Cluster Mailbox unit ?? who is responsible

It depends. Does someone want to know? If not, then the HOA may have to pay for the expense for repairs. The only difference is that the HOA may not be able to pin the cost on an individual. Either way the HOA will most likely pay and it will be in the recovery options that will be the concern.

So someone your Mother knows accidentally caused damage to the common property mailbox.

And you wish to know who is responsible for the cost to repair.

My opinion would be the person who caused the damage. If not the cost will be covered by all the neighbors for damage they had nothing to do with.

As suggested the party who did the damage or if this person was on the property invited by your Mother either would be liable for this cost.

My question if not the person who did the damage or your Mother who do you think should cover the repair cost????

It was my sister that caused the damage. And yes I do believe that she should have to pay for it not my mother. My sister has called and talked to them so I'm not sure why they can't take this off of my Mother's bill and charge my sister. Also this happened in late November last year, the President of the HOA did come out and talked to my sister (not in a nice way) and my sister told her that if she needed any of her information, insurance etc that she could get that from my mother. Then nothing was said anymore about it and nooone contacted my mother. Also my Mother was at one of the HOA meetings in January and nothing was mentioned about it either, Then out of the blue my mother gets this bill. When my sister called the HOA company to discuss it and explain it was her and not our mother that hit the mailboxes they said they weren't going to charge anyone but that the President of the HOA called and told her to put it on my mothers bill.. Any advise or anything on how I can get this burden off of my Mother?

Amy

How much is the bill? If only a few hundred dollars than tell your sister to pay it and be done with it. Otherwise have your sister file a claim with her auto insurer.

What is so difficult about this?

Amy,

Did your sister file a claim with her insurance?

If she did, the Association would likely have been contacted.

The failure of being contacted can imply to someone that the responsible party is doing nothing to address the issue.

Again, the Association has a contract (the CC&Rs) with your mother, not with your sister. Have your sister get into action and file a claim or pay the bill outright (not in payments) and the debt will be removed from your mothers account. Otherwise, it will stay on the account and, if not paid within a reasonable time, may be the basis for a lien and (worst case) foreclosure.

One of our elderly residents hit one of our cluster mailbox units last year. It has occurred twice.

The Post Office informed us that they would repair/replace, which they did, although it took several weeks.

No one was fined, and our HOA did not have to pay to repair /replace the actual units (Boxes)

Upon repairing, they found wood rot and termite damage, which the HOA had to pay in order to replace the housing..

(We were told that the boxes, units, etc were Post Office Property, but the housing was HOA responsibility.)

J thanks for your response- I do ask why you are requesting me to please cease with now questioning the charges? I am merely trying to protect my elderly Mother who I am her caretaker of. Thanks for your concern.. and I am completely aware that My Sister Yes should have sole responsibilty for but yes we all have family that are not so responsible. I merely ask for advise on how to handle that issue if my sister is like that???????????????

Really, the choices boil down to what JohnB (aka Pita) has stated:

1) Pay the bill and move on.
2) Pay the bill and then file a claim in small claims court against your sister to recover that cost.