Post by coribelle26 on Sept 30, 2013 16:11:28 GMT -5
If you're part of an HOA, do you have anything in writing stating that you are in it? Any kind of official paperwork at all? Like if I was in one I should know, right?
My reason for asking is that when we bought this house in 2007 there was no mention whatsoever about an HOA or any associated costs during any part of the process. Now all of a sudden last year and this year we have gotten these hand-delivered notices from a dude around the block demanding money for maintenance of our "lake access park" in the form of cash and checks made out to him personally. This year he is threatening liens against our properties if we don't pay it.
This park he speaks of is a pathetic overgrown swamp with a collapsing picnic table in the middle of it. The whole shebang is maybe 10x20 feet and we refer to it as Cadaver Cove. I'm certain the only park activity that takes place is teenagers smoking weed there. There is NO FUCKING WAY that it costs $30 per household, in our fairly large sub, to maintain that shit. (I know that's such a small amount of money but still, it's so weird to me that this guy is pocketing all of it and doing god knows what.) I asked a few neighbors about it last year and they were basically like, "I don't really know, but I'm just going to pay it."
This seems crazy, right? Do you think if I called the city they would be able to tell me whether this is legit or just some loon extorting us?
If you're part of an HOA, do you have anything in writing stating that you are in it? Any kind of official paperwork at all? Like if I was in one I should know, right?
You should have gotten a copy of the covenant sometime around the sale. You'd also be hounded about your trashcan and asked for fees. You'd find out sooner than later. Unless the HOA is crazy f*cked.
My reason for asking is that when we bought this house in 2007 there was no mention whatsoever about an HOA or any associated costs during any part of the process. Now all of a sudden last year and this year we have gotten these hand-delivered notices from a dude around the block demanding money for maintenance of our "lake access park" in the form of cash and checks made out to him personally. This year he is threatening liens against our properties if we don't pay it.
What did you say? I'd LOL pretty hard at this.
This park he speaks of is a pathetic overgrown swamp with a collapsing picnic table in the middle of it. The whole shebang is maybe 10x20 feet and we refer to it as Cadaver Cove. I'm certain the only park activity that takes place is teenagers smoking weed there. There is NO FUCKING WAY that it costs $30 per household, in our fairly large sub, to maintain that shit. (I know that's such a small amount of money but still, it's so weird to me that this guy is pocketing all of it and doing god knows what.) I asked a few neighbors about it last year and they were basically like, "I don't really know, but I'm just going to pay it."
This seems crazy, right? Do you think if I called the city they would be able to tell me whether this is legit or just some loon extorting us?
Mega crazy. Ask for a copy of the covenant and the contact information to the board.
Whoa, that sounds super sketchy. If there was an official HOA it should have been mentioned when you bought the house. We specifically bought a house without an HOA and had to have the closing documents redone because they accidentally thought we would be part of an HOA in a completely different part of town. I think it was also in the Seller's Disclosure if there was an HOA.
Post by coribelle26 on Sept 30, 2013 16:16:17 GMT -5
It was just in my mailbox! Which is illegal, if I remember correctly. I think last year we may have just ignored it. Neither of us remembers paying anything.
I have all the books I could need, and what more could I need than books? I shall only engage in commerce if books are the coin. -- Catherynne M. Valente
Post by JayhawkGirl on Sept 30, 2013 16:17:17 GMT -5
We were provided a copy of our declarations (aka covenants) at closing to sign. All monies go to the Association, not an individual. Expenditures are agreed upon and overseen by a board of directors.
He sounds a bit off and is making demands way above his pay grade IMO.
Post by coribelle26 on Sept 30, 2013 16:18:44 GMT -5
Alright I'm going to go through my closing documents to make sure I didn't just glaze over it, but I'm almost completely sure there was nothing. I know our sub has a name, and that was stated in the paperwork, but I don't remember anything about an HOA.
And I'm 100% positive we've never received notice of any meetings or elections in the 6 years we've been here.
Post by EmilieMadison on Sept 30, 2013 16:23:06 GMT -5
Yeah, no. LOL. You'd have been notified about the HOA and received the covenants before closing. And any funds due to an HOA would be checks made out to the HOA, not to a person. Dude is trying to scam you. I'd notify the city or something.
We had to be interviewed by the President of the HOA before we closed on our house. We filled out an application and received a copy of the HOA rules. We pay our dues every quarter and they're paid to the HOA, not to an individual. Any "notices" we receive come via USPS from the HOA, not an individual.
This definitely sounds shady. I would not pay him anything and absolutely report him to the city.
“Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make it so, right in the middle of it lose a leg, fall in love, drop a jar of applesauce.” - Natalie Goldberg
Post by coribelle26 on Sept 30, 2013 16:30:07 GMT -5
Alright thank you for confirming that this is nuts. I feel stupid for even asking because it seems so ridiculous, but the fact that all the other neighbors last year were like, "Oh yeah we'll just give him the money!" made me wonder if I'm the crazy one.
Alright I'm going to go through my closing documents to make sure I didn't just glaze over it, but I'm almost completely sure there was nothing. I know our sub has a name, and that was stated in the paperwork, but I don't remember anything about an HOA.
And I'm 100% positive we've never received notice of any meetings or elections in the 6 years we've been here.
Definitely sketchy. We belong in an HOA when we lived in our condo and every month, we get a copy of the meeting minutes dropped off in front of our door. We live in a townhouse now and same thing, we get the HOA meeting minutes in the mail. We also got a covenant and read through it before we closed on our townhouse.
And no, we never paid anyone in cash. We have paper stubs for our monthly dues and we mail it in to a property management company who manages our HOA along with a check, never in cash.
Ignore that guy and report it to the city. Hell, I would threaten to call the cops the next time he knocks on my front door.
Alright thank you for confirming that this is nuts. I feel stupid for even asking because it seems so ridiculous, but the fact that all the other neighbors last year were like, "Oh yeah we'll just give him the money!" made me wonder if I'm the crazy one.
Wait...ALL the other neighbors are paying this guy? If there is, in fact, a HOA, then the money should be in an an escrow type account with statements that are available for association members to see. The rules/bylaws should be available. And there should be more than just the one person on the board.
This is INSANE. I bet dollars to doughnuts this guy is just pocketing all the money.
Post by coribelle26 on Sept 30, 2013 16:40:06 GMT -5
I only talked to about three different neighbors last year, but they were all planning to pay him. I just got the thing today so I haven't asked anyone else this year.
Our good friends bought a house around the corner last year and they just texted me to ask about it. I told her to wait until after I call the city tomorrow.
that dude is crazy. and cadaver cove made me cackle.
Imagine walking down a tunnel of cobwebs and being rewarded with ankle deep goose poop. Between the bugs, the fish, and the poop it would be an ideal place to dump a body.
Post by mrsericnorthman on Sept 30, 2013 16:43:25 GMT -5
Even if he's in the board, I don't think he has any right to walk around and collect money from the residents.
If there really is an HOA, they will send a letter and that letter will explain everything and tell everyone where to send the money.
We had people who are late on paying the monthly dues and the HOA can't just bang on their doors and ask them to pay and verbally threaten them with putting a lien on their property if they don't. That guy sounds like a scammer.
that dude is crazy. and cadaver cove made me cackle.
Imagine walking down a tunnel of cobwebs and being rewarded with ankle deep goose poop. Between the bugs, the fish, and the poop it would be an ideal place to dump a body.
that dude is crazy. and cadaver cove made me cackle.
Imagine walking down a tunnel of cobwebs and being rewarded with ankle deep goose poop. Between the bugs, the fish, and the poop it would be an ideal place to dump a body.
also this reminds me that in my family it's a running joke that when you see someone turn down a dead end road, or driving around unpaved areas, etc. (basically anything sketchy) we just say "body drop"
Alright thank you for confirming that this is nuts. I feel stupid for even asking because it seems so ridiculous, but the fact that all the other neighbors last year were like, "Oh yeah we'll just give him the money!" made me wonder if I'm the crazy one.
Wait...ALL the other neighbors are paying this guy? If there is, in fact, a HOA, then the money should be in an an escrow type account with statements that are available for association members to see. The rules/bylaws should be available. And there should be more than just the one person on the board.
This is INSANE. I bet dollars to doughnuts this guy is just pocketing all the money.
absolutely he is pocketing the money. It is just small enough that people aren't going to balk at paying it (instead of, say, $100), and the consequences for not are substantial. Because who wants to risk a lien on their house over $30? I'd call the city about this, no doubt.
Post by coribelle26 on Sept 30, 2013 16:53:14 GMT -5
Oh shit the plot thickens!! Our friends who are newer to the neighborhood actually live a few doors down from this guy and said that he gets in multiple screaming matches with his next door neighbor (she's not sure why, maybe landscaping issues?) and that the police are out there at least every couple of days. Holy hell.
When we lived in a condo we were well-aware of the HOA rules and dues....they didn't just spring out of no where years down the road. Is there property management company involved? I would be hesitant to give some random dude some money. We had a board that would meet a couple times a year, it was led by an elected owner in the complex. A property management company was also involved and that's where we sent in our monthly HOA fees.
Post by orangeblossom on Sept 30, 2013 18:52:53 GMT -5
He is just trying to pocket the money.
Trust and believe, if you were part of an HOA and have been there six years you would have heard long before now about owing any money. HOAs may be slack about actually doing anything with the money, but I've yet to hear one that doesn't go after unpaid dues.
I can't believe your neighbors are paying him! Omg! If you were truly in an HOA wouldn't you have to pay for more than once-yearly maintenance on Cadaver Cove? This whole thing is hilarious!