawsuit claiming Lowe’s sold customers unfair extended warranties serviced through Federal Warranty Service Corp. (FWS).
- Lowe’s and FWS each filed a motion to stay action pending arbitration.
- The judge further ordered the action be stayed and administratively closed pending completion of arbitration.
- The class action lawsuit claimed Lowe’s refused to honor protection plans the company sold at the point of purchase for certain items in the event of an overlap with a manufacturer warranty.
(June 3, 2020)
A class action lawsuit has been filed after Lowe’s Home Centers allegedly sold customers an unfair extended protection plan.
Plaintiff Andrew Fritz says he purchased a barbecue at Lowe’s in January 2019 for $399. When he checked out, he was reportedly asked if he would like to purchase a protection plan warranty.
Fritz alleges he was told the protection plan included on-site repairs and was told that the plan “covered everything” and that he would be “completely protected.” He decided that he would pay for the Lowe’s extended warranty for $79.99 and the clerk placed the brochure regarding the protection plan into the plaintiff’s bag with other items.
In November 2019, Fritz says that he was having problems with his grill and requested that Lowe’s pick up his grill to fix it, which was supposedly covered under the Lowe’s warranty.
The plaintiff claims that the defendant would not honor the protection plan as the product was already under a 5-year parts warranty from the manufacturer and that they would not perform an on-site pickup of the grill.
“Defendants routinely sell Protection Plans for products for which the manufacturer’s warranty is equal to or longer in duration than the Protection Plan,” the Lowe’s extended warranty class action lawsuit states.
The plaintiff maintains that the defendants refuse to provide any services or benefits under the protection plan during any overlap with the manufacturer’s warranty.
Fritz says the description of the protection plan as “extended” serves to reinforce the consumers’ expectation that the Lowe’s warranty extends the life of the manufacturer’s warranty, not that they run concurrently.
In addition, Fritz says in the Lowe’s extended warranty class action lawsuit that the defendants often sell plans that overstate the coverage. As an example, Fritz notes that a three year protection plan for a product that has a two year manufacturer’s warranty only gives a one year coverage, at best.
Fritz claims that the defendants do not inform customers that the protection plans are not effective if the underlying product is still under the manufacturer’s warranty. If the manufacturer’s warranty is equal to or longer than the protection plan, Lowe’s warranty never takes effect.
“Defendants’ representation of broad coverage, and omissions as to the true, limited nature of the Protection Plans, are false and deceptive,” the Lowe’s extended warranty class action lawsuit goes on to state.
Fritz says he would not have purchased the protection plan if he had known that the defendants would not provide services if the manufacturer’s warranty was still in effect. He states that he is still interested in buying a Lowe’s warranty for future purchases as long as it would be honored by Lowe’s.
The plaintiff is seeking an injunction which would require the defendant to stop selling protection plans that do not provide any value to customers during the manufacturer’s warranty period or fully disclose the limitations of the protection plans with respect to the manufacturer’s warranty prior to completing a sale for a protection plan.
The Lowe’s extended warranty class action lawsuit states that consumers relied on the marketing of the protection plans, including that they are “extended,” meaning that they extend the manufacturer’s warranty.
Had Fritz purchased a protection plan that provided coverage for longer than the manufacturer’s warranty, he claims that he would have paid less for it or would not have purchased it at all.
“A consumer would not expect a Protection Plan so sold to provide no benefits or services in addition to the manufacturer’s warranty,” the Lowe’s warranty class action lawsuit maintains.
The Lowe’s extended warranty class action lawsuit also maintains that the plaintiff and putative Class Members entered into implied contracts with the defendants to which the defendants agreed to provide services in addition to the manufacturer’s warranties.
However, the Lowe’s extended warranty lawsuit claims that the defendants do not provide any services under the protection plans if the manufacturer’s warranty is in effect.
“Defendants breached the implied contracts they made with Plaintiff and Class members by failing to provide any services under the Protection Plans if the manufacturer’s warranty was in effect,” Fritz explains.
Prospective Class Members include: “All persons in the United States, who purchased any of the Protection Plans for any product that has a manufacturer’s warranty running concurrently with the Protection Plan within the relevant statute of limitations.”
Did you purchase a Lowe’s extended warranty? Let us know in the comments section below.
The plaintiff is represented by Robert W. Killorin and Timothy J. Peter of Faruqi & Faruqi LLP and Bonner C. Walsh of Walsh PLLC.
The Lowe’s extended warranty class action lawsuit is Andrew Fritz v. Federal Warranty Service Corp., et al., Case No. 1:20-cv-02210, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Atlanta.
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76 thoughts onLowe’s protection plan class action lawsuit sent to arbitration
I used to work for Lowe’s and we were told that the extended warranty did not take effect until the manufacturer’s warranty had expired. we were also given an incentive for selling the extended warranties with a gift card for whoever sold the most for the week or month. It was also part of your review, they would bring up how many warranties you have sold.
Lowe’s Protect is a SCAM! We had a 5 year service contract on an upright freezer. It quit working after just 3 years! The “techs” they sent out from US Appliance Repair are a joke! Unprofessional clowns who show up in their own personal vehicles with no tools or experience on how to fix anything! After we had a claim approved, they subsequently denied the claim after the second technician came out and reported that it was environmental conditions that caused it to fail! How do I get in on this class action?!?!
Amy Heber if you see this file a complaint with the states stationery office. They should be able to help you out. Lowes and Assurant are nothing
but scammers. Taking your money. Do that please file a complaint. I also had one on my appliance and when service was needed they told me
that was not covered. There total scammers. I cancelled the plan and got some refund. I will never buy a appliance from Lowes again.
I bought a warranty extension on a Whirlpool washing machine via Assurant through Lowes. I am trying to make a claim and they say they don’t service the area. I either want my money back spent on the warranty extension or I want them to fix the washing machine. What do I do
Cannot get anyone to honor Lowes Protection Plan. Spent 12 days without a working water heater that was leaking water and natural gas. I had 6 claims and they finally approved one after 6 days. No one would honor the installation. I asked for my money back and they might pro rate it. This warranty is flawed and dishonest. I cannot speak to a human. I get only chat AI.
Yes I have been honestly trying to get intouch with someone about a 3 year extended warranty for a year now. We purchased a portable ac unit with a 2 year manufacturers warranty. So to me thats a 5 year warranty that we were assured would either fix the product or replace the product if it couldnt be fixed. This is what all lowes cashiers will tell you when you purchase the extended warranty. I started trying to contact these people last summer 2024. My warranty doesn’t show up on the claims website. so i searched for it under my email, same thing. so i then selected to register plan( even though i know it is registered), and ofcourse it says this product is already registered please return to the main page and click on your product to file a claim. Well I can’t do that if it’s not there and i can’t get anyone on the phone. my plan expires this year. The AC started filling up with water, ok i empty it, plug it back in and it is full again within the hour. We have always kept it clean and the filters are always cleaned. I have no idea what to do. It is practically impossible to get intouch with these people for any kind of service.
Purchased 5 year warranty plan on 4 appliances on 4/17/2020. In 2023, realized they left off the GE Profile Microwave and put appliance on that I had not included in the plan. Spoke to them and thought we had it straightened out. I had sent a complete list of the items to be on it. Fast forward, on 2/17/25 contacted Assurant via phone was told my plan has expired. They were confusing it with an expired plan with similar products at a home we have at a second location. All this was explained to them on multiple calls including the plan Number. I even sent the original receipt and lists of product 3 times in the last month. And many more with first contact in 2023. So… I’ve been trying to get this microwave serviced since 2/17/2025, and they are unable to do so because the microwave is not on the plan as it should be. They said it would be put back on plan in 2-3 business days. Which is what they told me every time I spoke with them starting on 2/17/25, 2/26/25, 3/4/25, 3/10/25, 3/12/25 and 3/13/25. A few of later contacts were after they again told me plan was expired, I emailed receipt showing this was not correct. They again said I’m sorry we will get it fixed in 3-5 days… I still have a broken microwave that doesn’t show on plan with promises to fix but no service. My plan expires on 4/17/2025 and I’m concerned they are dragging this out in hopes that the plan will expire. I am very frustrated and they will not allow me to speak with a supervisor or any one above them to resolve this issue. What can be done. I’m am not getting anything accomplished through them just a run around. Again on 3/14/25, was told plan didn’t match receipt request. I forwarded copies of original receipt and plan numbers highlighted on the receipt ( for the 4th time). Pleaded to speak with someone to get this resolved but they will not allow, only constant unsuccessful back and forth via email. Nothing gets accomplished but my warranty will run out. Expires 4/17/25, convinced this is the end goal.
I bought a whirlpool side by side refrigerator in 2023 n I purchase the extended warranty. My refrigerator not working feb.7 2025 I call lowes advantage on the 10th to file a claim Simpson maintenance put of alabama came to my home feb.11 to check my refrigerator only to be told he had to oder a part.So Simpson came back on feb.27 to put the part on got home refrigerator doesn’t work call Simpson back to let them know my refrigerator doesn’t work n the lady told me it couldn’t be repaired n she would send lowes advantage and email telling them it can’t be repaired. So I call lowes advantage back only to be told they couldn’t give me another refrigerator that Simpson had oders parts for my refrigerator remind u it almost was a month my refrigerator haven’t worked. So I have beg n please with them to give me another refrigerator but it didn’t haven’t. So I call Simpson yesterday to be told my parts was in and they would pick my refrigerator up Monday March 10 to take it to alabama to put the parts on.Somarch 7 make a month since I been without a refrigerator so the lady from lowes advantage tell me it a process they have to follow so the warranty is assurant they are a joke I will not purchase another warranty through assurant they don’t care about there customer so.e of them have the nasty attitude so I don’t know when I will have a refrigerator unless I go buy me another one am frustrated am mad n am really piss off they act like it so hard to give me another refrigerator a whole month and I don’t have a refrigerator this is so wrong on lowes advantage.
I feel like Lowes is scamming people on this warranty they are selling because they do not honor it. I purchased the extended three-year warranty for my washer and dryer. one year and 14 days letter the washer stops working. I call for a service using my extended warranty to only be told I do not have it. I went to Lowes and showed them the original receipt that shows it was purchased. They then direct me to a 1884456937 number to be given the run around for over three hours. They asked me to submit them a copy of the receipt which I did. days later still no answer. When I call back, I get the same run around. All the while my washer sits broken. So yes, I feel this is a way Lowes gets extra money from customers with no intentions on honoring what they sell. This will be my last major purchase from Lowes because they have demonstrated that they do not take care or care for their customers especially the items they sell.
On 6/4/2023 I purchased a Whirlpool coin operated stackable washer/dryer Model CET9100GQ from Lowes for a small condo community of 18 units. I’m the President of our HOA and we were renting an old outdated unit from Coinmach and thought it would be better to own our machine and the funds would go directly to our HOA. I made the purchase through Lowes but when the unit broke down and I tried to use my Protection Plan I discovered Lowes sent me the residential protection policy. Melissa Bradshaw store manager of Lowes in Austin at 13000 N. I35 said I would have to return the machine, inconvenience all of our condo renters/owners and wait for a new machine to arrive because the residential policy was linked to this machine. With much hesitation I returned the stacked unit on 2/12/2024 and waited about 4-6 weeks for a new machine. In January 2025 our new coin operated washer breaks down so I set up service and a residential repair person comes out and says they can’t service this coin operated machine so I go on the protection plan site, Assurant and they tell me nobody will service this coin operated machine in my service area. So I call and try to find service and nobody is accepting the Lowes Protection Plan. Assurant offers me a buyout on the machine because they aren’t able to honor the plan however, Lowes Store Manager Mark Nutting at the 13000 N I35 store in Austin has stopped taking my calls and won’t reimburse me for the protection plan. Lowes has put me in a difficult situation because I paid $599.94 dollars for a protection plan that isn’t available in my area and I want my money back. AA Appliance came out to service my machine but they don’t accept the protection plan and I paid $183.00 out of pocket for the repair. I called the Pro desk at Lowes to inquire about the coin operated washer/dryer and they still offer the protection plan and also I tried to purchase the Whirlpool coin operated washer dryer on the Lowes site and they sell it and the protection plan still even though it isn’t available in our service area so it’s clear to me Lowes doesn’t care they’re ripping off consumers. This feels like fraud to me if I buying something that isn’t available and Lowes won’t give my money back and consumers need to be protected!