Records Recovery Services (RRS) is a company that offers to locate and recover unclaimed assets of various kinds, including uncashed checks, unused rebates, stocks, savings bonds, and insurance policies, for a fee. Based in Jefferson City, MO, RRS claims it can use public records and proprietary databases to find forgotten assets and help customers process the necessary paperwork to claim them. The company says it has recovered millions of dollars for past clients. RRS sends solicitation letters to people around the country explaining their services and asking recipients to pay an upfront fee, typically $89, for RRS to search for any unclaimed assets in the recipient’s name.
Services Offered
Records Recovery Services claims to be able to recover a wide range of records, including birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, divorce records, criminal records, and property records like deeds and titles. They state they can obtain records from all 50 states and internationally as well.
According to their website, Records Recovery Services charges fees starting at $89 for an initial search. If the record is found, there are additional fees to obtain and deliver the record that range from $99 to $399 depending on the type of record. For example, a birth certificate recovery costs $169, a marriage certificate is $199, and a property deed retrieval is $399.
Critically, Records Recovery Services also charges substantial upfront fees before beginning a search. For property records like deeds, they require 25-50% of the total cost upfront. This amounts to $100-200 due just to initiate the process, regardless of whether the record is ultimately recovered.
Legality and Reputation
Records Recovery Services LLC is not registered with the Better Business Bureau and does not have BBB accreditation.
According to the Better Business Bureau, Records Recovery Services LLC is not a BBB Accredited business.
In April 2021, news reports indicated that Records Recovery Services was sending letters to homeowners asking for payment to provide copies of property deeds. This prompted warnings from government officials about the letters being a scam.
For example, a news report from Fox 4 KC described the letters from Records Recovery Services as a “scam asking for money to prove home ownership“. The report indicated officials were warning homeowners not to send any money to Records Recovery Services.
According to Deeds.com, multiple recording offices also warned homeowners in April 2021 not to pay Records Recovery Services, reminding them that deed copies can be obtained directly without a third party.
Recovery Methods
Records Recovery Services claims to use proprietary techniques and advanced technologies to recover lost or damaged records. Some of the methods they say they employ include:
Data recovery from digital media like hard drives and flash drives using specialized software to reconstruct deleted or corrupted files. This is a common technique used by many data recovery firms.
Recovery of documents from water or fire damaged paper records using freeze drying, document drying technologies, and disinfection. This involves careful handling and treatment to stabilize and restore damaged paper materials.
Finding replacement copies of records by searching private and public databases. This can involve accessing archives, backups, or sourcing replacements from third parties.
While the techniques Records Recovery Services claims to use are not necessarily illegal, some have raised ethical concerns. For example, accessing certain private databases or confidential records may require special permissions. Overall, the legality depends on the specific methods and types of records being recovered.
Records Recovery Services states they follow all applicable laws regarding privacy and data security. However, some experts argue more transparency is needed around their recovery practices to evaluate if any ethical boundaries are crossed.
Success Rates
Records Recovery Services claims to have successfully recovered billions of documents for thousands of clients. However, they do not provide any specific statistics or data to back up these claims. According to a local news investigation, the company’s sales representatives assert success rates as high as 85-90%, but these figures could not be independently verified.
Reviews of Records Recovery Services’ success are mixed. On the Better Business Bureau website, the company has 1 out of 5 stars based on 14 customer reviews, many of which accuse the company of failing to recover any records after payment. However, on Trustpilot the company has 4 out of 5 stars, including some glowing testimonials of recovered property deeds and court records.
Without transparent data, it is difficult to gauge the company’s actual success rates. Potential clients may want to request specific examples of successfully recovered documents, preferably from their local area, before paying any fees.
Alternatives to Records Recovery Services
While Records Recovery Services is one of the top companies specializing in law enforcement record expungement and clemency, there are some alternatives to consider:
Another well-known record clearing service is Clear My Record (https://www.clearmyrecord.org). Clear My Record is a California-based non-profit organization that helps people expunge eligible convictions. They provide free consultations and legal services focused on record clearance for previously incarcerated individuals. Compared to Records Recovery, Clear My Record works primarily with low-income clients and limits its services to certain states.
For those looking for private companies with nationwide reach, Arcadia Record Removal (https://www.arcadiarecordremoval.com) is an option. Arcadia touts high success rates for record expungement and sealing. However, their fees tend to be higher than Records Recovery. They also focus mainly on expungement, while Records Recovery provides pardon and clemency services as well.
There are also online do-it-yourself expungement services like Clear My Record (not to be confused with the non-profit) and Fresh Start Expungement. These provide instructional guides and tools for expunging your record on your own. The downside is you don’t receive personalized legal help. For complicated cases, hiring a lawyer or company like Records Recovery may increase the odds of successfully clearing your record.
When to Use Them
There are certain situations where using a records recovery service may be recommended to help retrieve lost or misplaced important records. According to the National Archives and Records Administration, these services can be useful for recovering records such as:
- Vital records like birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, divorce decrees, adoption records
- Property records including deeds, titles, easements
- Court records such as judgments, bankruptcies, liens
- Financial records like stock certificates, bonds, promissory notes
- Insurance records including policies, claims
- Business records like licenses, contracts, leases
- Historical records
Some situations where engaging a records recovery service may be advantageous include:
- When vital personal records have been lost or destroyed through accidents, disasters, or moves
- When a title search fails to locate an existing property record that needs to be recovered
- When records were lost due to company mergers, acquisitions or restructuring
- When records are needed to support legal actions or financial claims
- When historical records are required for research, due diligence, or compliance purposes
Reputable records recovery services employ skilled researchers and have access to archives and databases that individuals may not be able to access directly. Their expertise can potentially save significant time and effort trying to track down records independently.
Risks and Downsides
There are some risks and potential downsides to using Records Recovery Services that should be considered. According to the National Archives, it’s important to do thorough research and vetting before contracting any records recovery service after a disaster to avoid potential scams or companies that overpromise results.
Some county and state officials have warned about potentially misleading letters sent out by Records Recovery Services that resemble official government correspondence and create a false sense of urgency. For example, the Recorder in Maryville, Missouri cautioned residents about a letter sent by the company that used language and formatting like a legal subpoena.
While Records Recovery Services is a legitimate company, there are risks in using any contractor for disaster recovery that primarily works on a contingency fee basis. There have been some concerns raised about unclear pricing and exaggerated claims of document recovery success rates. As with any service promising specialized expertise, it’s advisable to thoroughly research options, verify credentials, and request references before signing any contract.
Expert Opinions
Susan Grant, director of consumer protection and privacy at Consumer Federation of America, warned consumers about Records Recovery Services, stating “They are preying on consumers’ concerns that they could lose their home over paperwork issues.” She advised checking public records yourself before paying any company for document retrieval.
Chris Berry, an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission, cautioned against using Records Recovery Services, explaining “Notifying homeowners that they need to validate their ownership could cause panic and make the homeowner more likely to pay unnecessary fees.” He recommends consulting a real estate attorney if you have concerns about your home’s deed.
Privacy researcher Arvind Narayanan advised against responding to any communication from Records Recovery Services, as it could result in more solicitations. He suggests checking county records directly to obtain property deeds and other documentation.
Conclusion
In summary, while the legality and ethics of for-profit data recovery services like Records Recovery Services may be questionable, their methods do appear capable of restoring lost data in many cases. Their high advertised success rates, accompanied by overwhelmingly positive customer reviews, lend credibility to their services. However, customers should still consider risks like exorbitant fees, lack of guarantees, and potential privacy violations before using such services as a last resort. With proper data backup practices, most individuals and businesses can avoid relying on third party data recovery in the first place.
So in conclusion, while Records Recovery Services’ data recovery capabilities do seem mostly legitimate, potential clients are advised to carefully weigh all options before resorting to their pricey services. Unless the lost data is absolutely irreplaceable and worth the risks, it may be wiser to simply move on without recovered files. But for those with no alternatives left, Records Recovery Services’ services could feasibly recover lost data when all else fails.