First American Title Insurance

Several years ago we purchased a piece of unimproved property in Pa., and after about two more years of saving we began to build our retirement home I also purchased a title insurance policy from First American Title Insurance in the amount of the real estate price on the attorneys adviceWell into the construction project, I was notified that the land I was building on belonged to an adjoining property owner, despite the fact that the deed had been searched and cleared by FIRST AMERICAN TITLE INSURANCE prior to my purchase and that I held a Registered survey in the county that I was building inConstruction screeched to a halt, my contractor moved on and the long, long drawn out process of dealing with an insurance company and their attorneys began It has been almost 1/years that the attorneys have been racking up "billable hours" We, on the other hand are no further ahead than when we originally filed the claimMY OPINIONS It seems First American has done everything plausible to protect itself in the event of a claim Reading or attempting to read their policy makes this evident Their primary concern seems to be to protect their interests in every conceivable instance, and it strips away entirely any recourse or right the consumer might wish to exercise to challenge the company, how quickly the case gets settled, or what the settlement should includeI encourage anyone who feels they need title insurance to THINK AGAIN BEFORE USING FIRST AMERICAN TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY These policies are, coincidentally, sold to the consumer by the closing attorney who receives a commission based on the value of the the policy which is usually the sale price of the property You can shop for title insurance just like auto insurance, so read and understand what you are paying for

Our denial was properly explained and documented in our previous responseWe stand by our denialThank you Kristina B***, Vice President, CLTPOffice of Account ManagementCertified Land Title ProfessionalFirst American Title Insurance CompanyFreedom Business Center Drive, King of Prussia, PA Direct: ###-###-####Mobile: ###-###-####Tollfree: ###-###-####Email: [redacted] @firstam.com

I am in receipt of your letter dated 9/8/regarding [redacted] : Revdex.com Case ID [redacted] involving the refund of his Extended Service Plan purchased on his Ford Fiesta Although I have a resolution for [redacted] I have been unsuccessful reaching himTo date I have called him on his phone number provided over a dozen times along with leaving countless voicemails Again, I have resolved his issue but to date have been unsuccessful reaching him Should you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact meHopefully you will have better success reaching Mr [redacted] Regards, [redacted] General Manager AutoNation Ford Westlake

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the responseIf no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved] Complaint: [redacted] I am rejecting this response because: We feel this is a legitimate claim and was told by our realtor and our new title company that this should be refunded to us despite what is presented in writing by First American Title, because it is the RIGHT THING TO DO! Regards, [redacted]

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the responseIf no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved] Complaint: [redacted] I am rejecting this response because: We were not aware of an outstanding bill and if any other parties were aware they did not disclose it to us when we bought the condoThe buyers we sold the property to in July found it after doing a Lein search on the propertyEthically it is the RIGHT thing to do that the title company refund us this moneyWe faithfully paid for a policy with no claims in the yrs we lived thereWe are adamant in our position on this matterWe expect a refund immediately Regards, [redacted]

Our denial was properly explained and documented in our previous response. We stand by our denial. Thank you.  Kristina B[redacted], Vice President, CLTPOffice of Account ManagementCertified Land Title ProfessionalFirst American Title Insurance Company620 Freedom Business Center Drive, King of Prussia, PA 19406 Direct: ###-###-####Mobile: ###-###-####Tollfree: ###-###-####Email: ...⇄

Dear [redacted]:Thank you for forwarding the communication (ID No. [redacted]) from [redacted]. I understand [redacted] is contesting the fact that this Company denied her claim with regards to an old past due water/sewer bill for $538.26 relating to usage of a previous owner of her property.As...

[redacted] was advised, there is no Covered Risk under her title policy for these bills as they did not constitute municipal liens under Florida law at the time our policy was issued. The Manatee County Utility System had no authority to place liens for unpaid water bills until House Bill 851 was signed into law by Florida Governor Rick Scott on June 10, 2015. Therefore, at the time [redacted] purchased the property in July, 2010, these bills did not – and could not -- constitute a lien on [redacted]' property.Notwithstanding the above, also enclosed for your review is a copy of a Compliance and Tax Proration Agreement signed by [redacted] and her husband at the time of closing in 2010. By their signatures on this Agreement, **. and [redacted] specifically acknowledged the following:2. All utility bills, including but not limited to water, sewer, gas, garbage and electric are the responsibility of the undersigned parties, not the closing agents. All matters regarding utility bills will be handled outside of closing. It is hereby agreed and understood by the parties signing below that the closing agent is not responsible for any outstanding water bills, waste bills, or Homeowner's/Condominium Association fees that may be due, and that closing agent shall assume no liability regarding these matters;Therefore, **. and [redacted] understood and agreed that if there were any outstanding water bills at the time of closing, those bills were to be handled outside of closing between the parties and would not be the responsibility of the title company.Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions regarding the above.Thank you.Kristina B

Dear [redacted]:
Thank you for forwarding the communication (ID No. [redacted]) from [redacted]. I understand [redacted] is contesting the fact that this Company denied her claim with regards to an old past due water/sewer bill for $538.26 relating to usage of a previous owner of her...

property.As [redacted] was advised, there is no Covered Risk under her title policy for these bills as they did not constitute municipal liens under Florida law at the time our policy was issued. The Manatee County Utility System had no authority to place liens for unpaid water bills until House Bill 851 was signed into law by Florida Governor Rick Scott on June 10, 2015. Therefore, at the time [redacted] purchased the property in July, 2010, these bills did not – and could not -- constitute a lien on [redacted]' property.
Notwithstanding the above, also enclosed for your review is a copy of a Compliance and Tax Proration Agreement signed by [redacted] and her husband at the time of closing in 2010. By their signatures on this Agreement, **. and [redacted] specifically acknowledged the following:
2. All utility bills, including but not limited to water, sewer, gas, garbage and electric are the responsibility of the undersigned parties, not the closing agents. All matters regarding utility bills will be handled outside of closing. It is hereby agreed and understood by the parties signing below that the closing agent is not responsible for any outstanding water bills, waste bills, or Homeowner's/Condominium Association fees that may be due, and that closing agent shall assume no liability regarding these matters;
Therefore, **. and [redacted] understood and agreed that if there were any outstanding water bills at the time of closing, those bills were to be handled outside of closing between the parties and would not be the responsibility of the title company.
Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions regarding the above.
Thank you.
Kristina B

Several years ago we purchased a piece of unimproved property in Pa., and after about two more years of saving we began to build our retirement home. I also purchased a title insurance policy from First American Title Insurance in the amount of the real estate price on the attorneys advice.
Well into the construction project, I was notified that the land I was building on belonged to an adjoining property owner, despite the fact that the deed had been searched and cleared by FIRST AMERICAN TITLE INSURANCE prior to my purchase and that I held a Registered survey in the county that I was building in.
Construction screeched to a halt, my contractor moved on and the long, long drawn out process of dealing with an insurance company and their attorneys began. It has been almost 1 1/2 years that the attorneys have been racking up "billable hours". We, on the other hand are no further ahead than when we originally filed the claim.
MY OPINIONS
It seems First American has done everything plausible to protect itself in the event of a claim. Reading or attempting to read their policy makes this evident. Their primary concern seems to be to protect their interests in every conceivable instance, and it strips away entirely any recourse or right the consumer might wish to exercise to challenge the company, how quickly the case gets settled, or what the settlement should include.
I encourage anyone who feels they need title insurance to THINK AGAIN BEFORE USING FIRST AMERICAN TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY. These policies are, coincidentally, sold to the consumer by the closing attorney who receives a commission based on the value of the the policy which is usually the sale price of the property. You can shop for title insurance just like auto insurance, so read and understand what you are paying for.

I am in receipt of your letter dated 9/8/2014 regarding [redacted]: Revdex.com Case ID [redacted] involving the refund of his Extended Service Plan purchased on his 2013 Ford Fiesta.
Although I have a resolution for [redacted] I have been unsuccessful reaching him. To date I have called him on his...

phone number provided over a dozen times along with leaving countless voicemails.
Again, I have resolved his issue but to date have been unsuccessful reaching him.
Should you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me. Hopefully you will have better success reaching Mr. [redacted].
Regards,
[redacted]
General Manager
AutoNation Ford Westlake

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]
 Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because: We were not aware of an outstanding bill and if any other parties were aware they did not disclose it to us when we bought the condo. The buyers we sold the property to in July found it after doing a Lein search on the property. Ethically it is the RIGHT thing to do that the title company refund us this money. We faithfully paid for a policy with no claims in the 5 yrs we lived there. We are adamant in our position on this matter. We expect a refund immediately. 
Regards,
[redacted]

Our denial was properly explained and documented in our previous response. We stand by our denial. Thank you.
 
 
Kristina B[redacted], Vice President, CLTP
Office of Account Management
Certified Land Title Professional
First American Title Insurance Company
620 Freedom Business Center Drive, King of Prussia, PA 19406 Direct: ###-###-####Mobile: ###-###-####Tollfree: ###-###-####Email: ...⇄

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]
 Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because:  We feel this is a legitimate claim and was told by our realtor and our new title company that this should be refunded to us despite what is presented in writing by First American Title, because it is the RIGHT THING TO DO! 
Regards,
[redacted]

Review: Unable to receive a complete copy of my Title Insurance purchased from First American Title Insurance Company. Paid $2,024.60 for title insurance on closing date of November 19, 2010. Never received a copy of my fully executed title insurance policy.

Provided copies of my HUD-1, Title, and of my preliminary title insurance papers to claim center in Santa Ana, California to request a copy of my insurance papers but my request was ignored. Provided same documentation to First American Policy Procurement Department but my request was ignored.

Contacted First American Title Insurance Company state office in [redacted], Virginia for help with a claim. Their records indicated my policy existed but they did not have a complete copy of the policy. [redacted] office was unable to provide assistance because they did not have a complete copy of my insurance policy.

Contacted the Policy Procurement Team to request a copy of my policy. Received an electronic copy of the title, but received another Email later that day stating the policy was incomplete and would have to be re-issued by the local branch office in [redacted], VA.

August 20, 2014, received an electronic copy of the title that appeared to be a photocopy. August 21, 2014, requested a copy of this policy as you would a first time customer (ie, signed, sealed, possibly notarized) since I never received an original copy for file. The request was ignored. Continued to request an official copy of the title be mailed to my home several times. Each request has been ignored. Unable to receive an office title policy in the mail from the title company.Desired Settlement: I would like an official copy of my title insurance that I purchased on November 19, 2014.