charged by the county to the lender to record a document that officially removes the mortgage or deed of trust? Do you realize that the lender can just not record the reconveyance, and that by so doing a lien will show on your property? A lien with a $0 balance, but a lien nonetheless. They have no reason to do anything at this point. The $25 is for your benefit, not the lender's. You can play your game, but they are not obligated to do anything until you do what you need to do to free yourself from the lien. Do you understand that?