Potential HOA problem

[alkemyst]

My money is on the bill came but disregarded as a newsletter or other hoa mailing.

 

[NetWareHead]

Of course it does, which is why I initially recommended to just ask them nicely to remove the late fee. If they don't, are you seriously going to waste time, money, and resources fighting them to save $50?

I am at that stage right now and am very diplomatic, polite and professional in my emails. I've asked them to please disregard the late fee since I was never properly billed. To which that request was ignored and I never received a response. My phone calls to their office will start tomorrow seeing that I have 30 days starting today with the receipt of their email.

 

[alkemyst]

I am reading the contract I signed where any collection activity will be billed to me and after 30 days, collections is where it is going.

Its just a matter of principle, someone fucked up at their office and now I have to cough up the $50 under threat of collections and possible further repercussions to my credit. I'll fight it as long as it is feasible...

Let's be serious, you trying to fight this shows risk to your credit isn't worth much.

To clean this up is going to be more hassle than $50 would be to me and in the end since everyone else got their bill...would be 99% possibly my fault for disregarding their mailing.

 

[DaTT]

Do they contract out snow removal? If so, this charge is BS. A snow removal company has a flat rate that is decided upon either each year or upon contract renewal. If it snows very little, they still get X amount of dollars agreed upon. If it snows every day for 3 months, they still only get the agreed amount.

 

[wheresmybacon]

Check the laws in your area. HOA policies aren't inherently legal. Here in Vegas there are all kinds of class-action lawsuits going on right now over the legality of the fee structure and collections practices.

$50 may not be worth fighting over, but a 100% late fee is more than a little silly.

 

[God Mode]

Your neighbors and property management hate you and want you out.

 

[soulcougher73]

Let's be serious, you trying to fight this shows risk to your credit isn't worth much.

To clean this up is going to be more hassle than $50 would be to me and in the end since everyone else got their bill...would be 99% possibly my fault for disregarding their mailing.

Or his could be the 1% lost in the mail. Id do as another poster mentioned. Mail in the $50 and a letter saying you never recieved the original bill. Most likely they will just be glad to get the $50 and be done with it.

But i also dont like when people say "its only $50 is it even worth it?" I think its worth it because if everyone was such a pushover can you imagine what most companies would start pulling claiming small late fees all the time. Well its only $5 so im not going to bother. Ill just pay it. Man they would make a killing if they did that to all their customers.

 

[Brovane]

Or his could be the 1% lost in the mail. Id do as another poster mentioned. Mail in the $50 and a letter saying you never recieved the original bill. Most likely they will just be glad to get the $50 and be done with it.

But i also dont like when people say "its only $50 is it even worth it?" I think its worth it because if everyone was such a pushover can you imagine what most companies would start pulling claiming small late fees all the time. Well its only $5 so im not going to bother. Ill just pay it. Man they would make a killing if they did that to all their customers.

That is always the part I consider interesting, with stuff like this. If you mail in a bill you are responsible if the bill doesn't arrive at the destination. However when somebody mails you a bill you are responsible as soon as it leaves their hands even if it doesn't arrive at its destination.

 

[chuckywang]

Yes I directed all correspondence for the owner (me) to another address. Which they have.

Then the error could be in the Post Office. They might have just delivered to your rental property address. Did you check there?

 

[Tencntraze]

But i also dont like when people say "its only $50 is it even worth it?" I think its worth it because if everyone was such a pushover can you imagine what most companies would start pulling claiming small late fees all the time. Well its only $5 so im not going to bother. Ill just pay it. Man they would make a killing if they did that to all their customers.

Of course this is why so many companies use rebates, which I also hate.

 

[alkemyst]

Or his could be the 1% lost in the mail. Id do as another poster mentioned. Mail in the $50 and a letter saying you never recieved the original bill. Most likely they will just be glad to get the $50 and be done with it.

But i also dont like when people say "its only $50 is it even worth it?" I think its worth it because if everyone was such a pushover can you imagine what most companies would start pulling claiming small late fees all the time. Well its only $5 so im not going to bother. Ill just pay it. Man they would make a killing if they did that to all their customers.

It's hardly being a pushover and without a doubt if this was handled properly and not the first time then that fee would probably be forgotten.

Still him being unaware of the special plowing shows I'd side with the logistics being screwed up on my end.

 

[Apathetic]

In their defense, what if everyone said "I never got the bill"? Eventually, that would cause cash flow problems and the HOA wouldn't be able to pay the bills for things like snowplowing.

Awww.. Poor little HOA can't pay it's bills. Gee, that would just be terrible.

If they gave a damn, they should send all bills certified mail. Otherwise, tough shit.

Dave

 

[alkemyst]

Awww.. Poor little HOA can't pay it's bills. Gee, that would just be terrible.

If they gave a damn, they should send all bills certified mail. Otherwise, tough shit.

Dave

You realize it will be billed for that then.

 

[NetWareHead]

Update: They waived the fine. I had to ask 3 times via email and they finally got back to me.

 

[Corn]

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.

Your credit won't be dinged, but they will put a lien on the property and charge you interest that you will have to pay, it will multiply every year you don't pay, and you will end up paying when you ultimately decide to sell the house. I assume since you've owned the home for 7 years they had your correct address on file. If not, and you moved, it is your responsibility to update your address and if you didn't, the late fee is wholly deserved. Ask them nicely to waive the fee, offering to drop it by personally ASAP, maybe they'll waive it.

Edit: LOL, just saw your last post, nevermind the above.

 

[Bateluer]

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

Not really, no. They pretty much just leech.

 

[alkemyst]

Do you people that make this comments just live with your parents or something? HOA's are not dictatorships. Either you aren't voting or your voting doesn't match your neighbors.

If you think all your dues are just leeched, where do they go?