Private companies are charging Bucks County homeowners more than $100 for property deed copies that the county provides for under $10, and the Recorder of Deeds office wants residents to toss those letters in the trash.

The office of Bucks County Recorder of Deeds Robin Robinson issued a warning on Tuesday, alerting recent home buyers to official-looking notices arriving in their mailboxes.

The letters pressure recipients into believing they must purchase a deed copy through a third-party vendor. They don't.

The companies have no affiliation with the Recorder of Deeds or any government agency, Robinson's office said. They pull names from publicly available property transfer records and target people shortly after closing.

What the letters look like

The mailings mimic government correspondence and request processing fees exceeding $100 for a single deed copy. Robinson's office has not identified the companies by name, so residents should be skeptical of any unsolicited offer to provide deed copies for a fee.

By contrast, the county charges $0.50 per page for in-person copies and $1 per page by mail, plus a $1.50 certification fee, according to deeds.com, a property-records reference site. For most residential deeds, the total comes in well under $10.

What to do

Robinson's office is advising residents not to respond to or contact the soliciting companies. Homeowners who need a legitimate copy of their deed can call the Recorder of Deeds at 215-348-6209 or visit the office at 55 East Court St., second floor, in Doylestown. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

The warning applies countywide. Any recent home buyer in Bucks County could receive one of the letters.

Robinson's office also posts consumer alerts on its Facebook page. Residents with questions about any mailing related to their property records can call 215-348-6209 during business hours.