Say no to HOA...

Topic: Say no to HOA... (Read 997 times) previous topic - next topic

Say no to HOA...

April 09, 2009, 05:31:52 PM

I really with my apartment wasn't hoa. I got home from work yesterday and had a towing stick on the wifes neon. The car has sat a while, but does function. The sticker said "your car will be towed becasue of" and then a box was checked that said inoperative. So I pulled it out, and backed it back into the spot. I went down the the office and talked to management at my apartment complex. They told me that as long as the car had registration and insurance, and can move under its own power, they don't car how long it has sat. I asked who is going to tow it, and they said that HOA is over it. I call HOA, and they won't tell me anything. A person in my apartment building is the daytime manager, and I went down and talked to her.

She told me that the towing company was speedy towing. I got a copy of the contract I signed from the apartment. I already had one, but didn't want them to have access to my social and personal information, incase it did progress further. I called speedy towing about 20 minutes before close. The first three phone calls, someone picked up and hung up the phone. The 4th call got me to talk to someone. I asked them why my car was being towed. They said "What did it say on the ticket?". I said "It says inoperative". They answered with "there you go" and hung up. I called back and again had someone hang up on me several time. I figure its the end of there shift and they don't want to talk to anyone. So I pressed the option on the phone for a manager. It led me to a voicemail. I left my name and number and asked to be called back ASAP. They called me back at 6:30 (half an hour after close).

First two times they hung up when I answered. I could hear them in the back ground breathing. The third time I let it go to voicemail. The voice mail said to call back any time from 8am to 5pm and gave me the regular number with no name. I tried to call back the same number with no answer. I worked later that night and decided that I wasn't going to let them tow my car. Not that I like it, but I have lost several cars to shady tow companies. I went out in the neon, got the days newspaper. I took pictures of the miliage on the car and drove all around town with the newspaper in the window and the miliage periodically. I worked last night from 10:00PM to 3:30AM. I woke up at 8am and called them back. I got a different voice this time. It was a man. Not sure if it was the "manager" I got a voice mail from last night.

I asked them when my car was to be towed. They told me friday morning. I asked why. They didn't know. I told them it was inoperative. They then agreed. I asked them how often the car has to be moved. There answer was as often as possible. I replied with, The neon is my wifes car. I have been driving it the last several days(A lie, but I know they don't know that.). I told them it drives fine and fuctions properly and has been in motion periodically since we have owned it. They said that it must not have valid registration and insurance. I asked how they knew that. They didn't answer. I told them if they had the right to tow my car for no insurance or registration they should at least be able to check to see if I had it or not. The guy hung up on me.

Still being tired from my 4 hours or so of sleep, I went back to sleep. I woke up around 11:00, and got ready for the day. When I woke up I was very upset. Everything went through my mind. I work nights for the rest of the week.

Also, I may have to include here, I generally do not think right or function correctly after being awake for over 24 hours. Many times when I end up working nights for the week, I am not able to sleep. Sometimes for days. It really messes with my head.

I drove the car down to the tow place after I got ready. I walked in and was greeted with a smile. "Hi. How can I help you?". I replied with" I would like for you to come outside and show me how my car is not functional." The receptionist had a blank stare and didn't say anything for about two minutes. A man walked up, and said is there a problem. I answered with "Yes". I explained what happened. He told me that "it wasn't his problem." I asked him for a copy for the contract he had with the HOA. He refused to show it to me. I told him that I signed a contract that said I could park a car in my stall as long as I had proper insurance and registration. He said "yes, as long as it moves once every 24 hours". I replied with "Those are requirements for guest parking" He asked me what car was going to get towed. I gave him the name and he said"Its off the list, get out of here before I call the police.".

I'll take that as a win on my part. I wonder what they'd do if I went out a rented or bought a boot and stuck it on there tow truck when they come to pick up the rest of the people who just peeled off there sticker and didn't harass them?.

Say no to HOA...

Reply #1 – April 09, 2009, 05:57:53 PM

Wow thats ridiculous. My Catera sat in front of my house with a flat tire for one day and my town's cop bugged me three times during the day that the town has a "48 hour rule" I finally told him to stop harassing me and that I understood it the first two times. I promptly filled the tire and backed it up 6 feet.

48 hours my ass......

Say no to HOA...

Reply #2 – April 09, 2009, 06:21:35 PM

Quote from: 86XR7project;266637

Wow thats ridiculous. My Catera sat in front of my house with a flat tire for one day and my town's cop bugged me three times during the day that the town has a "48 hour rule" I finally told him to stop harassing me and that I understood it the first two times. I promptly filled the tire and backed it up 6 feet.

48 hours my ass......

Similar issue on my street. Dead end, only come here if you know someone. And if they have to turn around then they always seem to use my neighbors driveway that has a steep incline from the street level to the sidewalk. When they back out it almost rips the bumper (dome have ripped) so they never make that wrong turn again.

My neighbor to the left of me is a pure a**. Everyone gets along on this street but him. He feels the need to park in the street when he lives alone. Fine, but dont complain because other people are parking across from your driveway (in front of THEIR house, one side only parking) because you cant drive your Regal. He actually called on my neighbors across from me (ones with the driveway) about her sisters little truck that sat on the street for a week. She travels and leave the truck here so it can be used if needed, has been doing this for years before he even moved in. So she got tickets for it not moving. Whole street wasnt too happy about this and he knew.

Well my SHO sat in the street for over a week (with a brick in front of the tire), as well as my Dads car for around 2 (when he first got laid off) and we never got a ticket. I think he got the hint.

I can understand if the car is an eyesore or complete junk. But in our case it wasnt a big deal at all. Neighbors are supposed to take care of one another, how its always been on my street. Guess he doesnt understand what he wasted.

I hope they dont tow your car since they sound like D-bags. You have nothing in writing and it seems like they arent ran that great as it is. I would have let him call (better yet I would have) the police so that there was proof.

Say no to HOA...

Reply #3 – April 09, 2009, 06:54:42 PM

I will be leaving the car at my work in the next couple of days. I started driving it. Everytime I drive one car, I have been taking the other one to the gas station and reversing the direction it has been parked. I talked to the manager for my apartment building, she said that she would give them a call and tell them to not touch my car.

There is a reason I went driving around and taking pictures with the days newspaper on it. Ever hear or the pair of $13,000 pants? A laundry mat burned a guys pants, he asked them to buy him new ones. They refused and he took them to court. They ended up paying $13,000 to settle out side of court. I'm not saying I am going to sue them, but if they take the car I'll do everything legal I can to get it back. If that fails, I'll go down there with a pair of bolt cutters over the weekend and drive it out. Technically they are not allowed to keep my car, but technically as long as I owe them money and they have possesion of the car then they can keep it. If it "somehow" makes it back to my driveway, the only thing they can try to do is try to collect on it. If it comes to that point,

I will have all the photo documentation of when the car had been driven and how many miles I have put on it each day. I also have a copy of the HOA parking enforcement contract in the mail from my apartment manager. As long as I meet every minimum requirement, the would never stand up in court. Especially without any proof that I haven't been driving it if I have.

Now before you call me stupid for what I am suggesting, I lost both of my 86 5.0 cougars to the same company about 3 years ago. They also "impounded" my dads motorcycle while I was at the gas station getting a mt. dew. My dad called them and asked what it would take to get it out. They wanted like $900 for it. My dad had me drive him down there with some bolt cutters and he cut off the lock and drove it home. The next day a cop came and talked to him. He admitted he did and then proved that they towed illegally. They left without bothering him and never bugged him about again. My dad says theres alot of "gray" area as far as impounding and towing laws go. My dad has taken classes in law, and acted as his own lawyer and mine several times. Everytime he has won.

Say no to HOA...

Reply #4 – April 09, 2009, 08:17:49 PM

Sometimes I am SOOOOOOOO glad to live in the boonies, where not only can you have derelict cars, but most residents seem to think it's a requirement.

You might want double check on that pants story, though, before you use it for reference. I seem to remember the person who brought the lawsuit about not only lost the case, he was disbarred (was a lawyer) because he was wasting court resources. Come to think of it, I think he was a judge for some level of court and was fired. He was also ordered to pay the court costs for the dry cleaners, which is probably where that $13k figure you mentioned came from.

Say no to HOA...

Reply #5 – April 10, 2009, 12:14:47 AM

Quote from: Haystack;266645

I talked to the manager for my apartment building, she said that she would give them a call and tell them to not touch my car.
.

and there would be who I think initiated all of this. how could she hold so much power and bring all this to an end by just a simple phone call.

Perhaps she could have called you to check on the car,,no,,no,, thats now how we do things. We just shoot off with a course of action that forces people in tight quarters to hate eachother.

now if your looking for revenge, just go back there and partite in the services the company offers as it is a public place of buisness. While you are there, note any apparent vilolations , expired fire extinguishers, leaky fluids under the car, sharp edges you cut yourself on while entering the door way,,,,grin!!! Look for things that warrents you as a community watch dog to report out to various support networks like osha, fire dept, better yet you could also have them inspected for these violations once you reseach and learn this stuff.
Hell, you could have someone from the city visiting them daily.

How about going in there tomorrow and ask for a job application wearing a vid cam. SInce memory is fresh as to who you are, im sure they will do nothing but discriminate. What butt wipes.

x2 thunderchicken.