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County Clerk asks AG to Investigate Records Retrieval Company
March-23-07
Ocean County Clerk Carl W. Block (NJ) wants the state Attorney General to investigate a records retrieval company that has solicited home owners nationwide. The company, National Deed Service Inc, sends direct-mail solicitation letters to home owners, offering to provide a certified copy of their deed for $79.50.
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Recently Block wrote a letter to New Jersey Attorney General Stuart Rabner asking his office to investigate the pricing practices of the Washington, D.C. based company. County clerks throughout New Jersey met a few weeks ago and decided to take some action, Block said Monday.
"Even though it appears to be legal on the surface, it sure does seem to be taking advantage of people," he said. "There's no reason we shouldn't bring it to the attention of law enforcement."
The fees National Deed Service charges to provide a certified copy are roughly 550 percent over what the county charges, Block said in his letter to Rabner.
"It is my understanding that the Consumer Fraud Act prohibits unconscionable commercial practices, which would appear to include the inflated pricing of items for sale," Block said in his March 13 letter.
The company's letters have surfaced across the nation in recent years. Public Records researchers discussed the company’s marketing scheme in late 2005 on SourceofTitle.com, SOT provides discussion forums and articles for public record professionals and government agencies across the country.
Title abstractor Daniel Nelson questioned the ethics and pricing of National Deed Service on the Source of Title forum in November 2005. She wrote that the company was charging $59.50 to homeowners for a service county agencies charged $3.00.
“The Milwaukee County Register of Deeds had an order come in from a company they assume is this one for 89 deeds. The actual cost (from the county) was approximately $267.00. This company took in over $5,000…” Nelson wrote.
The company's letter - which lists its address as 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 300 in Washington, D.C. - advises homeowners that the federal government recommends property owners have a certified copy of their deed.
Source of Title owner Robert Franco thought National Deed Service’s marketing might be misleading. He wrote, “There is nothing wrong with making money and whatever the consumer is willing to pay seems to be a fair price. However, this sales pitch seems a little dishonest to me. It seems like the salesman is trying to create a sense of urgency for something that isn't quite that important.”
“I agree that it is a good idea to have a copy of your deed, and I wouldn't argue with anyone who recommended that to people. But, when you make it seem like "you could lose your property if you don't get one of these," it fails my ‘sniff-test’; it smells wrong to me” Franco said.
Block said he received several letters of thanks from residents who almost paid the company.
"They were contemplating doing it," he said. "They read about it in the papers."
