Victim Location 75442
Total money lost $49
Type of a scam Moving
This company had me send them a check for $49 to file my homestead. I talked to the county clerk and it’s a scam.
Victim Location 76230
Total money lost $49
Type of a scam Moving
My husband and I just bought our first home he received a letter stating to send a recording fee of 49 dollars for our homestead back in January 2020. After we send it we received a letter from the Montague appraisal district about our homestead and they do not require a fee to do so. right then we find out after a phone call with them that the letter was a scam. Now here we received another letter from them again about the same thing asking for 52 dollar fee for the same thing just stated differently and also we found out more people have been scam from them for the same thing around our area but no one has reported it to the news or at least notified first time home buyers abut this scam. which is irresponsible from our state not to let people know about this before it happens.
Victim Location 76502
Total money lost $49
Type of a scam Phishing
In the summer of 2019, I closed on a home in Central Texas and was sent a letter from Homestead Designation Services. I assumed it was a legitimate letter sent by the state from Austin and sent the requested payment. My husband was recently added onto the home loan and also received a letter. He didn’t think it looked legitimate so after some research, we realized it was not and that I sent money to an illegitimate company for services not rendered or needed.
Victim Location 78676
Type of a scam Phishing
Received very official looking postal letter indicating pay $49 for obtaining property homestead exemption. Letter had all my property information accurately listed. Even had Texas Constitution pertaining to property information printed in tiny type on back of letter. I was skeptical and called my county property tax office for accurate information on my account. I am already homestead exempted and homestead is not ever having a charge through the state per the county property tax office. Upon closer investigation, I realized the address is in a large Austin bank/office building which has a service(s) / company which rents office space with mail box service. The address on letter I received from Homestead Designation Services is using a postal box through said rental type setup.
I then read on ScamPulse.com website this information: On July 26, 2018 ScamPulse.com requested Homestead Designation Services LLC modify or discontinue their direct mailer advertisement as to clearly disclose that they are not associated with the state or county and that their mailer is an advertisement for services.
I want to add a complaint against Homestead Designation Services as they have apparently have not followed the 7-26-2018 request from BBB. I am personally classifying this company in the bounds of scamming people for $49 with official looking mail fraud. I am glad I was suspicious and checked with my property tax office who stated the office does receive calls about this company and verified there is no fee through their office for homestead application. Homestead Designation Services does not make it clear on their correspondence their purpose, but seem to hope to receive $49 from any and all who get their letter whether homestead or non-homestead property owners.
Victim Location 78701
Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill
This notice asked that I mail to them $49.00 to have my homestead exemption prepared and then another $52 for the County Clerk recording fee after the document has been prepared.
Victim Location 75605
Total money lost $45
Type of a scam Fake Check/Money Order
This company made it seem that we had to send a $45 check to have our homestead set up or we would be in trouble with the county clerk’s office. After paying the $45 they asked for an additional $52 for a recording fee. At that time I called the appraisal district and found out it was a scam, that I already had a homestead designation and that it is FREE!
Victim Location 78722
Type of a scam Phishing
We recently purchased a home and received an official-looking mail form from this company asking us to return the form along with $49 if we want to have our home designated as our homestead for tax purposes. Only if you read the very last line will you read "this document is an advertisement for services. This is not an official state of Texas form."
Victim Location 76542
Total money lost $45
Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill
I got one of these in June 2018 and I paid it. Later I found out it was a scam. I just got this one today Sept 17, 2018
Victim Location 75142
Total money lost $45
Type of a scam Tax Collection
Received a letter in the mail about my homestead. And I thought I had to pay the $45.00 just because I new the home buying and I had just filed for the homestead in January on my new house. So I paid the $45 and then i seen a post going around on Facebook about the same exact letter suspecting it being a scam. So I called the tax office of Kaufman county and they did in fact confirm it’s a scam.
Victim Location 76539
Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill
received a notice in the mail that looks quite official regarding our homestead filing. but, the location is wrong as i do not file in the supposed location of this letter. After researching Google the number listed on the letter, several others have received same letters that are scams to pay for homestead filing. there are three addresses for Homestead Designation Services. I only received one letter, so far.
Victim Location 75087
Type of a scam Counterfeit Product
This company is trying to scam new homeowners into sending them $45 for filing something that is FREE.
Filing a homestead exemption is done through your county appraisal district for FREE. This company is clearly trying to steal money from uninformed home buyers. Luckily I know how to file my homestead and wasn’t scammed out of $45. Absolutely ridiculous that these people think this is okay! How are they even still open?
Victim Location 76651
Total money lost $45
Type of a scam Counterfeit Product
THIS FORM IS MEANT AND DESIGNED TO SCAM POOR INNOCENT HOME OWNERS/HOME BUYERS INTO SPENDING $45 FOR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING OF ANY LEGAL, HELPFUL, OR REQUIRED SERVICE. IT IS MIMICKING THE HOMEOWNERS FORM FOR YOUR COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT. IF YOU HAVE GOTTEN ONE OF THESE FORMS FROM THIS ENTITY, CALL YOUR LOCAL APPRAISAL OFFICE AND REPORT IT. THEY DO NOT ANSWER THE PHONE GIVEN, NOR DO THEY RESPOND TO A FAX NUMBER THAT IS LISTED ON THIS FORM. BEWARE OF THIS SCAM. THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BROUGHT AGAINST THESE PEOPLE – IN MY OPINION.
Victim Location 77573
Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill
This mail asks for $45 to designate your property HOMESTEAD.
It states:
Property Transfer Date: ( with date of property changing hands)
"Our Records Show: "Filing None"
My property is already set up as HOMESTEAD. These people are LIARS, and in addition, setting up property as Homestead is FREE.
They are scammers trying to get money from people.
Victim Location 79109
Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill
Letter was odd because we just filed for our homestead exemption.
Victim Location 76028
Total money lost $39
Type of a scam Investment
I received a letter from Homestead Designation Services in 2017, which appeared to be a legitimate agency that offered services to assist you in filing for homestead designation. I was a first time home buyer, navigating the world of home ownership alone. I knew I needed to file for homestead exemption, so when this letter came, I thought this is how I was supposed to move forward with filing. I paid a $39 fee by check, and completed the paperwork that was sent to me and sent it back to Homestead Designation Services. I later received paperwork from Johnson County stating I had received my designation. Now, July 2018, I have received another letter/form from Homestead Designation Services stating, "our records show: ‘filing none’ and "property transfer date: ’09/19/2016.’" Knowing I already had homestead designation, I began researching "Homestead Designation Services" and find that they have had several similar complaints. Although they may be a legitimate business, this letter is very misleading and an inexperienced homeowner may believe they need to file yearly if they receive this letter. The information they stated on this letter about their records is incorrect and at first glance I almost believed that I hadn’t filed or that I needed to file yearly. I researched my own records and looked my homestead exemption up on the Central Appraisal District of Johnson County website, and I do indeed have the exemption. I don’t know how this company gets away with this misleading letter, but it needs to stop. I’m sure they make a lot of money preying on the ignorance of homeowners.
Victim Location 79109
Type of a scam Tax Collection
Received a letter titled "Randall Designation of Homestead Request Form" with public record information (property transfer date) and requesting information. The letter indicated the Home Owner should submit form along with $45 payment to designate homestead exemption. The form LOOKS legit with a bar code, Texas Constitution for Homestead; protection, and Texas Property Code printed on the back.
Note: All tax forms including homestead exemptions should come from your LOCAL property tax assessor collector NOT the state. In addition, I do not believe there is a fee to claim homestead exemptions/designations.
Victim Location 75126
Type of a scam Tax Collection
We got a homestead exemption letter in the mail from this company asking us to send this paper filled out with our information. They asked that we send it back with a fee of $45 to file for the exemption.
Victim Location 77095
Total money lost $45
Type of a scam Moving
Shortly after moving to Houston, TX we received 3 separate letters from "Homestead Designation Services" from 2 different companies. They were requesting $35 in one and $45 in the other to file for our homestead exemption. It looked very official, and being new to Texas I wasn’t aware that there wasn’t a fee to file for this exemption. We filed with them for $45 and then a few weeks later got another one in the mail. I realized we hadn’t actually filed and we had to rush around and file (for free) before the deadline passed.
Victim Location 76354
Type of a scam Debt Collections
Received message in mail that I owe $45 for filing my designation of homestead under Texas Property Code. I must sign and remit the $45 fee or they will not prepare my document; I must use this form or they will not prepare my designation of homestead. Called the phone number and went to a voice recording telling the hours of business, if I know my party’s extension to dial it, or if I have questions about the notice I received in the mail to send an email to [email protected], but don’t leave a voicemail because it is not regularly checked.
Form # TH03693636 is listed at the bottom, did a search on Google to find other people had received the same thing. I did a reverse lookup of the phone number and found other complaints. I tried to research the company, looking at the address but it’s an empty building.
Victim Location 76513
Type of a scam Phishing
I received a letter in the mail soliciting their "service." However, everything about the form is meant to look like a government agency. The choice of font, the bolding of words such as TEXAS PROPERTY CODE, TAX EXEMPTION, TEXAS TAX CODE, and DESIGNATION OF HOMESTEAD REQUEST FORM. It concludes on the bottoms with "YOU MUST SIGN AND REMIT THE $45 FEE OR WE WILL NOT PREPARE YOUR DOCUMENT." And the entire back of the document is information taken directly from the Texas constitution. It does state the designation is not required by law (optional) but its blatantly obvious it’s meant to be as misleading as possible.
Victim Location 75082
Type of a scam Investment
I just got a Collin Designation of Homestead Request Form (form# TH03693636) from the company asking me to fill the form out and return it with a payment of $45.00 for services rendered. I purchased my home in September 2017 and I have already applied for and received my homestead and disabled vet exemptions. I saw your June 2017 article on this scam. Someone also posted a YouTube video on this scam. I can see that someone not computer wise, or a first-time home buyer could be fooled by this scam. I wanted you to know that they are still at it.
Victim Location 77040
Type of a scam Debt Collections
The document looked very official, but the one thing that caught my attention was that the request form had an address based out of Austin, Texas and I live in Houston/Harris county Texas. Furthermore, when I purchased my house four years ago I filed for "Homestead exemption" at that time, and I had to go to the Harris County Appraisal District located here in Houston in order to complete the filing. These scammers wanted me to send a check or money order for the amount of $45.00. I also have called the phone number that they provided on the form that they mailed me, but no one ever answered my calls. Please be aware of this scam because as I stated before the document does look very official, especially because on the back side of the form, the scammers copied and pasted from the Texas Constitution and the Texas Property Code.
Victim Location 77004
Type of a scam Fake Invoice/Supplier Bill
An official-looking communication entitled "Harris Designation of Homestead Request Form" asks for basic information (name of owner and property location) and requests a fee of $45 for "Designation of Homestead." It contains a warning ("You must sign and remit the $45.00 fee or we will not prepare your document") It also contains a frank admission that it is a fraud ("This mailer is and [sic] advertisement for services. This document is not an official State of Texas form. Recording a "Designation of Homestead" . . . is not required by Law. . . . [etc.]" This is in a format that makes it appear like further documentation of authority, so it needs to be read carefully and thought about to understand what it is actually saying. I am concerned that other home-owners will simply send off the check, and also that this business is a criminal enterprise and may have other active schemes.