Bradenton man stuck in red tape after mortgage company paid property taxes in error

Kevin FitzGerald was stunned last November when he learned a company he had never heard of paid his property taxes for no reason.

[@crinklecut3790]

He’s smart to make sure they got it right before he pays anyone.

[@im4udevco]

He’s a very smart man. Only in Florida. Hopefully he’ll resolve this issue.

[@vulcan2882]

This has happened in other cities and states before ... not just in Florida.

[@SewingBoxDesigns]

This might be part of the stealing property deeds trend. It's my understanding that a city can put your property back tax bill up where people can find it somehow, and if that person pays the back taxes owed, the property might belong to them now, depending on local laws. Like an abandoned car can be taken up salvage. It looks awful shady that this company paid his tax bill, then sold the debt.

[@potomushana6471]

Please keep up the good work, Shannon.

[@kimberlyvalpey7158]

Probably some sort of scam there. I only say that cause so many scams trying to steal people's property.

[@neilkurzman4907]

No, it’s not a scam. The reporter looked into it. Why take a while guess. He was afraid it was a scam or could have been so he looked into it. Remember, somebody paid his taxes for him.

[@SewingBoxDesigns]

So THIS was an error, that doesn't mean it won't be a scam later.

[@user-xk4vt9ye8j]

“Data error” sounds like BS to me.

[@neilkurzman4907]

OK, they didn’t accidentally pay his taxes.

[@conroyjett]

Why did you not address the fact that neither company returned his requests for answers until you got involved.

[@neilkurzman4907]

Why would they address that this is why these things end up on the news because companies don’t call anybody back. This one’s exceptionally stupid because he owed the money and was trying to pay them.

[@ASkyy166]

@@neilkurzman4907maybe we need more government oversight to hold them accountable. Someone’s got to! But y’all scream feee country and this is what we got.

[@neilkurzman4907]

@@ASkyy166 Oh yes, people want the government when there’s a problem. But complain about the government, and the people complaining are the first to say the government should have done something for example Boeing part of the reason the problem exists is because going back years Boeing lobby to have the government get out of their business , with the why is the government standing in the way of business. Business knows best.

[@ASkyy166]

@@neilkurzman4907so who gonna hold them accountable lol

[@sharonrose50]

It sounds like that company was trying to buy his condo right out from under him because if he didn’t pay the property taxes they could legally buy it I wonder who else they have done that too.

[@neilkurzman4907]

Why would it sound like that. If he didn’t pay his taxes for three years or more then the government would foreclose on it. Paying somebody’s taxes for them doesn’t get you their property.

[@SewingBoxDesigns]

@neilkurzman4907 Yeah that would neeeeveer evvveeerrr happen. Except someone tried it on my mom's house in the eighties. She got a notice saying her taxes had been overpaid and a check in the mail. Then some smart arse law firm served her with a lawsuit for the property. Predatory lawsuit to scare seniors out of their homes.

[@neilkurzman4907]

@@SewingBoxDesigns Your description of what happened to your mother makes little sense. But what happened here is somebody accidentally paid his taxes. The company asking to be reimbursed, was not the one that actually paid the taxes. He simply wanted clarification that he was paying the right company. His title was never in any jeopardy.

[@mattschehr163]

@@neilkurzman4907 actually it does look it up

[@philswaim392]

Thats where you go in writing to the county or state indicsting that wasn't your payment and then you pay in addition Then it's that company's job to fix their problem not yours. Dont let someone pay a bill without your consent. Pay it yourself and tell the govt that they need to refund that money to whom ever paid

[@neilkurzman4907]

That’s what I was thinking he could’ve made his payment and told them OK claw it back. This assumes they would accept the extra payment

[@philswaim392]

@@neilkurzman4907 yeah youd have to contact them and tell them not to refund you but rather refund whatever fool paid yours. Get receipts for everything then when these idiots come knocking show them the receipt where you paid your own damn taxes and they can take it up with the state. Its their problem not yours. Technically had he done nothing and was never reached out to, the payment on his behalf would be taxable income hed have to claim on next years taxes. More reasons to pay the right folks yourself first so theres no question no one has paid on your behalf ajd no one can interpret yhat as income to you. Its the same as with any bill really

[@darrinatorrr]

They cannot claw back for local taxes

[@ajc5370]

Don't fall for a threatening letter that is baseless. It's been too long and they cannot charge the payment back to the tax collector and they know it. There are consumer rights that ultimately protect the bank and the tax collector from that action. In essence they have to eat it and make their customer whole. They have no recourse on the payment they made to your taxes, but that doesn't mean they can't try to bully you for it. If it was that easy they would have just charged back the bank which they tried to do and failed, which is why they went to you.

[@gildardomagallon]

Property taxes are a few thousand per year, only companies like loan servicer’s make those payments. Homeowners with no mortgage do as well. It’s uncommon otherwise.

[@ajc5370]

It's all based on value my tax bill was $18k so what are you talking about??

[@countbenjamin1442]

I would want it in writing and verbally over the phone that I'm allowed to record because they record all their calls and I say I pay you and you provide me and the tax department with the letter saying that they can't request the money back and if they do they are required to pay three times the amount and go to arbitration that they pay for they messed up they need to make assurances

[@theolivetreeministry6504]

Nobody is “CLAWING BACK” money from the government 😂

[@neilkurzman4907]

You don’t know that for a fact

[@theolivetreeministry6504]

@@neilkurzman4907 you don’t know for a fact that I don’t know that for a fact

[@SewingBoxDesigns]

Except the drug firms.

[@neilkurzman4907]

@@SewingBoxDesigns What money are they trying to claw back?

[@ajc5370]

You're exactly right and that's why they went to him, they have no recourse because the accounting error took too long to find. After 120 days that's on them that's exactly why they didn't charge the bank back or the tax collector

[@kittymalone9401]

Is it illegal for an apartment complex to have only 2 visitors parking spots for the entire complex causing multiple visitors to then get towed because the only 2 visitors parking is being used I feel the complex is wrong but they get a percentage each time a car is towed and visitors have to pay over $250 to get their car back

[@dmo848]

Document everything

[@kittymalone9401]

@@dmo848 ty I will

[@mikemartinez1557]

He is Never getting that Letter.

[@neilkurzman4907]

He doesn’t need the letter. What he wants is assurance and that nobody’s gonna come back to them again saying no you should’ve paid us not them.

[@dee6975]

It’s a scam expose the scam. Let us know what’s really going on. Do you actually report a investigating and use your clearance access get to the bottom of the answers find out what’s going on push for prosecution

[@johnleebass]

"do you actually report investigating and use your clearance access to get to the bottom of answers" MAKES NO SENSE, AT ALL

[@neilkurzman4907]

Why don’t you investigate the scam since you know it’s a scam and the people who actually investigated it didn’t find one. Looking forward to your video.

[@dee6975]

That’s it no, you didn’t get down to the bottom of it. It’s a scam and you’re not getting to the bottom of it. What a waste you’re gonna get paid by advertisers no scam, scam scam scam are scammers.