$200 assessment for 3 years equals $5,440.98?

I added an update to my website. http://www.shoholapa.com/updates.html

I found the actual budgets for the years I am being sued for and the "lake assessment" ran roughly $200 a year each year.

The bill I received for those same three years was $5,440.98. I was sued for that amount and additional charges for attorney's fees and court costs.

Ultimately the HOA was awarded $30.00 (which they have appealed).

Does anyone have any ideas on why the bill was inflated like that? Personally I just think it was a made up amount, but, I'm open to other suggestions.

We had one unit that owed 4 years dues which amounted to $2,400.00 With the added interest, expenses, lawyer fees, etc. the amount she owed was about $7,000.00

We had someone not pay dues for 3 years. Our dues were only $50 a month with a $20 late fee. That would $2520. We then could add on INTEREST which could be around 5% - 6% of amount owed. Plus added the cost of filing the lien. ($400). Added on is the expense of every certified letter written. Which was required to be at least 3 before we proceeded to file a foreclosure. (Which has additional costs to add). This person also owed $500 for a special assessment they refused to pay. Also consultation fees with lawyers can add a few hundred dollars.

So yes a $50 assessment in a years time can easily go up to 3K or more in a year. Considering our HOA we lien at 6 months behind and 1 year we CONSIDERED foreclosure. The question is: Are you willing to lose your house over such a small amount?

(BTW: We did foreclose on this person. The amount we collected just basically paid the filing fees in the end. It just stopped our bleeding.)

AmeliaP
(Pennsylvania),

Direct simple answer: Yes, but only for a dead-beat.

And have you been paying the annual fee for beach maintenance as outlined in your deed restrictions since you found out about it?