Title Compliance Office

This company is sending out misleading solicitations guised as a governmental agency to collect fees in advance. The company mails "Urgent" letters and response forms to consumers, telling them that the U.S. Government Federal Citizen Information Center (sic) recommends that property owners should have a certified copy of their property deed. The solicitation is designed to entice consumers to pay $79-$167to obtain a deed.

The Federal Citizen Information Center states on their website, that consumers do not have to use a private company to obtain a certified copy of the deed to their home. These deeds are held by the County Recorder's Office and can be obtained free or at a low cost. A check of County Recorder's Offices in Central California showed that the cost of obtaining a copy of a property deed actually ranges from $1.50 to $6.00.

It is against U.S. Postal Service regulations to mail a bill or invoice that is actually a solicitation, unless it bears a clear disclaimer that such unsolicited invoice is for information only and not a request to pay. The best protection against phony invoices is knowledge and vigilance. Businesses should alert their bill-payers to be on the lookout for disguised solicitations; carefully review invoices from companies with which they do not normally do business; establish effective internal controls for the payment of invoices, and verify all invoices with the person who gave authorization. Some solicitations could violate the law if they misrepresent information. The U.S. Postal Service requires solicitations that look like invoices, bills, or account statements to carry one of the following notices:

THIS IS NOT A BILL. THIS IS A SOLICITATION. YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO PAY THE AMOUNT STATED ABOVE UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER, or

THIS IS A SOLICITATION FOR AN ORDER OF GOODS OR SERVICES, OR BOTH, AND NOT A BILL, INVOICE OR STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT DUE. YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO MAKE ANY PAYMENTS ON ACCOUNT OF THIS OFFER UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER.

This disclaimer must be in very large (at least 30-point) type and must be in boldface capital letters in a color that contrasts prominently with the background against which it appears. The disclaimer must not be modified, qualified, or explained, such as with the phrase "Legal notice required by law." It must be the one prescribed in the statute, or alternatively, the following notice prescribed by the U.S. Postal Service: THIS IS NOT A BILL. THIS IS A SOLICITATION. YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO PAY THE AMOUNT STATED ABOVE UNLESS YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER.