New Scam: Excessive Fees for Property Deeds

St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds Barbara J. Hall has issued a warning about a scam that offers to obtain copies of property deeds for home owners.

A company called Record Retrieval, based in Fulton, MO, has mailed an offer to residents of several Missouri counties to provide an official, certified copy of their property deed for $87 or more.

The company then obtains a certified copy from the Recorder’s Office at the usual low nominal fee and then charges the homeowner a much larger fee.

"I am concerned about companies deceitfully trying to take advantage of our citizens,” Hall said in an Aug. 26 press release. “If anyone receives one of these letters, I would urge them to ignore it and contact our office directly for this service."

Homeowners can get a certified copy of their deed directly from the St. Charles County Recorder’s Office. Fees are $2 for the first page, $1 for each additional page, plus $1 for the certification. Generally, this will  cost less than $5.

For information or to obtain a copy of your property deed, you may visit the St. Charles County Recorder’s Office in the St. Charles County Administration Building, 201 N. Second St, Suite 338, St. Charles, Mo., or call the office at (636) 949-7509.