Jason Futch
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
The Hamilton County Property Appraiser’s Office is warning of a scheme that an organization from California has been sending out to residents in an attempt to overcharge for property reports.
According to Property Appraiser Clay Goolsby, the company, identified as Property Sites out of Concord, Calif., has been obtaining public information on Hamilton County residents and, in turn, has been sending letters attempting to sell them a copy of their property profile. According to the information provided by Goolsby, the firm is offering to sell residents a copy of their “Property Assessment Profile” for $123.
Goolsby said that the Property Appraiser’s Office can provide most of the information in the profile at no charge. “In fact, your Property Record Card provides majority of the information they list and takes us about two minutes to print for you, again, at no charge,” Goolsby said on social media. He further mentioned that residents with access to the internet can also access their property information by visiting the Property Appraiser’s website at www.hamiltonpa.com.
He also said that the firm tries to make the offer more appealing by offering a “complimentary” copy of the property owner’s deed. “Good people of Hamilton County, there is nothing complimentary in this arrangement,” Goolsby said. “And the only ones who will benefit from this is the company out of California who are trying to take your hard-earned money.”
Goolsby said that there are other ways for residents to obtain this information without having to pay an astronomical fee. “Should you need a copy of your deed, it can be attained anytime at the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts office for $1 per page, and if you need it to be certified, the cost is $2,” he said.
Property Sites is listed on the Better Business Bureau's website and has a poor rating. According to several reviews, residents from different parts of the country have been misled by the official-looking letters sent by the company. Many ended up paying for the service only to realize they could have saved money. In some cases, the complainants never received the documents they requested.
For more information about how to obtain property records at little to no cost, contact the Hamilton County Property Appraiser’s Office at (386) 792-2791.Hamilton County Property Appraiser warns of property report scheme