Florida HOA Publicizes Which Residents Not Paying Dues

I had trouble finding the article and had to do a search on the TV website. So, I've pasted it below.

What I find interesting is the fact that, according to the HOAs attorney, ". . .but the board was very careful not actually publicizing names", so how can the members look up who isn't paying? They must have posted unit numbers??? What's wrong with this? Members who are angry about the number of delinquencies will form their own uneducated opinions about those who aren't paying w/o knowing the whole story. Remember the old saying, "don't judge til you've walked a mile in my shoes" -- or something to that effect. Not everyone who doesn't pay their bills is a deadbeat!

HOA Publicizes Which Residents Not Paying Dues
5/1/2009 1:22:06 AM
Reported By Stephanie Coueignoux
ORLANDO – A homeowners association is taking action against residents who aren't paying their fees.
They are publishing a list of names, addresses and how much people owe the association.
The Southpointe Condominium Association said enough is enough when it comes to residents not paying their homeowners association fees.

Their solution is to publicize which units aren't paying up.
"I know it sounds like going out on a limb, but the board was very careful not actually publicizing names," said Malcolm Galvin, the association's attorney.
In a community of 448 units, neighbors who are paying said they're now looking up neighbors who aren’t.
"I’m checking around my building and seeing who is on the list," said Mary Ducolon.
Ducolon is fed up with paying for other people. As a retiree on a fixed income, she said she's on a tight budget herself.
"Why should we pay? We're paying every month and if they are not paying, why should we pay for them?" Ducolon said.
Recently, the association levied a special assessment fee of $200 for each resident because they needed the money to make up for all the unpaid dues.
About 10 percent of all owners in Southpointe aren't paying their HOA fees, which adds up to approximately $89,000.
If residents still won't or can't pay their dues, the assocation will start foreclosing on those properties within the next few months.
So what can you do if you just don't have the money to pay these fees?

The Southpointe Condominium Association told News 13 Wednesday night it's important to talk with your homeowner's association and possibly work out a payment plan, so they won't foreclose on your home.

The same is done here in my home area in PA.
So why shouldn't unit/lot numbers and amount owed the HOA be published internally to members? This would be an internal notice to "members" only.....not published in the public local newspapers.

We don't have a high delinquency rate, but our CCR's state that we can do this, but never have. 25 years ago while our community was in the developers control, he published the names, lot number and amount owed every month on the bulletin boards!

Barb

Barbara,

I copied this from the original article.

"In a community of 448 units, neighbors who are paying said they're now looking up neighbors who aren’t.
"I’m checking around my building and seeing who is on the list," said Mary Ducolon."

Okay Dear resident Mary. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN YOU CHECK YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FIND OUT WHO IS NOT PAYING" Are you going to harass them, beat them up, call the cops or just plain old get your butt in trouble for crossing the line some place?

This is really absurd! No one wants to pay the bills for others but this is certainly not a solution.

From my post on another related topic:
Towns/Cities regularly list people who owe taxes or back taxes. I don't see the difference.

It actually helps the owner if they are published. If they see their name and they know its wrong, they can contact you right away. If they don't see their name, they know your recording your check properly.

We make all of our dues public record.

(State laws do vary)

I think its awful. And could violate a private contract or disclosure between the HOA and the member.

Why don't they just print the addresses of the members who ARE up to date. Process of elimination should reveal anything you want to know.