Northeast Ohio homeowners complain about mail offer to produce copy of deed

CLEVELAND - It's an offer that is making its way to northeast Ohio mail boxes, asking homeowners if they would like a copy of the deed to their home for $59.50. The offer has generated calls to the Better Business Bureau, along with concern from consumers, with people claiming the offer left them worried they didn't have the needed paperwork to protect their homes.

The offer is being sent by National Record Service Inc. in an official looking document that includes a record number from the homeowner's recorder's office. It states, "the U.S. Government Federal Citizen Information Center website recommends that property owners have a certified copy of their deed."

Douglas Blackburn told NewsChannel5 his mother received the offer in the mail last week and it left her concerned and confused about the status of her home ownership.

"They're not being straight forward with people, they're trying to create a panic," said Blackburn. "You don't need to have a certified copy of your deed at home. It's not like the title to your car."

Blackburn contacted NewsChannel5 about the offer, which has earned National Record Service Inc. 100 consumer complaints, and an unsatisfactory with the Better Business Bureau.

The BBB report states:

This company has an unsatisfactory record at the BBB due to a pattern of consumer allegations. According to the information provided to the Bureau, consumers allege they were misled by the company's solicitations into thinking that Illinois Deed Provider was a governmental agency, and/or that the service provided was either necessary and/or official. As a result of consumers' requests, the complaints submitted to the Bureau were used for information purposes only.

5 On Your Side contacted National Record Service Inc., which is now running a voicemail message, telling consumers it is not affiliated with a government agency.

"We are simply providing a service," said National Record Service Inc. owner Barry Isaacson. "We've made it clear to consumers that they can get their deeds on their own." 

NewsChannel5 contacted the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer and learned homeowners can obtain a free non-certified copy of the deed to their homes using the Fiscal Officer website. Consumers can also get a certified copy of their deed by visiting their county fiscal or recorder's office. In many cases, it will cost less than $6.

"if you see one of our staff people, they'll charge you $2 a page, another dollar for certification," said Cuyahoga County Chief of Staff Matt Carroll. "Here at our computer terminals, you can do the same thing, but the price per page is 25 cents."

Meanwhile, Blackburn admits National Record Service Inc. isn't doing anything illegal, but believes the company shouldn't use scare tactics to sell a service.

"They should be helping people, not making money off of them, just to make money."