Article
and Video Courtesy of Channel 9, Orlando
By
Todd Ulrich
Published
November 10, 2010
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Watch
VIDEO
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The homeowner told Action 9 he actually paid the HOA too much and they never noticed.
A homeowners' association in Orange County has seized a man's home through foreclosure for not paying dues. The homeowner told Action 9 he actually paid the HOA too much and they never noticed.
Bank statements show the association started rejecting his partial payments
because his account was in collection. Homeowner Danny Lopez claims
that when the HOA refused to reconsider its actions he set up his own escrow account and paid dues, so the association could collect later.
Stopping the payments was his huge mistake.
Association attorney Peter McGrath filed foreclosure action and the homeowner lost his $200,000 home in court. |
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Attorney Barbara Stage represents consumers.
"The association definitely made some mistakes. They should have never returned his payment." She called this case outrageous, because an association can't reject partial payments. It was a small amount, they should have tried to work with the homeowner."
His overpayments triggered the mess. Homeowner Danny Lopez considers legal action.
The
association has foreclosed to collect $1,600.00 in unpaid dues plus legal fees! |
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COMMENT:
Homeowners
beware! Even if you think you act in good faith and the
association is to fault for the accounting mess, never
stop making the payments.
And since this is
YOUR HOME AT STAKE, please get legal advice -- before
you suddenly sleep under the bridge! Pro-Se may be a good
idea to save money in Small Claims Court, but in case of
HOAs and Unpaid Dues the stakes are high. Make sure
you get it right! Fighting later may be risky and very
costly! |
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