Title Agent
Empire Title Services, IncInformation and Alerts
Alert Details
This business has 1 alert.
Alert
We have determined the address claimed by Empire Title Services Inc. is a
virtual office. Based on two complaints we've received, BBB believes
Empire Title Services Inc. is not a legitimate entity.
The
consumer contacted BBB in February (2015), to say this company was
supposed to be the title company in a timeshare resale transaction.
Over
the last two years, many companies claiming to be located in the
Midwest and purporting to offer timeshare reselling or title services
have proved to be fraudulent foreign entities with no local presence.
Fraudulent
timeshare reselling entities often associate with alleged third-party
title or escrow services. Be sure to research these companies as well by
visiting www.bbb.org and other online resources. If you can't find any
information on them or if the company just 'popped up on radar,' that
may be a sign there's a problem.
People who are hoping to sell
timeshare properties should be aware that requests to pay money upfront
are usually the sign of a fraudulent operation. BBB offers these tips to
those seeking to sell their timeshares:
* Be realistic. In
regard to timeshares, it's generally a buyer's - not a seller's -
market. Unscrupulous timeshare resellers may contact you claiming that
your property is in demand and they can sell it immediately;
unfortunately, these promises often prove to be false.
* Be Wary
of Upfront Fees - Consider opting for a company
that offers to sell for a fee only after the timeshare is sold. Many
complaints to BBB regarding timeshare resellers involve situations where
people were told they needed to wire "advance appraisal fees," escrow
funds or that they just had to pay closing costs and their timeshare
would be sold. Never wire money to people you don't know.
* Use a
Business You can Trust - Make sure the timeshare reseller you use is a
BBB Accredited Business or at the very least has a good rating with BBB.
You can research businesses for free at bbb.org.
* Confirm
Licensing Requirements - Some timeshare resellers will use fake
addresses or PO boxes in order to mislead timeshare owners. Confirm
where the company is located and in what states it does business. Ask if
the company's salespeople are licensed to sell real estate where your
timeshare is located. If so, verify this with the state licensing board.
*
Get the Facts on the Figures - Find out if the business charges a
commission. Do they handle the entire closing and provide escrow
services? Do they charge an up-front listing or advertising fee? What
does it cover and is it refundable?
* Don't Fall for the Hard
Sell or an Offer that Sounds Too Good to Be True - Don't agree to
anything over the phone but instead ask the salesperson to send you
written materials; take the time to think it over and don't be
pressured. You may want to have an attorney review any purchase
agreement. Though Empire Title Services Inc's filing with the Minnesota
Secretary of State's (SOS) Office is current, BBB has concerns this is a
situation where an unknown entity has assumed the name of a previously
operating but now defunct Minnesota business.
Empire Title
Services Inc. was originally registered with the MN Secretary of State's
Office in 1993. In 2012, according to the MN SOS website, the company
was dissolved. Then in September of 2014, the MN SOS filing for Empire
Title Services Inc. was reinstated.
BBB has noted other
situations involving alleged timeshare resale and escrow firms, where
expired MN SOS registrations have been assumed, giving consumers the
impression these companies have established track records, when in fact
the timeshare operations in question have no relationship with the
original - legitimate - Minnesota businesses they're purporting to be.
Important Information
Believed to be out of business
According to information in BBB files, it appears that this business is no longer in business.
Additional Info
We have determined the address claimed by Empire Title Services Inc. is a virtual office. Based on two complaints we've received, BBB believes Empire Title Services Inc. is not a legitimate entity.
The consumer contacted BBB in February (2015), to say this company was supposed to be the title company in a timeshare resale transaction.
Over the last two years, many companies claiming to be located in the Midwest and purporting to offer timeshare reselling or title services have proved to be fraudulent foreign entities with no local presence.
Fraudulent timeshare reselling entities often associate with alleged third-party title or escrow services. Be sure to research these companies as well by visiting www.bbb.org and other online resources. If you can't find any information on them or if the company just 'popped up on radar,' that may be a sign there's a problem.
People who are hoping to sell timeshare properties should be aware that requests to pay money upfront are usually the sign of a fraudulent operation. BBB offers these tips to those seeking to sell their timeshares:
* Be realistic. In regard to timeshares, it's generally a buyer's - not a seller's - market. Unscrupulous timeshare resellers may contact you claiming that your property is in demand and they can sell it immediately; unfortunately, these promises often prove to be false.
* Be Wary of Upfront Fees - Consider opting for a company that offers to sell for a fee only after the timeshare is sold. Many complaints to BBB regarding timeshare resellers involve situations where people were told they needed to wire "advance appraisal fees," escrow funds or that they just had to pay closing costs and their timeshare would be sold. Never wire money to people you don't know.
* Use a Business You can Trust - Make sure the timeshare reseller you use is a BBB Accredited Business or at the very least has a good rating with BBB. You can research businesses for free at bbb.org.
* Confirm Licensing Requirements - Some timeshare resellers will use fake addresses or PO boxes in order to mislead timeshare owners. Confirm where the company is located and in what states it does business. Ask if the company's salespeople are licensed to sell real estate where your timeshare is located. If so, verify this with the state licensing board.
* Get the Facts on the Figures - Find out if the business charges a commission. Do they handle the entire closing and provide escrow services? Do they charge an up-front listing or advertising fee? What does it cover and is it refundable?
* Don't Fall for the Hard Sell or an Offer that Sounds Too Good to Be True - Don't agree to anything over the phone but instead ask the salesperson to send you written materials; take the time to think it over and don't be pressured. You may want to have an attorney review any purchase agreement. Though Empire Title Services Inc's filing with the Minnesota Secretary of State's (SOS) Office is current, BBB has concerns this is a situation where an unknown entity has assumed the name of a previously operating but now defunct Minnesota business.
Empire Title Services Inc. was originally registered with the MN Secretary of State's Office in 1993. In 2012, according to the MN SOS website, the company was dissolved. Then in September of 2014, the MN SOS filing for Empire Title Services Inc. was reinstated.
BBB has noted other situations involving alleged timeshare resale and escrow firms, where expired MN SOS registrations have been assumed, giving consumers the impression these companies have established track records, when in fact the timeshare operations in question have no relationship with the original - legitimate - Minnesota businesses they're purporting to be.
Service Area
- Afton, MN
- Albertville, MN
- Almelund, MN
- Andover, MN
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- Young America, MN
- Zimmerman, MN
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