KNOXVILLE, TN ( Story courtesy of WVLT) – The Blount County Register of Deeds Office is getting a lot of calls and people walking in to talk about letters homeowners are receiving in the mail.
A group has asked people to send them money so they’re able to get their property deed. The group is charging people $89, which is causing some concern for the register of deeds.
“It’s heart wrenching. It really is,” Phyllis Crisp said.
Crisp is the register of deeds and said people would be able to do it for a lot cheaper if they go through her office.
“It’s a dollar a page, so one to two dollars and you have an original,” Crisp said.
The letters also have Nashville and St. Petersburg, Florida addresses along with the wrong county seal on them.
Crisp said several people are impacted by this but feels they’re targeting the older generation most.
“Senior citizens, they think it’s someone trying to take their property. So we’ve had several of them come in and had several phone calls from them,” Crisp said.
The Blount County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to WVLT News it is technically not illegal since the group eventually sends homeowners the deeds.
Crisp is asking homeowners in the county to reach out to them directly if they need their property deed.
“I don’t want them relating that to my office and them think that I’m ripping them off,” Crisp said.
WVLT News reached out to the group sending the letters, Clerk’s Property Office. They told us they only deal with home warranties even though the letters clearly indicate them asking about property deeds and property deed transfers.
