received threatening from my HOA

[RMATT78470]

I live in Maryland and i recently recieved a letter regarding a special assesment from my HOA stating that $600 has to be paid in full by April 2006 for parking lot repairs etc. I already pay $396.00 per year for dues. They mailed me a payment plan contract and stated that if i do not get on a payment plan within the next 10 days that the full payment will be do within the same time frame.

Can they force me to get on a payment plan now when they stated I have until April 2006 to pay the $600? I may choose to pay it off once i get my taxes back in February in one lump sum. The have some nerve!

Then they go on to state that if it is not paid or if i have not gotten on a pay plan they will take me to small claims court to have a judgement placed against me. Then it will be sent to my employer for garnishment of wages, and that I will loose my parking spot plus, I will have to pay $235.00 for court cost etc. All this threatening talk when april 2006 hasn't arrived yet.

Please let me know what my options are? It seems to me as long as I pay the money in full by April 2006, it shouldn't matter what road I take to get to that point. Nor do I need to sign a contract for payment. This letter is so offensive to me as a new home owner.

 

[HomeGuru]

I live in Maryland and i recently recieved a letter regarding a special assesment from my HOA stating that $600 has to be paid in full by April 2006 for parking lot repairs etc. I already pay $396.00 per year for dues.

**A: the $396 dues anoumt tthat you pay is not relevant as the $600 is for a special assessment.

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They mailed me a payment plan contract and stated that if i do not get on a payment plan within the next 10 days that the full payment will be do within the same time frame.

**A: yeah so what.
*******

Can they force me to get on a payment plan now when they stated I have until April 2006 to pay the $600? I may choose to pay it off once i get my taxes back in February in one lump sum. The have some nerve!

**A: yes they can.
*********

Then they go on to state that if it is not paid or if i have not gotten on a pay plan they will take me to small claims court to have a judgement placed against me. Then it will be sent to my employer for garnishment of wages, and that I will loose my parking spot plus, I will have to pay $235.00 for court cost etc. All this threatening talk when april 2006 hasn't arrived yet.

**A: I agree that they can do all of that with the exception of your parking spots. If your parking is appurtenant to your condo unit, then they can't restrict.

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Please let me know what my options are? It seems to me as long as I pay the money in full by April 2006, it shouldn't matter what road I take to get to that point. Nor do I need to sign a contract for payment. This letter is so offensive to me as a new home owner.

**A: you need to get with the program, attend all HOA meetings and read all your condo docs. There is a lot more that the HOA can do.

 

[Some Random Guy]

And while you complain that the HOA was not polite enough in their letter, there is a good reason for that. Many homeowners ignore these letters from the HOA or just plan to pay late like they do all of their other bills. They need to be threatened and pressured into paying these bills so that the HOA has money in their coffers when the construction contractors ask for payment.

Just make sure you pay - or else you will be assessed those other fees.

 

[HomeGuru]

It is no fun to be in trouble with the HOA.