Benoit Warns About Grant Deed Solicitation Letters
PALM DESERT – Supervisor John J. Benoit today is warning about a mailing received in the Coachella Valley this week from the “Title Compliance Office” informing residents that, per a recommendation of the U.S. Government Federal Citizen Information Center, they should obtain an official copy of their Grant Deed by a deadline of May 24, 2010. The recipients are directed to send $167 payable to Title Compliance Office, a P.O. Box in Riverside. The backside of the solicitation is a notice printed in Spanish.
“This solicitation is a rip-off that takes advantage of distressed homeowners worrying and working to save their homes from foreclosure,” said Supervisor John J. Benoit. “At a fraction of the cost, the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder’s office can provide these official documents so residents would be wise to avoid this entity.”
“We urge residents not to be deceived into paying $167 for a copy of their grant deed when it can be acquired from our office for about $10,” stated Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder Larry Ward.
Any homeowner may request copies of their grant deed and other officially-recorded documents from the Riverside County Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder’s office. An official document costs $7 for the first page and $1 for every subsequent page. Property-owners can request this information at the Assessor’s website or by visiting one of the offices: www.riversideacr.com.
The notice includes a disclaimer that “Title Compliance Office is a private non-governmental company, nor government endorsed.” While it does not yet appear to be a crime, Benoit’s office will forward any background information discovered about Title Compliance Office to the Riverside County District Attorney for review.