Published: May 09, 2008 11:23 am         

Recorder warns homeowners of company’s offer

DANVILLE — The Vermilion County Recorder’s Office is warning residents about a mailing that arrived at several homes throughout the county.

Calls from local residents asking about letters from Illinois Deed Provider Inc. began to trickle into recorder Barb Young’s office earlier this week.

Young said complaints about the letters have already been voiced by officials from Lake and McLean counties last year and McHenry County just more than a week ago.

“So we figured it was coming this direction,” she said.

The letter offers recipients a deal of $69.50 to obtain a copy of their deed from the county.

While it notes some government documents are free or available for a nominal fee, it doesn’t indicate property deeds are one of those documents. The price, through the recorder’s office for a copy of a deed, is $1 per page. Most deeds are four pages long or less.

Young said all requests for deed copies should be handled through the recorder’s office, noting she would not rely on anyone else for the information.

She said people could fall victim to the offer as they try to apply for government assistance in some form. Those applications require a deed to prove ownership.

Anyone with questions should call the recorder’s office at 554-6044.