First American Title Insurance Company

Worst Title Insurance Company ever! They won't pay for anything you will just resubmit your claims numerous times and they will keep denying it. I am out 6500$ that I didn't know about before my closing because of them. Beware of this company.

Review: I have now received two letters in the mail with an invoice for insurance on a property I did not purchase. The letters almost look official but it seems like a scam. I don't like that they are sending us letters when we don't have this stuff. I also believe that they are sending these letters to other older people and they might send money to these people because they are afraid.Desired Settlement: I would like for this company to stop mailing my husband and I these false invoice letters to my house. And I'd also like you to contact me when you guys have resolved this problem in stopping this company from scamming other people. Thank you for your time.

Business

Response:

Good Afternoon:

I did research the invoice that was sent to Mrs. [redacted] and determined that this invoice was sent to her in error. We have corrected our records. I have also contacted Mrs. [redacted] by phone and apologized to her for our error and assured her that she will not receive any future billings.

Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention so that we could correct our records and the situation. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you.

Review: In 2002 a Judgment was given in my favor against [redacted]. A Lien was placed on her, updated, renewed and recorded every 5 years. [redacted] recorded in May of 2013 for over 125,000.00 property loan for Ms. [redacted]. I contacted corporate [redacted] and they advised me to take all the paperwork of documents into the nearest branch. I did that and was told the matter will be taken care of. I have made numerous phone calls and have been trying to work and communicate with [redacted]. I did finally speak with a manager, [redacted] of the department and was also told by [redacted] that they did receive my paperwork at the Branch that she called to verify, but the department who received the fax have misplaced the paperwork. I spoke with 1st American Title [redacted] the Supervisor located at [redacted] ###-###-#### and informed her all about Ms. [redacted]. And said they are not going to do anything, the records did not get checked properly and they hear from the Revdex.com on a constant basis. [redacted] and 1st American title have both been advised from me that I am asking to be paid now and that it will go to the Revdex.com and the Attorney Generals office if needed. I also informed them both that I have been in contact with Channel 3 News and was told by [redacted] of Channel 3 News that I was to let them know he advised me on the steps that Im taking now to get this resolved and paid NOW. I need your help so this matter can be taken care of and resolved. The amount owed is $4,000.00. You can call me anytime and I'll be happy to give you anything you need. Thank you, [redacted].net###-###-####Desired Settlement: To be paid in full now for the amount of $4,000.00

Business

Response:

First American Title Insurance Company is pleased to respond to complaint ID#: [redacted], and to have the opportunity to explain its position. As the Revdex.com may be aware, First American is a land title insurance company that issues title insurance on real property sales and loans.

The person who filed the complaint is not a customer or an insured of First American. She claims that she recovered a judgment against another person, and that First American later issued title insurance on a home refinance loan that was made to the judgment debtor by a financial institution that is a customer of First American.

The complainant and I had a pleasant and extended telephone conversation August 16, 2013. In that conversation, I explained that I was First American’s lawyer, not her lawyer. I also explained that First American has no obligation to pay any judgment that another person owes to her. I said that if she believes that she has a judgment lien against the property belonging to the judgment debtor, she had two options.

First, she could seek to have the sheriff sell the property in question to satisfy the judgment. However, the property in question appears to be the judgment debtor’s personal residence and thus is protected by the homestead exemption. Therefore, the sheriff cannot sell the property.

Second, I invited her to file a claim with First American, although I told her that I doubted that the claim would be honored, because she was not First American’s insured or customer.

The complainant evidently declined to take either action, but rather repeatedly called one of First American’s escrow branches seeking a promise by First American to pay the judgment. She then evidently has called the news media and has filed this complaint.

First American regrets that the complainant is unhappy with us. However, she is not First American’s customer or insured, and it is not First American’s role simply to pay judgments that one person has against another person. I believe that the complainant should seek independent legal advice about how to collect the debt that she says is owed to her by the judgment debtor.

Please contact me if First American can provide any other information.

[redacted] Underwriting Counsel

First American Title Insurance Company

Direct: ###-###-####

Tollfree: ###-###-####

Fax: ###-###-####

Email: [redacted]

Review: [redacted] in this Title company was rude, [redacted] was not rude, [redacted] was rude. What they all did, mainly [redacted], was provide confusing and conflicting information about closing a condo sale. First we had to provide the original lown, then we didn't, then we did again. First we had to provde a wire number, then we didn't, then we did. They refused to accept electronic transfer of funds, we requested they mail a check, they said they prefer a wire do that, but never mentioned a wire costs $15... we would have insisted on a check, not a wire if we knew there is a charge. Electronic transfer is free. THEN to top it all off, they sent us by wire two sums of money, each was a $15 charge, including we paid $15 for them to wire $26! When I called to complain that we had now paid $30 for a service ethat could have been free, they said we signed a paper saying to wire us money. I explained they did not give us full disclosure that we would be paying $15 for $ 26, etc and they refused electronic transfer.They were just as bad with the seller, [redacted]. VEry frustrating and a waste of our time.Desired Settlement: 1. They should apologize to both of us2. They should accept electronic transfer of funds in the future3. They should refund the $30

Business

Response:

First American Title Insurance Company prides itself in providing excellent customer service and appreciates the comments provided by [redacted]. Ms. [redacted]'s complaint pertains to fees that were charged in connection with wire transfer fees. In regards to this particular transaction, it is my understanding that Ms. [redacted] was associated or is the lender that was being paid off in connection with the purchase and sale of a condo unit. It is also important to note that First American Title Insurance Company did not charge the wire transfer fees of which Ms. [redacted] complains. It is my understanding that these fees were charged by Ms. [redacted]'s bank that received the wire transfer. A wire transfer is the preferred method of making a payoff for a secured loan. First American regrets that Ms. [redacted] was not satisfied with how the transaction was handled. Although Ms. [redacted] was not the buyer or seller in the transaction and even thought First American did not charge the wire transfer fee, in order to resolve the issue, First American is refunding Ms. [redacted] the $30 she was charged by her bank.

Review: This company advertises falsely that they write litigation guarantees for the purposes of foreclosures. In fact their guarantees are pointless. They do not guarantee their work. The information they provide is incorrect. They take money and provide no competent services.Desired Settlement: A settlement offer for they employees who failed to answer a subpoena, and for their furnishing me with a useless piece of paper/guarantee.

Business

Response:

Dear Sirs:First American Title Insurance Company ("Company") has just received a copy of theComplaint filed on or about November 2, 2014 by Ms. [redacted] with the Revdex.com("Revdex.com"). The Company has no record of previously receiving this complaint form. Having justreceived the form, this letter shall serve as the Company's written response to the complaint.The Company has previously responded to each of the items described in the Complaintby prior correspondence, including a response generated as a result of a complaint filed by Ms.[redacted] with the Department of Insurance. For your ease of reference, I attach copies of theprior correspondence for your review.Ms. [redacted]'s complaint arises from her receipt of a Litigation Guarantee issued by theCompany. Ms. [redacted]'s position and her complaint are based in part on a complete andfundamental misunderstanding of the purposes of a Litigation Guarantee ("Guarantee"). As Ms.[redacted] has been repeatedly advised, the purpose of a litigation guarantee is clearly expressedon the face of the document. The Guarantee provides: "This Litigation Guarantee is furnishedsolely for the purpose of facilitating the filing of the action referred to in Scheduled A. It shallnot be used or relied upon for any other purpose." (Emphasis added.) The action described inthis Guarantee was for Enforcement of Judgments/Judicial Foreclosure.This product does not guarantee that her judgment is a valid lien on the property nor doesit guarantee her ability to collect the judgment by foreclosing on the property. The information inthe Guarantee is entirely accurate for the express purpose of the Guarantee, which was only todescribe those parties who must be sued in the type of lawsuit described in the Guarantee.As Ms. [redacted] has been advised, a Guarantee is a title policy and is covered by theprovisions ofthe Insurance Code sections 12340.10 and 12340.11. These products are notrepresentations of title but are contracts of indemnity defined by their terms and provisionsThere is no policy liability for alleged incorrect information because the product is not arepresentation as to title. This Guarantee fulfills its intended purpose by accurately describing theparties needed for the suit in order for the enforcement of her judgment to be effective.As to Ms. [redacted]'s complaint about her attempt to subpoena Company employees totestify at trial, I have advised her on several occasions that the Company has no evidence ofreceiving service of a proper trial subpoena and the appropriate tender of witness fees. TheCompany understands that Ms. [redacted] was intending to use the testimony of the companyemployees to establish her case as to title to the property being held by the judgment debtor.Company employees are not qualified to provide such testimony nor is such testimonyappropriate for determining title to real property in a judicial proceeding.Included with my letter of October 8, 2014 to Ms. [redacted] was a full refund of thepremium she paid for the Guarantee. The Company believes that Ms. [redacted]'s litigation toenforce a judgment against property not owned by the judgment debtor is not an actionbenefitted by the coverage of a Guarantee. No legitimate foreclosure action could have beencommenced under the then existing circumstances, so no Guarantee should have been issued inthose circumstances. However, because the Guarantee was effective as to the action actuallybrought by Ms. [redacted] there is no covered loss as a result of the coverages provided.The Company made no guarantees or warranties to Ms. [redacted] regarding her ability tocollect her judgment nor did the Company provide information upon which she was entitled torely. The Company did not guarantee or warrant the success of her efforts to collect a civiljudgment.If any further information or materials are required, please advise. I can be reacheddirectly at: [redacted]Thank you for your consideration in this matter.Very truly yours,[redacted]

Review: This claim was apart of a land sale in McClellanville South Carolina. My claim file number from First American Title can be given upon request. I submitted my claim on July 22nd, 2015. I received a response from First American Title stating that my case was issued to [redacted] and that I should get a resolution within 30 days. J [redacted] responded to my email on July 29, 2015. She would be reviewing and responding back. I did not hear a response back after 30 days, so I called her on Sept. 1st. She said she had to further research the issue. In my opinion, she forgot about me.She responded back the same day with a letter stating that my claim was denied due to improper filing of the claim. I was informed by my real estate agent that there was an issue with my land title holding up the sale of the property. on May 7th,2015 I contacted the Columbia SC First American Title office in Columbia SC and spoke to Donnell [redacted]. I let her know that I needed to file a claim with First American Title due to my attorney not filing my tile correctly. I stated that my attorney was now deceased and that my new closing attorney stated that my title was not recorded properly. [redacted] told me that once I get my bill from my closing attorney for his work on this matter, I should then file a claim with First American Title and enclose the attorney billing. She sent me an email on May 7th with the link on how to file the claim. On July 22nd I then submitted my claim for reimbursement of $6,000 in attorney fees to correct this title error. [redacted] now states she doesn't recall telling me to wait to file until I receive my attorney's bill.Desired Settlement: I am asking for the reimbursement of $6,000.After being denied by FATC representative [redacted],in lieu of going to court by email, I offered to settle this matter for $3000. To date I have received no response to that offer.

Consumer

Response:

Here's the string of emails that show our agreement to settle this dispute for $1500 from FATC. Thanks [redacted]Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE Smartphone From: [redacted] Sent: Friday, September 04, 2015 2:41 PMTo[redacted]Subject: RE: FATIC [redacted] I will accept the offer of $1500.You can mail it to [redacted]

Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE Smartphone---- [redacted] ----As stated below, First American is willing to settle this matter for no more than $1,500.00.

Consumer

Response:

My issue with First American Title Company has been resolved by way of a monetary agreement via email. Thanks [redacted]Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE Smartphone