Attorney General Brown: Homeowners Should be on High Alert for Property Tax Scams
February 12, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Sacramento—Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued a Consumer Alert to California homeowners about a “blatant and costly scam” targeting homeowners with declining property values.
“This blatant and costly scam holds out hope to homeowners that their property taxes will be reduced if they pay hundreds of dollars to a middleman to have their property re-evaluated,” Attorney General Brown said. “In point of fact, homeowners can seek relief directly from their county assessor free of charge. Homeowners should be on high alert.”
Companies are sending deceptive mailers to homeowners offering help in reducing property tax assessments, if the homeowner pays the company hundreds of dollars in fees. The companies use official-sounding names such as “Tax Adjusters,” “Tax Readjustment” or “Tax Review” to make victims believe the company is a government agency.
Property tax reassessment is a free service provided by county tax assessors. If homeowners believe their property value has declined and they are paying too much in property taxes, the local tax assessor will review the property value for free for a possible downward assessment.
To avoid becoming a victim, homeowners should:
• Never pay money for something they did not ask for.
• Avoid a middleman—they should contact their local tax assessor’s office for property value reassessment.
Homeowners who believe they are a victim of this scam should contact the Attorney General’s Office by either calling 1-800-952-5225 or by writing to P.O. Box 944255 Sacramento, CA 94244.
Contact: (916) 324-5500
Related posts:
- Brown Sues to Block Property Tax Rip-Off
May 13, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — San Diego-Continuing his fight to stop scams against homeowners, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today filed suit against two brothers who "ripped off homeowners" seeking help in reducing their property tax assessments....
- Property Tax Savings from Assessor’s Valuation Review
June 01, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Los Angeles County Assessor Rick Auerbach today announced completion of a decline in value review of 473,000 homes and condominiums in Los Angeles County. Auerbach stressed that due to the declining real estate market, it was his responsibility to review values to make sure homes are properly assessed....
- Attorney General Brown Announces Landmark $8.68 Billion Settlement with Countrywide
October 06, 2008 - (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced a landmark, multi-state settlement with Countrywide Home Loans, Countrywide Financial Corporation and Full Spectrum Lending that is expected to provide up to $8.68 billion of home loan and foreclosure relief nationally, including $3.5 billion to California borrowers....
- Brown Sues Foreclosure Consultant and Attorney Who Conned Homeowners into Paying Thousands for Phony Lawsuits
Los Angeles, CA - July 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. July 6 sued a foreclosure consultant and an attorney -- Paul Noe Jr. and Mitchell Roth - who conned 2,000 desperate homeowners into paying exorbitant fees for "phony lawsuits" to forestall foreclosure proceedings....
- Brown to Warn Consumers About Mortgage Loan Scams at San Fernando Valley Townhall
San Fernando Valley, CA - September 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Thursday, September 10, 2009 at approximately 3:30 p.m., Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. will be the guest speaker at a consumer protection townhall in Sylmar, where he will warn Southern California residents about the proliferation of "devious mortgage schemes" and offer tips to avoid them. Since 2007,...
Property Tax Assessment: How to Select a Quality Company
Consumers recently have been getting mixed messages about companies offering to help reduce their property tax bills for a fee. As this industry is not well known, consumers can become confused when trying to select a property assessment reduction firm. There are legitimate and quality companies, such as the Property Tax Assessment Adjusters, that actively advocate for homeowners throughout the entire process of review and appeal of an assessed value for property tax purposes. While the process is something that homeowners can do on their own for no fee, legitimate state licensed companies exist to save consumers time on research, paperwork and representation, and tend to be more successful than homeowners in their reductions due to a high level of experience and more accurate data.
Four indicators consumers should look for when selecting a company:
1. Member of BBB and licensed
2. Money back guarantee
3. No specific savings promised
4. Pre-screened mailings
Detailed consumer indicators for company selection:
1. Is the company a member of the Better Business Bureau and licensed in the state to do business?
If so, the company adheres to the morals and guidelines of running an ethical business. If any complaints should arise, they can be submitted to the BBB and the company must do everything possible to resolve them. Furthermore, if the company claims to be a government agency, that is a sign to be cautious.
2. Does the company offer a money-back guarantee?
If so, the company is agreeing to refund a customer if an adjustment in assessed value is not secured. The guarantee essentially offers consumers a no-risk way to get help on their property tax bills. If the company does not have a refund policy, buyers beware.
3. Does the company promise a specific savings upfront?
If a company indicates a specific savings upfront, this indicates that the company has applied a blanket reduction (typically 20 or 30 percent) that is not based on comparable home sales and is therefore not reliable or accurate. Savings are based on a detailed work including a review of relevant comparable sales with the county, so there is no way of knowing the exact savings upfront.
4. Does the company market its services to everyone?
Blanket mailings are a sign that the company has not done its homework on who it can actually help. Legitimate companies tend to mail to only those for whom they truly believe they can secure a savings. Property Tax Assessment Adjusters completes a preliminary analysis and mails to homeowners with a good chance they can save at least $200 in their first year alone, or significantly more.
For more information, visit the Property Tax Assessment Adjusters website at http://www.ptaaonline.com, or the Better Business Bureau at http://www.bbb.org.