RGS Title - Bowie, Maryland RGS Title Bowie Maryland

I closed on a property on May 30, 2013.  I used RGS Title Company located at 4201 Northview Drive, Bowie, MD to close the deal.  My first bill from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) included service for 12/13/12 - 05/31/13.  The total was $143.66.  I called WSSC to dispute charging me for service for a period where I did not occupy or own the home.  WSSC told me that they sent an invoice to RGS Title on May 31, 2013 (account# 3994084).  They further explained that the proper procedure for the transaction should be that the title company holds a portion of the buyer’s money in escrow to take care of any of the seller’s financial responsibilities that are attached to the property (i.e. utility bills).  RGS Title never paid the bill and the delinquent amount stayed attached to the property. 

Joseph Gardner represented RGS Title at the closing.  I contacted him immediately after WSSC explained why services for 12/13/12 - 05/31/13 were attached to my bill.  Gardner said that they received the invoice from WSSC and forwarded it to the selling agent.  He never followed up to see if the invoice was paid nor inform me that there was a delinquent utility bill attached the property.  Gardner told me that he would call the agent and make sure that the agent pays the invoice.  After several weeks, he told me that he was not able to reach the agent and he felt that the agent may be out of business.  Gardner said he was going to give it another attempt, as well as call Fannie Mae (who the agent represented).  He said that if it was not resolved by 11/4/13 that RGS would pay it out of petty cash.  I followed up with Gardner on 11/6/13.  The issue was not resolved and the people he reports to declined his request to take it out of petty cash.  He said management feels it is the agent’s responsibility and if they cannot get the agent to pay then the buyer would have to be stuck with the bill.  I was forced to pay the delinquent amount after I received a cut off notice.

 WSSC explained that their invoicing process is based on the routine practice of title companies holding a portion of the buyer’s money in escrow for a period of time for undisclosed obligations connected to the property.  This is why the invoice was made out to RGS Title.  They were not diligent in uncovering the financial obligations tied to the property.  RGS Title did not hold a portion of my money in escrow.  They passed the invoice along to the realtor and did not follow up.  RGS Title never informed that there was a delinquent invoice.  At this point, they are not helping me to recover the $143.66.