Norfolk County residents are being reminded that non-certified copies of their property deeds are available online, free of charge, and that they should disregard a direct mail solicitation from a California company that offers a certified copy of a property deed for a price ranging from $60 to $128, a price Norfolk County Register of Deeds William O'Donnell calls an "outrageous fee."
In a September 17 press release, fRegister O'Donnell said, “For a number of years, a California company which has recently moved operations to Nevada has been preying on unsuspecting homeowners by sending a direct mail solicitation asking them to send a check for $128 in order to receive a copy of their deed. If a consumer knew that they could print a non-certified copy of their deed for free from our website www.norfolkdeeds.org or obtain a certified copy of their deed for a charge of only $1.00 per page plus an additional $1.00 for postage, they would never agree to pay such an outrageous fee for service. The average price for a mailed homeowner’s certified deed copy by the Registry (usually two pages) is $3.00.”
Register O'Donnell warns consumers to be cautious of unsolicited requests for payment, especially when it comes to official documents like property deeds. He advises residents to verify the source of any request for payment for official documents and to research and confirm its legitimacy before sending money.
“These solicitations,” noted O’Donnell, “are labeled Recorded Deed Notice and request that the homeowner forward a check in the amount of $128 for a copy of their deed. The Registry has been contacted by multiple individuals who have received this solicitation. Please do not fall for this scam.”
Register O’Donnell continued, “While the deed direct mail solicitation may be legal, it is unconscionable as it takes needless advantage of individuals. Clearly, this is a scam being perpetrated against hard working Norfolk County residents, many of whom are first-time homeowners or elderly. Consumers are interpreting these notices as a bill, since they are affixed with a due date. I once again urge in the strongest terms that Norfolk County citizens not let themselves fall victim to these types of misleading deed scam advertisements.”
Instead, certified copies of property deeds can be obtained from the Registry's Customer Service Center for a nominal fee, usually $2.00-$3.00.
Thanks to the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds for sharing this news with Westwood Minute.
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