stupid vulturistic company

[swamp]

Warning, real estate practice rant.

There is a company based out of California trying to bilk people out of money to get copies of their deeds.

For any real estate transfer that's been done recently, this company sends the new owners a scary letter telling them they need a certified copy of their deed and for the low price of $85, they will get one for them.  They don't mention that you can get your own copy at the clerk's office for 65 cents a page.

I send the people the recorded deed after I get the recorded copy back from the Clerk's office, but it's usually about a week after this letter has gone out.    I will also print out a copy for free if you meet with me as I have access to the deed records via internet.

 

So I spend my day answering phone calls about no how the company is just trying to scam them and that their deed is on its way.  And if I didn't have to take the time to answer these calls, I could get the deeds out faster.  

[The Captain]

Can you contact your Secretary of State and:

1.  Confirm the scam company is registered to do business in your state, and
2.  Either way get them to send some sort of cease and desist letter?

I have little love for our government (IL) but the SOS does a decent job of nipping this kind of stuff in the bud once notified.

[msventoux]

There's a similar scam here involving certificates of organization.  The scammers have reviewed the online records for LLC's and corporations and are sending a letter saying the entities need to pay a fee for a special certificate of organization or have their organization dissolved.  In very tiny letters at the bottom of the letterhead it says they're not a state agency and the certificate is not required by state law. 

I keep having to explain it's a scam.  One woman fell for it two years in a row; fortunately we have custody of her business checks and our staff person caught it when she was preparing the check request. 

[swamp]

wrong place.

Mods, please move to YM or YMOT

[The Captain]

Thread moved to YM at request of OP.

[CCL]

I got one yesterday lol. Shredded it and tossed it. Interestingly, the info appeared to be the same as everything I can easily get from the county website.

[Tiny]

Arrrgh! I've gotten that kind of a letter as well for my instate and out of state properties. I laughed and tossed the letter in the recycle bin.

I imagine they get a lot of business.

The amount of 'mystery' around buying and closing on a house astounds me. It's almost as bad as the lack of knowledge people have about how to do their income taxes (or even what all those lines on their pay stub are...)

Too bad that at the closing - there's not an additional checklist/page listing some of the after purchase Vultures who will swoop down on the new home owner and how they can be ignored.

[NancysSummerSip]

I've seen something similar for companies who charge people to do an unclaimed state property search and get their money, stock certificates, etc. Every state offers this search for free, and you can fill out the claim online and get your property at no charge. I had a company pull this on me, except that I had already filed my claim and received my funds three months before they sent their letter to me.

[justme]

So slightly off topic, when do you get the deed? I bought a place beginning of August and haven't seen anything that looks like a deed in the mail. Have gotten tax info from the county and my name is on the county property website as owner.

[swamp]

Oct 27, 2015 15:36:09 GMT -5 justme said:

So slightly off topic, when do you get the deed? I bought a place beginning of August and haven't seen anything that looks like a deed in the mail. Have gotten tax info from the county and my name is on the county property website as owner.

I dunno.

I mail mine back to my clients. Our clerks office returns them to the attorney (or the party who recorded the deed) about 2 weeks after they go on record.

[moneymom]

ugh... I get those all the time.  I hate it.  They make the envelope look like it's official county recorder type stuff.  You really have to look to realize what it is.  

[Miss Tequila]

I get these too. I just toss them

[8 Bit WWBG]

It's really sad.  It's easy for us to sit there and say "how can anyone be so dumb as to fall for that" but these scammers are good and some of them really manage to hit with just the right angle at just the right time.  I could imagine people who are overwhelmed with the logistics of just having set up a company or bought a house getting panicked and choosing to pay rather than have to devote time and energy.

[tskeeter]

Oct 27, 2015 10:31:40 GMT -5 swamp said:

Warning, real estate practice rant.

There is a company based out of California trying to bilk people out of money to get copies of their deeds.

For any real estate transfer that's been done recently, this company sends the new owners a scary letter telling them they need a certified copy of their deed and for the low price of $85, they will get one for them.  They don't mention that you can get your own copy at the clerk's office for 65 cents a page.

I send the people the recorded deed after I get the recorded copy back from the Clerk's office, but it's usually about a week after this letter has gone out.    I will also print out a copy for free if you meet with me as I have access to the deed records via internet.

 

So I spend my day answering phone calls about no how the company is just trying to scam them and that their deed is on its way.  And if I didn't have to take the time to answer these calls, I could get the deeds out faster.  

Sounds like the actions of the deed scammers have caused you damages.  Amuse yourself and send them a bill for the time you spent reassuring your clients that they don't need to buy a copy of their deeds from the scammers.  And register a complaint with the county about their sale of real estate transaction records.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Oct 27, 2015 10:31:40 GMT -5 swamp said:

Warning, real estate practice rant.

There is a company based out of California trying to bilk people out of money to get copies of their deeds.

For any real estate transfer that's been done recently, this company sends the new owners a scary letter telling them they need a certified copy of their deed and for the low price of $85, they will get one for them.  They don't mention that you can get your own copy at the clerk's office for 65 cents a page.

I send the people the recorded deed after I get the recorded copy back from the Clerk's office, but it's usually about a week after this letter has gone out.    I will also print out a copy for free if you meet with me as I have access to the deed records via internet.

 

So I spend my day answering phone calls about no how the company is just trying to scam them and that their deed is on its way.  And if I didn't have to take the time to answer these calls, I could get the deeds out faster.  

Well, in addition to relating to the frustration of dealing with people who are basically being ripped off by a third party- like an attorney or public adjuster; I definitely share your frustration with answering phone calls vs. working on the problem. We live in an era where many people require a toddler-like level of attention, and they have the ability now to electronically tug on our shirt sleeve saying, "Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad..." and I want to tell them the same thing: well, I could turn this report around, or I can keep answering your phone calls, texts, and emails. Please let me know what you prefer. At least you can bill people (Even when I am T&E, I can't always bill as much time-- and I can never bill as much per hour as you. That's why I'm thinking about going to law school- no kidding. Not to start a new career-- I'll still be an adjuster, just an adjuster with a JD-- fewer, but higher dollar, assignments.