Alden State Bank customers have reported receiving letters in the mail about home warranty coverage, urging them to call a number about a time-sensitive matter regarding their mortgage.  While legitimate home warranty companies do exist, these letters are most likely a scam and ALDEN STATE BANK IS NOT AFFILATED WITH THE COMPANY SENDING THE LETTERS.  Alden State Bank does not require a home warranty as a condition of obtaining or maintaining a mortgage or home equity loan.   

What do these letters look like and what do they say?

These letters come from a home warranty services company.  The letters present a sense of urgency or official business by using the following:

• “Official Business – Penalty for Private Use, $300.”
• “FINAL NOTICE: IMMEDIATE RESPONSE REQUIRED.”
• “Policy Offer Expire Date: [Date].”
• “We need you to call today about an urgent matter.”
• “This will be our FINAL ATTEMPT TO NOTIFY YOU.”
• “Based on your mortgage lender’s requirements for your current loan…”

 These letters are especially convincing because they are sent through the mail and mention “ALDEN ST BK.”  These letters will look similar to the example below:

Who is sending these letters?

The company sending these letters does not include its name anywhere in the letter.  After calling the telephone number in the letters, a live person answered and stated, “Home Warranty Services.”  After calling the telephone number outside of the “operating hours” listed in the letter, an automated recording answered and stated, “Warranty Services.”  

 How did the sender get my information?

 Alden State Bank is committed to protecting our customers’ information.  We do not sell or share your private, non-public personal information except as disclosed to you in our Privacy Policy.  You can find a copy of our current Privacy Policy here:

https://www.aldenstate.com/privacy-policy.html

Some information about mortgage loans, regardless of what lender you work with, is a matter of public record.  That is most likely how the company that sent these letters obtained your information.   

What happens if I call the telephone number in the letter?

If you call the telephone number listed in the letter, you may connect to a real person or to an automated recording.  In either case, it is important that you do not provide any personal information because this company has no affiliation with Alden State Bank.

What should I do if I receive this letter?

Your best course of action is to disregard the letter.  We recommend that you shred any piece of personal mail.  Consider reporting the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the New York State Attorney General (NYSAG).

FTC: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/

NYSAG: https://ag.ny.gov/file-complaint

Once again, Alden State Bank does not require a home warranty as a condition of obtaining or maintaining a mortgage or home equity loan.  This home warranty company is trying to deceive you into believing they are affiliated with Alden State Bank.  While not all home warranty companies are inherently scams, the industry is notorious for high-pressure sales, aggressive fine print, and denied claims.  We recommend thoroughly researching any home warranty providers before deciding to purchase a home warranty.  

We also encourage you to read the following from the FTC about home warranties: 

https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/02/so-whats-deal-home-warranties

If you are ever in doubt about a communication referencing Alden State Bank, please contact us directly at (716) 937-3381.