Before you weigh two offers against each other, check whether each seller appears in the state's own roster, and what that listing does and does not tell you. A state roster is a list kept by a government office. Being on it means the seller is recorded there. It is not a grade, and a roster does not measure service quality, claim speed, or price.
Where a roster exists
Not every state publishes a roster for service contracts. Where one exists, the state may print it in full on a stated as-of date. Each state page on this site says whether the state publishes a roster, cites the statute or program that governs it, and gives the as-of date of the list printed there. If a state does not publish a roster, note that in your records and do not treat the absence as either good or bad. If a state page on this site says this edition has not read that state, the roster check falls to you.
Match the names
Take the seller name and the contract name from the offer, then find the same names on the roster. Sellers may use a trade name, the company that issues the contract may be a different legal entity, and the administrator who runs claims may be a third party. Check each name. A name that matches on the sales sheet but not on the contract is a question for the seller, not a reason to assume the offer is sound.
What to check on the list
- The as-of date printed with the roster, and whether the entry you found appears on a list that date covers.
- The statute or program the list is kept under, and whether the offer is the kind that statute covers.
- Whether the entry names the obligor, the company that promises to pay under the contract.
- Whether the entry says anything you would have to interpret as a quality judgment. If it does, ask the state office what the entry means.
What to ask the seller
Ask which entity issues the contract, which entity administers claims, and where each is listed. Ask for the name of the state office that keeps any roster covering the offer, and for any license or registration number the state issues. A seller who answers plainly has given you something to check. A seller who cannot say which entity stands behind the paper has given you a reason to stop before you compare any totals.
What a listing does not settle
A listing does not show whether a claim will be paid, how quickly a shop will respond, or whether the price is competitive. Those questions depend on the contract text and the claim process, which you read separately. Use the roster to confirm who is on the paper, then compare the paper itself.