Potential HOA problem

[NetWareHead]

Received an email from an HOA that governs a rental property I own. There was alot of snow this past winter and apparently a $50 dollar snow assessment was sent to all property owners to cover the extra plowing fees.

The thing is that I never received it. I'm in the middle of an email convo with one of the HOA office ladies asking her to verify my address and I stated that I never received the bill. This all started with them sending me, this morning, a bill for the assessment plus a $50 late fee for a total of $100.

I have no problem paying the snow assessment but whats the deal with the late fee? if I never got the bill... Not sure what kind of battle might be laying out in front of me. They have an attorney on staff and a collections clause in the HOA agreement.

UPDATE: Fine was waived.

 

[RKS]

You can pay the $100 or spend a lot more getting an attorney. Good Luck.

 

[lxskllr]

You can pay the $100 or spend a lot more getting an attorney. Good Luck.

Pretty much. They'll tell you what to do, and you'll do it, or get thrown out. Welcome to HOAs.

 

[dquan97]

Ask them to waive the late fee

 

[amdhunter]

lol. Does anyone ever get anything good out of an HOA? All you guys seem to do is bitch about them.

 

[Scotteq]

Just pay the $100 - It'll be worth it even only to avoid the aggravation they'll give you if you don't. Consider it a tutorial in 'Nuisance Value'.


HOAs are one of nature's ways of telling people to move elsewhere.

 

[Brovane]

You probably need to just suck it up and pay it. You could ask them to waive the late fee since you never received the bill. However it isn't worth a fight over $50.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

As someone said, just ask them to waive the late fee. If they don't, then just pay the $100 and be done with it.

 

[Rumpltzer]

I'd be insisitent on waiving the late fee. If you end up having to pay the $100, it'd be most appropriate to take a dump on the hood of each HOA members' car.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

You gonna lose yo house! :biggrin:

 

[nick1985]

HOA bylaws > Federal law > State law > local laws

Everyone knows this. Pay up, bitch.

 

[kami333]

Ask them nicely to waive the late fee. Fighting with them (lawyering) is always a loss since even when you win the fight, you ultimately lose since you are a part of the HOA.

And get involved with your HOA. HOAs go down the drain because no one wants to participate/volunteer.

 

[edro]

Roundup their lawns!!!

 

[bignateyk]

Roundup their lawns!!!

Then file complaints against them for having dead grass.

 

[Vette73]

Ask to pay $50 only then run for board and cancel snow fees.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Received an email from an HOA that governs a rental property I own. There was alot of snow this past winter and apparently a $50 dollar snow assessment was sent to all property owners to cover the extra plowing fees.

The thing is that I never received it. I'm in the middle of an email convo with one of the HOA office ladies asking her to verify my address and I stated that I never received the bill. This all started with them sending me, this morning, a bill for the assessment plus a $50 late fee for a total of $100.

I have no problem paying the snow assessment but whats the deal with the late fee? if I never got the bill... Not sure what kind of battle might be laying out in front of me. They have an attorney on staff and a collections clause in the HOA agreement.

Ask them for proof of them sending out the initial bill. If they can't, ask them to waive the late fee. This shouldn't be that difficult.

 

[mb]

Roundup their lawns!!!

Then file complaints against them for having dead grass.

bwahahahahaha :thumbsup:

 

[kranky]

Wow, they have an attorney on staff. They must start a lot of legal commotion with the membership to justify that kind of expense.

 

[Aharami]

Ask them for proof of them sending out the initial bill. If they can't, ask them to waive the late fee. This shouldn't be that difficult.

sounds like the best solution so far.

 

[NetWareHead]

Guys lets stay on track and ignore the HOA part; I dont mean for this thread to disintegrate into a HOA hate fest. And for the record, I've owned this property for 7 years now and never had an issue with them. Never have been unreasonable. These guys are like any other business with late fees.

Anyway, Im wondering if my refusal to pay $50 can eventually ding my credit score and what I can do to fight this.

So far I am being very diplomatic, polite in my tone and very professional in my emails. I have years of good payment history on my record and all my payments are sent in early, backed up by records.

My last email is being ignored by them after I raised the issue that they have not properly billed me. I have a feeling that this is going to get ugly.

 

[NetWareHead]

Wow, they have an attorney on staff. They must start a lot of legal commotion with the membership to justify that kind of expense.

Sure, they own alot of properties and he is either staff or an outside atty on retainer. Not really too out of the ordinary.

 

[NetWareHead]

Ask them for proof of them sending out the initial bill. If they can't, ask them to waive the late fee. This shouldn't be that difficult.

Sounds good on paper, how feasible is this? I'm thinking of involving my brother in law who is an attorney to back me up on this but I dont want to bother him if not necessary.

Above all, I want to avoid a ding on my credit score all because they missed sending me a bill.

 

[ultimatebob]

The last time I had a problem like this, I sent the HOA a check for the original amount (minus late fees), and included a letter stating that I never got the original bill.

That was the end of it, problem solved.

Oh... and they're not going to bother sending you to collections over $50. Don't worry about that unless this issue isn't resolved 3 months from now.

 

[highland145]

If you don't pay and can't get it dropped they can put a lien on the property.

 

[JulesMaximus]

They won't waive it? See if they can meet you halfway and only charge $50 penalty since you've been on time with all your payments (I assume).