ComplaintsforHomestead Recording Service

• Initial Complaint

  01/21/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I bought a home in June 2020 after getting orders to ***** as a ** Navy service member. Shortly after that I started receiving letters from this company claiming they would file for my Homestead exception if I filled out the paperwork and mailed a check for $49. I did all this and just now realized they never filed for any exception. Their paperwork is extremely misleading and they are trying to scam new homeowners and new ***** residents by making their paperwork look like it will take care of filing for the homestead exception. This is identical to all other other complaints on here about this company.

  Business response

  01/24/2022

  Thanks for you inquiry from ************************. If unhappy ************************ could have contacted our customer ********************** via phone or email and we would have been happy to assist him.  He states we were going to file his Homestead Exemption, but our form states several times that we do not file the Exemption for homeowner's, but help with the Designation of Homestead which we filed on **************************** behalf with Nueces county recorder's office on or about 7-24-2020.  We completed the service that we offered for him, but will go ahead and refund him the $49 to make sure he is satisfied.  He should receive this refund in 7 to 10 days.

• Initial Complaint

  01/04/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  They sent out a fake homestead form asking for $35 in which I paid in a check. Never heard back from them and once I researched the company I found out they have done this to hundreds of people.

  Business response

  01/04/2022

  Thanks for the inquiry from **************.  Our company provides a service to help homeowners file the Designation of Homestead which is offered by the ************** for residents.  This Designation protects a homestead from the forced sale, for the payment of all debts except for the purchase money, or a part of such purchase, taxes, etc.  We prepare the document homeowner's would file at their County ************** for this protection offered by the **************. This Homestead is not fake and valuable to many homeowners.  If ************** had contacted us directly we could have explained this information to her in more detail as well as sent her a refund if she was still not interested.  Her Designation of Homestead document was printed and mailed to her on 4/20/2021 along with instructions on how to complete her filing.  We are sorry ************** does not want to take advantage of this protection and a check for $35 will be mailed to ************** on 1/7/2022. 

• Initial Complaint

  12/29/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I purchased a home in October 2021 and received a Homestead recording service letter from this business, which I thought would help me claim my new home as my homestead. Then I discovered, as others who have complained about this business have, that filing is actually free through the county and I did not need to pay anyone to do this for me. Further, after I paid (on 12/7/21 with my **** card ending in *****) I received a SECOND letter form them that the service would not be completed unless I paid another $49. I tried calling them to dispute the charge *************) however, I could not reach them because the number was "outside of my calling area." I have tried to resolve this with the company directly and have been unable to do so. I would like a refund of my $35. I also think this company should cease their practices as they actually provide no beneficial services for assisting to file for a homestead exemption.

  Business response

  12/29/2021

  Thanks for the inquiry from Ms. *********** Our company provides a service to help homeowners file the Designation of Homestead which is offered by the ************** for residents.  This Designation protects a homestead from the forced sale,for the payment of all debts except for the purchase money, or a part of such purchase, taxes, etc.  We prepare the document homeowner's would file at their County ************** for this protection offered by the **************.  We provide a service therefore charge a fee for this service.  We are sorry Ms. **** had difficulty contacting us via our toll free number, but she most have an area code outside the 12 states our toll free number accepts calls from.  We have gone ahead and refunded Ms. ****'s credit card the $35.

• Initial Complaint

  11/18/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  After purchasing my home in 2019 (first time homebuyer), I started receiving letters from this company in regards to filing my homestead. Initially, I thought the letter was from the appraisal district so I filled out the paperwork and submitted a check for $49. I assumed everything was handled until I received the same letter stating that my property didn't have a homestead exemption the following year. I went ahead and filled out the paperwork again and submitted a new check for $49 thinking I forgot to send everything in the prior year. I received my tax **** for this year and I noticed that there still isn't a homestead exemption on my property. I called the appraisal district and they informed me that I have been scammed. I went back and looked at my bank account history and attached are copies of 2 checks that were cashed by this company for a service that they never provided.After doing some research on the situation, it appears that this company preys on first time homebuyers that don't know filing a homestead exemption is actually free. Their mailer looks like an official document and even references the Texas Property Tax code. I'm still not sure what service they provide since they don't actually file your homestead exemption

  Business response

  11/18/2021

  Thanks for the inquiry from ******************. Our company provides a service to help homeowners file the Designation of Homestead which is offered by the ************** for residents.  This Designation protects a homestead from the forced sale, for the payment of all debts except for the purchase money, or a part of such purchase, taxes,etc.  We prepare the document homeowner's would file at their County ************** for this protection offered by the **************.  This protection is very different from the Homestead Tax Exemption and filed at the ******************** not the County Tax Assessors.  When ****************** contacted the tax office and they said he had been scammed that is because they are confusing our company with several that help homeowners file for their Tax Exemption.   Again we do not help homeowners file the Tax Exemption. 
  We also noticed that the 2nd check ****************** included with his inquiry is made out to Homestead Designation Services.  This is a competitor of ours so ****************** must have also signed up with their service.  We will go ahead and refund ****************** the $49 he paid to us via a check.  This check will be sent out on or about 11/25/2021.  We have completed the Designation of Homestead for ****************** as requested (filed at Fort Bend ********************) and this original was mailed to him on 07-02-2020.  Thanks

  Customer response

  11/18/2021

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Regards,
  
  *******************************

• Initial Complaint

  11/16/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  As a new homeowner I was under the impression that I was filling for Homestead tax exemption. I paid the $35 fee for a form that I need to have notarized which I did. then I received a letter stating that i would need to send an additional check of $49. This is when I realized something was wrong. I investigated further and realized that filing for Homestead tax exemption was free and did not require any business with Homestead Recording Services. I am asking for a complete refund of my $35 back to my account that I paid online.

  Business response

  11/16/2021

  We will be more than happy to send *************** a refund.  She will be receiving a check via ***************** Postal Service which will be mailed on 11-18-2021. Thanks

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩