Meridian Title Company

Please use the information provided her for a formal response: Context: The Complainant mistook a Buyer Client (who retained Meridian to issue an Owner’s Policy on the complained of Warranty Deed) with Meridian itselfThe Grantee under the Warranty Deed asked Meridian if they would be
willing to issue an owner’s title insurance policy on the Warranty DeedThis request was made after the Grantee personally recorded the Warranty DeedMeridian’s only involvement in this matter was that we originally accepted escrow proceeds in contemplation of issuing an Owner’s Policy and the assigned escrow officer notarized the Warranty DeedAt the time the Warranty Deed was notarized, our Escrow Officer made no representations as to whether the Complainant should execute the deed and the Complainant did not alert Meridian to any potential issues of fraud or duressThe Escrow Officer took a copy of his Photo ID and also made a log of his appearance, which he signed, in her Notary BookThe Escrow Officer also reviewed a Real Estate Purchase Contract where he had agreed to sell the Property to the Buyer before she notarized the Warranty DeedMeridian did not contact the Complainant to ask him to come in to sign the Warranty Deed at any timeThe first time Meridian met the Complainant was when he came in to have the Warranty Deed notarizedThe only contact Meridian’s Escrow Officer ever had with the Complainant was when he arrived to execute the Warranty DeedIt seems that all allegations of duress and bad play attributed to Meridian were, in fact, allegations that were intended to be attributed to the Buyer who sought to retain Meridian as its Escrow Agent. When Meridian was asked to issue an Owner’s Policy, Meridian’s Escrow Officer learned, through the Buyer, that he did not want to come in to the closingThe Escrow Officer did not harass him or try and get him to come into closing She simply, refused to issue an Owner’s Policy without his participation and returned the escrow proceedsIt is the understanding and belief that Unity Title ended up issuing an Owner’s Policy to the Buyer. Action Taken: Meridian has trained its Escrow Officer’s in detecting alleged fraud and has a policy that its Escrow Officers are only to provide assistance in contemplation of issuing a title insurance policyBecause of this complaint, Meridian has again reminded its Escrow Officers of the importance of not providing notary services to clients unless it is being done to directly facilitate a closing, or in contemplation of a closingMeridian chose not to participate in any closing of this transactionThe error the Escrow Officer seems to have made here is that she provided a notary service without ever agreeing to insure the Property Meridian Title Company’s Vice President, met with Complainant at the office of Meridian Title Company and helped Complainant retrieve his check from a different title company He left appreciative. Although Meridian is unaware of any facts that may lead them to conclude that the Complainant has in fact fallen victim to some fraud, Meridian will also be sending a letter to the Buyer informing them that Meridian will, from now on, no longer do business with him or his affiliates. Thank You, ALTABest Practice CertifiedDan O***Manager of OperationsMeridian Title Company------------------------------------------------------------East South, Suite 100Salt Lake City, UT 84107Phone: (801)264-8888Direct: (801)[email protected]