Idaho residents are receiving misleading mailings from a company by the name of State Record Retrieval Board or Local Records Office. The solicitation targets homeowners telling them they need a copy of the property deed for a cost of $87.
A copy of the solicitation can be seen by clicking here.
The return address for the company is not a physical site but a drop box at a UPS store in Boise, Idaho. According to the Better Business Bureau, a similar mailing is being sent to people throughout the United States. The telephone numbers are the same but the mailing addresses vary from place to place.
This company's headquarters are in California and has an "F" rating with the BBB for two unanswered complaints. Customers report having received a letter from the company that lists their deed number recommending that landowners keep a certified copy of their deed on hand as evidence that the property was transferred properly. The letter conveys a sense of urgency, urging homeowners to get a deed directly from State Record Retrieval Board.
Homebuyers should know their county recorder’s office keeps property deeds on file, and they can ask for a certified copy of their deed from their own county auditor/recorder’s office. The cost varies depending upon the number of pages to be printed.
If you already have an original deed, then no, you do not need a copy. And if you sell the property, you won’t need the deed to sign it over to the buyer; you’ll have a new deed ready for that purpose.
You may need an old deed to get the property description from the county clerk.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Canyon County Treasurer's Office at 454-7354.