INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller filed three more lawsuits on Tuesday against out-of-state businesses that allegedly used misleading mailers to offer copies of property deeds for as much as $89.
Zoeller filed the three lawsuits against Brian Pascal and BWPRS Inc., doing business as Record Retrieval Department and Secured Document, Neil Camenker and Transaction Data Services LLC, doing business as Record Transfer Service, Property Transfer Services, Secured Document Services, Compliance Document Services and Conveyance Transfer Services, and Juan Roberto Romero Ascenscio and LA Investors LLC, doing business as Local Records Office and Home Owner Title Offices.
The defendants allegedly sent mailers with the name, address, property deed document number and county recorder information of the property owner. Interested individuals could fill out the form and return it with a check, money order or credit card information for an $83 to $89 payment.
Property deeds are typically one or two pages and can be provided by public records and county recorders for free or at approximately $1 per page. Homeowners do not need to have copies of their property deeds, even when they attempt to sell a property.
"Many consumers believe these solicitations are notices from a governmental agency requiring them to pay fees for required documents," Zoeller said. "It is important for consumers - especially new homebuyers - to contact their local government office directly if they have any questions about copies of documents or fees related to homeownership."
Zoeller alleges the companies violated the Deceptive Commercial Solicitation Act and the Deceptive Consumer Sales Act. The lawsuit seeks consumer restitution, civil penalties, an injunction and attorney costs.
Indiana AG files suits against three allegedly misleading out-of-state businesses
