Beware in 2012: Angie's List takes a look back at 2011's most complained-about services.

TAMPA - Home warranty companies topped the Angie’s List worst-graded categories list in 2011 for the seventh-consecutive year. Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List , said almost half of the reviews from members were poor.

“Home warranty companies have topped the list again for our most complained about category with 46 percent of the reviews being either D’s or F’s. What we found in this process is that consumers are not clear about what a home warranty covers. We're also seeing complaints about the quality of contractors the home warranty company sends out to do the repairs,” she said.
 
Grades on Angie’s List, the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews, are based on overall experience, price, quality, responsiveness, punctuality and professionalism.

Home Warranties, also known as a home services contract – are often included in the purchase of a new home and typically cover plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling, and appliances. But Hicks said, all too often, consumers don’t clearly understand the details of the warranty. Most complaints in 2011 stemmed from perceived poor communication by the warranty companies on what exactly the warranties cover, and unsatisfactory work by the contractors the warranty companies provide.

“The key from the consumer’s perspective is to understand the home warranty," Hicks said. "Many times people get them as a gift. So be sure to invest the time and understand the contract before the need develops. When you do have a need and you call the warranty company for repair ask for two or three names of companies that they would use for the repair and do the research yourself for those companies,” she said.

Warranty companies weren’t the only repeat offenders in 2011. Also back on the "naughty" list:
 

• Internet service providers
• Property management companies
• Mobile and landline phone service providers
• Wedding service categories, such as bridal shops and wedding planners.

Banks and credit unions are new to the most complained-about list. Complaints of unauthorized fees, unsatisfactory communication from banks on their policies, and poor customer service were the prevailing theme in the poorly graded reports.
 
Angie’s List 2011 Most Complained-About Companies:

1. Home warranty companies*
2. Internet service providers*
3. Banks/Credit unions
4. Property management companies*
5. Auction services
6. Boating sales and service
7. Mattress sales
8. Mobile and landline phone providers*
9. Wedding professionals – bridal and tuxedo shops, planners*
10. Travel agencies

*Repeat appearance on this list

“We really encourage companies in this category to think about and work on fixing these problems. The great thing is they have this feedback and it’s something they can do something about,” Hicks said.

Hauling companies, dryer vent cleaners, ceiling fan installers, home organizers, lighting, glass block and screen repair companies all repeated on the Least Complained-About list this year, with fewer than 3 percent of their respective reports being negative.
 
Angie’s List 2011 Least Complained-About Companies:

1. Piano tuning
2. Mailbox repair
3. Hauling services*
4. Graphic design
5. Dryer vent cleaning*
6. Ceiling fan installation*
7. Home organization services*
8. Lighting services*
9. Glass block services
10. Screen repair*

  *Repeat appearance on this list