Home Should I have done this or did I just start a war?

[Shoopy]

For the past two years we have had problems with our parking situation. Basically we paid $5K to have two spaces together and because we don''t have security or a good HOA, people park in our spaces anyway (marked reserved). We complained to the front office and their exact words were "when you get home, block both spaces so people won''t park in your spots." And that''s what we have all done...as in the entire community (that owns two spaces).

Overnight, the association manager decided that she didn''t want this happening anymore so she contracted a tow truck company to come this last Saturday and tow cars. I wasn''t home so my FI had blocked the two spaces as we have always done and his car was towed (as were 15 others for various reasons). We were furious because of the lack of communication that this was going to happen but whatever. Rules are rules.

The thing that makes me even more angry is with our maintenance guy (and resident) "D." He thinks he owns the community and he parks in handicap spots and on the curb every night. We never complained to the association because its not a battle we want to fight and besides its not like the office was doing anything about all the parking issues in the community. But after having to pay $150 to get our car out of the very rude tow truck company and ending up with a scratch on the side door

, I called the HOA and complained. I basically told her that if she expects us to follow her rules then we all have to follow the rules. And she agreed.

Now I''m thinking maybe I should not have done that. He''s going to know that it was me that complained and this guy isn''t exactly a model citizen and now I''m scared I started a battle with him.

Should I have called or kept my mouth shut?

 

[applequeen]

Let me get this straight... she arranged to have cars towed out of spaces you PAY for?!?!?!?! Because you were parking in a way to make sure that those spaces stay available for your use... which is what you had been TOLD to do?!?!??!

Heck yes you did the right thing. I think you need to start a war over it. What right does she have to arrange to have your car removed from a space that you have to pay for? They towed the wrong people... they ought to tow the people who part in the reserved spaces that aren''t theirs.

I''m livid for you. I can'' t imagine what I would have done.

 

[movie zombie]

Date: 10/1/2008 10:22:14 AM
Author: applequeen
Let me get this straight... she arranged to have cars towed out of spaces you PAY for?!?!?!?! Because you were parking in a way to make sure that those spaces stay available for your use... which is what you had been TOLD to do?!?!??!

Heck yes you did the right thing. I think you need to start a war over it. What right does she have to arrange to have your car removed from a space that you have to pay for? They towed the wrong people... they ought to tow the people who part in the reserved spaces that aren''t theirs.

I''m livid for you. I can'' t imagine what I would have done.

+1.

movie zombie

 

[tiffanytwisted]

I think that not only should the maintenance man who parks in handicapped spaces be towed, but anyone who parks in your spot, or any other spot marked "reserved" should also be towed.

ETA: if you are paying for the parking spot, they should make a reasonable effort to ensure that thos paying for their spots are the ones parking in them.

 

[Cleopatra]

Do you all have tags or stickers to put on your cars? Numbered spaces corresponding to the number on your tags? If not, this system should be started at your complex - and a towing company on speed dial - if a car does not have the corresponding tag/sticker, it gets towed...end of story.

I''m also livid for you

 

[Shoopy]

Date: 10/1/2008 10:39:02 AM
Author: tiffanytwisted
I think that not only should the maintenance man who parks in handicapped spaces be towed, but anyone who parks in your spot, or any other spot marked ''reserved'' should also be towed.

ETA: if you are paying for the parking spot, they should make a reasonable effort to ensure that thos paying for their spots are the ones parking in them.

That''s exactly what I told them.

When I spoke to her I said that there was no way she can contract a tow truck company to remove cars from parking spaces when they have no idea whether that car is authorized to park in that space or not. Unless she was going to provide them with a list of tags and what spaces they are allowed to park ing, she can''t have them tow the cars.

We were really mad on Saturday. Even my FI who is normally very laid back and doesn''t lose his cool often was furious.

Oh and get this. They sent a letter out to the community explaining that not everyone is paying their association fees and asking us to talk to our neighbors to make sure they''re paying the association fees

Hi neighbor. Can I borrow some sugar? Oh and by the way, have you paid your association fees this month?

 

[dragonfly411]

You need to explain to them that they can''t tow you for doing something they told you to do, and you are paying fees to have those parking spots and they need to find a system for towing cars that park in reserved spots when they aren''t authorized to. They need to have a decal system for cars with reserved spots to have decals FOR Those spots. Then they can have a way of recognizing the unauthorized cars vs. the spots. From there you need to take the bill for towing TO the front office and let them know they can pay the tow fees, OR they can refund you the money you''ve payed to RESERVE those spots, and if they don''t, they can have a talk with a judge and your lawer. Period.

 

[fleur-de-lis]

Date: 10/1/2008 10:47:29 AM
Author: fieryred33143

Date: 10/1/2008 10:39:02 AM

Author: tiffanytwisted

I think that not only should the maintenance man who parks in handicapped spaces be towed, but anyone who parks in your spot, or any other spot marked ''reserved'' should also be towed.


ETA: if you are paying for the parking spot, they should make a reasonable effort to ensure that thos paying for their spots are the ones parking in them.

That''s exactly what I told them.


When I spoke to her I said that there was no way she can contract a tow truck company to remove cars from parking spaces when they have no idea whether that car is authorized to park in that space or not. Unless she was going to provide them with a list of tags and what spaces they are allowed to park ing, she can''t have them tow the cars.


We were really mad on Saturday. Even my FI who is normally very laid back and doesn''t lose his cool often was furious.


Oh and get this. They sent a letter out to the community explaining that not everyone is paying their association fees and asking us to talk to our neighbors to make sure they''re paying the association fees

Hi neighbor. Can I borrow some sugar? Oh and by the way, have you paid your association fees this month?

I''d be tempted to reduce my next month''s association fees by $150.

 

[absolut_blonde]

Date: 10/1/2008 10:47:29 AM
Author: fieryred33143

Date: 10/1/2008 10:39:02 AM
Author: tiffanytwisted
I think that not only should the maintenance man who parks in handicapped spaces be towed, but anyone who parks in your spot, or any other spot marked ''reserved'' should also be towed.

ETA: if you are paying for the parking spot, they should make a reasonable effort to ensure that thos paying for their spots are the ones parking in them.

That''s exactly what I told them.

When I spoke to her I said that there was no way she can contract a tow truck company to remove cars from parking spaces when they have no idea whether that car is authorized to park in that space or not. Unless she was going to provide them with a list of tags and what spaces they are allowed to park ing, she can''t have them tow the cars.

We were really mad on Saturday. Even my FI who is normally very laid back and doesn''t lose his cool often was furious.

Oh and get this. They sent a letter out to the community explaining that not everyone is paying their association fees and asking us to talk to our neighbors to make sure they''re paying the association fees

Hi neighbor. Can I borrow some sugar? Oh and by the way, have you paid your association fees this month?

Oh, HELL no. Tell them to do their own job. Sheesh.

Is there upper management you can speak to about all of this? It sounds ridiculous.

 

[tiffanytwisted]

Your association manager sounds very passive aggressive. I think you need a new manager.
They are they only ones who know who isn''t paying, why can''t they contact them?

 

[Shoopy]

Unfortunately the associations in South Florida are horrible. The Continental Group does most of the association for the majority of the communities here and they''re awful.

This is not the first time we have gotten one of these letters. In a previous community (where I was renting a room), my roommate and I got the same letter asking residents to make sure their neighbors are paying association fees.

It says 2 things:

1. That they''re unprofessional
and
2. They''re not very good managers if they can''t even control the people paying association fees.

All I know is that we have never skipped a payment or been late but still have to pay $150 to get our car out of a tow lot. Total crap.

I''m going to bring it up in the next HOA meeting.

 

[purrfectpear]

As a former HOA president and looking at the economy, I can tell you that your HOA is in for a world of hurt. This is just the beginning of the non-payers

(not that it''s up to you to attempt to collect).

More people will foreclose and stop paying HOA dues. As a result your dues are likely to be reset next year. When the bank takes over, they are NOT responsible for the accumulated dues, only the dues forward from the date the foreclosure is official. HOA''s are losing thousands over this.

Your HOA is likely putting liens on the homeowners for the late dues, but once in foreclosure it''s moot. You don''t get that money back. Your HOA could attempt to bring a civil suit but you''re unlikely to recover from someone already in foreclosure.

About the parking...I wouldn''t have been parking crosswise to begin with. I would have demanded that the HOA enforce the rules themselves and tow people who parked in MY spots. Why should I have to move my partners car everytime I want to use my spot?

 

[blondebunny]

That totally SUCKS!!! parking is one of the main things that drives me crazy!!! I hate when they say they are going to enforce it, and dont, and then decide one day they are going to, and you get in trouble.. WTF!!!! But seriously that is soo wrong... I''d be soo mad...We used to have people who parked behind our driveway, and in the morning I could barely back out because my windows were fogged up so I had an even harder time. I finally would just notes on their cars saying that if they did it one more time I was calling a tow truck, and I didnt care what happened to their car, or I''d be like lady in Fried Green Tomatos and say TAAWANNDAAA!!!!! and hit their cars as many times as I could... hehehehe

I cant tell you how many times I wished I could have done it without harming my car....

Have you tried talking to the people that park in your spot and explain to them that you paid for it, and if they continue to park there you are going to send them a bill for them parking in your spot.. I dont understand why some people just cant RESPECT other peoples property....

 

[Shoopy]

Date: 10/1/2008 1:50:20 PM
Author: purrfectpear
As a former HOA president and looking at the economy, I can tell you that your HOA is in for a world of hurt. This is just the beginning of the non-payers

(not that it''s up to you to attempt to collect).

More people will foreclose and stop paying HOA dues. As a result your dues are likely to be reset next year. When the bank takes over, they are NOT responsible for the accumulated dues, only the dues forward from the date the foreclosure is official. HOA''s are losing thousands over this.

Your HOA is likely putting liens on the homeowners for the late dues, but once in foreclosure it''s moot. You don''t get that money back. Your HOA could attempt to bring a civil suit but you''re unlikely to recover from someone already in foreclosure.

About the parking...I wouldn''t have been parking crosswise to begin with. I would have demanded that the HOA enforce the rules themselves and tow people who parked in MY spots. Why should I have to move my partners car everytime I want to use my spot?

That is one of our biggest worries this coming January. It''s at $240 right now which is ok and low considering neighboring communities (we have 2 pools, a jacuzzi, and a gym). We know of 3 condos that foreclosed and we can''t imagine how many others will go through the same thing. I''m guessing it''ll be over $300 if not closer to $400 next year.

As for the parking crosswise, we didn''t do that at first because we didn''t agree with it either. We fought with them for 2 months to get the spaces marked reserved. At one point I went into Home Depot, bought the stencils myself, spray painted it, and then walked in with a receipt. But there were a few nights where I (being that I get home much later than my fiance) would have to park 3 lots over in the empty guest spots (because I''m not going to take someone else''s reserved space) and walked over. Now, I could use the exercise but it used to annoy me and make me so angry that we decided to just park and block. Recently there hasn''t been a problem with it unless we are gone for a few days.

I can''t imagine being a HOA president with all of the calls that must come through on a daily basis. I know their other biggest challenge right now are people complaining about owners allowing dogs to use the restroom on the sidewalk instead of on the grass. And of course we don''t have a designated pet area

 

[oobiecoo]

This is just terrible the way they are acting! Parking in a handicapped space is illegal... parking across 2 spaces is probably not. When was the last time you saw a truck and trailer get a ticket for parking across a couple of spots at your local McDonalds? Probably Never. I would definitely demand they pay for the towing.

To me, it sounds like the manager has friends with more than 2 cars who were taking OTHER people spaces and were no longer able to since people started blocking them. So she decided to help her friends out.

 

[FireGoddess]

Not only were you right, but you should demand the $150 back for the towing fees and the cost of the repair to the scratch on your car.

 

[bee*]

Date: 10/1/2008 4:38:54 PM
Author: FireGoddess
Not only were you right, but you should demand the $150 back for the towing fees and the cost of the repair to the scratch on your car.

ditto 100%

 

[fatafelice]

That is so not cool. They should definitely reimburse you for the towing. Also, can''t you just call the tow company yourself if someone parks in your spot? At DH''s old condo, the spaces were numbered, and if someone parked in one if his spots, he could call the truck himself. Not that you should have to, mind you, but still, maybe it would help.

 

[FrekeChild]

Date: 10/1/2008 5:13:31 PM
Author: bee*

Date: 10/1/2008 4:38:54 PM
Author: FireGoddess
Not only were you right, but you should demand the $150 back for the towing fees and the cost of the repair to the scratch on your car.

ditto 100%

Thritto!

 

[Shoopy]

I called the company today and told them what happened. Her exact words to me were "wait, your car got towed without them even giving you a warning sticker??"

So we left all the details with the customer service person so they can forward it to the District Manager. Hopefully we can get our money back.