American Escrow: Illinois attorney general probing missing money

The Illinois attorney general's office said Thursday that it is looking into consumer complaints about missing money from escrow accounts held by American Escrow LLC, a private Chicago company that recently notified customers it will be going out of business Tuesday.

[Jennifer Elliott]

I, too, have lost all of my escrow money to American Escrow. I live in Louisville, Kentucky and have been with the company for five years. I just received notice from my taxing authority that my property taxes haven't been paid either, despite the constant monthly withdrawal of money from my bank account. I hope this is resolved quickly so that I can get my money back and have my taxes paid, as they should have been in the first place.

[Karen]

Jennifer Elliott wrote:

I, too, have lost all of my escrow money to American Escrow. I live in Louisville, Kentucky and have been with the company for five years. I just received notice from my taxing authority that my property taxes haven't been paid either, despite the constant monthly withdrawal of money from my bank account. I hope this is resolved quickly so that I can get my money back and have my taxes paid, as they should have been in the first place.

Jennifer, see the email chain on local.yahoo.com/info-17361641-american-escrow... . There are a lot of people effected by this, we have filed complaints with numerous agencies, the email chain has been helpful in keeping informed.

[Jim Klein]

The judge will probably give the owners 5 years probation like they gave the woman who stole
$ 700,000 from them. It was just another Ponzi scheme but they'll get off easy. The judicial system does not work in this country.

[Steve]

It appears it has also affected us in Nebraska. We received our notice on Friday and taxes were due, Wednesday. We also got the double dip back in March 2008. Interesting, that they continued to take money out of our account even in March of this year but now say they have no money to pay the taxes. We have filed a complaint with the attorney general in nebraska and will also be filing one with BBB.

[Jen H]

We have filed complaints with the Illinois and Iowa Attorneys General, as well. Our taxes were due March 31 and were not paid. I called and spoke with a rep at American Escrow on March 10 after we received our letter, and I was assured that our March taxes were paid in February. The president, Derek Lurie ([e-mail]) responded to my e-mail that same day and said he would have someone get in touch with me. Of course that has not happened. We have been with American Escrow for about 6-7 years.

Guess it's OK to rip off anyone you please these days.

[Gail S]

I realized something was terribly wrong with this company when I ran out of payment coupons and after 4 months of requesting new ones I called and cancelled out our account in January. Unfortunately it looks like I am out about $1500 and my taxes are due the end of April. I'm just glad I cancelled out a few months ago and was able to set aside that money for my own escrow benefit. Thank god I didn't set them up to automatically take the money from back account!

[more crap]

Nice, she steals over half a million dollars and gets 5 years probation!

[Mitzi Noblet]

Jen H wrote:

We have filed complaints with the Illinois and Iowa Attorneys General, as well. Our taxes were due March 31 and were not paid. I called and spoke with a rep at American Escrow on March 10 after we received our letter, and I was assured that our March taxes were paid in February. The president, Derek Lurie ([e-mail]) responded to my e-mail that same day and said he would have someone get in touch with me. Of course that has not happened. We have been with American Escrow for about 6-7 years.
Guess it's OK to rip off anyone you please these days.

Please file with the Illinois Attorney General. They have an open case , but you have to download a cmplaint form and mail it certified mail, NOW!!!!

[Mitzi Noblet]

Send the complaint for that you down load to the consumer fraud division , certfied mail, right away.Call your county treasurer and make sure that your county treasurer knows the situation about AE.

[Mitzi Noblet]

Steve wrote:

It appears it has also affected us in Nebraska. We received our notice on Friday and taxes were due, Wednesday. We also got the double dip back in March 2008. Interesting, that they continued to take money out of our account even in March of this year but now say they have no money to pay the taxes. We have filed a complaint with the attorney general in nebraska and will also be filing one with BBB.

FILE WITH THE ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL , THEY HAVE AN OPEN CASE , DOWNLOAD THE COMPLAINT FORM AND MAIL TO THE CONSUMER FRAUD DIVISION ADDRESS CERTIFIED MAIL.THE BBB WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HELP, THEY ARE CLOSED.

[gary nesbitt]

Im from NASHVILLE TN.I LOST 1342.00,I HAD TO COME UP WITH 1342.00 TO PAY MY TAXES.I GOT A LETTER FROM AMERICAN ESCROW SAYING THEY PAID IN FEB.BUT THEY DIDNOT,SO I FILED WITH ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL,I HOPE I CAN GET MY MONEY BACK.

[Jen H]

Mitzi Noblet wrote:

<quoted text>Please file with the Illinois Attorney General. They have an open case , but you have to download a cmplaint form and mail it certified mail, NOW!!!!

I have done this. I also filed with Iowa.

[Mitzi Noblet]

Jen H wrote:

<quoted text>
I have done this. I also filed with Iowa.

Please see latest news coverage on PA WTAW 4 NEWS

[Mitzi Noblet]

correction on news coverage:
PA WTAE 4 NEWS !!

[SUSAN GUNTREN]

Is this company insured?

[The Hedgehog]

more crap wrote:

Nice, she steals over half a million dollars and gets 5 years probation!

PROBATION! Another way of telling someone that their punishment is being told not to do it again.

[Indy Girl]

SUSAN GUNTREN wrote:

Is this company insured?

The literature from the signing says yes.But , they are not returning the money , so I would say they lied!

[Karen]

SUSAN GUNTREN wrote:

Is this company insured?

some people are finding paperwork where American Escrow claimed to be insured and they aren't, Escrow money isn't insured because their are laws regulating what they can do with the money, so basically they broke the law and used the money. Or, moved it to their other company American Tax Reporting and are hiding it.

[Mark Boris]

I too was victimized by American Escrow as I found out about my circumstance for the first time in a local Pittsburgh newspaper this past Friday morning. I have since initiated claims with the Attorney Generals from Pa and Il, appeared on a news report with a Pittsburgh news station, and today met with two agents from the FBI and filed a claim with them, as there appears to be a Federal Wire Fraud issue here as well. Although individually those of us affected may have trouble moving this forward, collectively, if we band together, maybe just maybe the "little guy" may finally be heard!

[Jennifer Elliott]

I'm all for banding together to make something happen. I have filed with the AG in Illinois and have notified my local taxing authority, but haven't heard anything back yet. I don't think we have enough people for a class action, but it wouldn't hurt to see who we could round up.