Welcome to The Home Equity Theft Reporter, a blog dedicated to informing the consumer public and the legal profession about Home Equity Theft issues. This blog will consist of information describing the various forms of Home Equity Theft and links to news reports & other informational sources from throughout the country about the victims of Home Equity Theft and what government authorities and others are doing about it.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Unpaid $12K Water Bill May Lead To Boot For Condo Residents As Nearly Half Of Owners In 120-Unit Complex Aren't Paying Maintenance Fees
In Orlando, Florida, WFTV-TV Channel 9 reports:
People who live in an Orlando condo complex could soon be kicked out of their own homes.
The Orlando Utility Commission is about to shut off water to The Village on Crayrich Circle because the complex isn't paying its bills. And if the water is shut off, no one will be allowed to live there.
Some residents said this is not their fault. People who have paid their monthly bill to the management feel this notice that their water will be shut off in a week isn't fair since they've paid their portion.
People who haven't paid their fees said they don't plan to until new management steps in. A water notice has pitted neighbor against neighbor at the Village condos.
OUC plans to shut the water off to all 120 units in one week because of a $12,000 bill. If it's not paid, and the water is shut off, the condo association said the county may force residents to move out.
Ann Tucker lives in the Village and works in the management office. She said the reason is twofold. She tells WFTVnearly half of the units are in foreclosure and the banks aren't paying fees. The other reason some just quite paying.
Phyliss Scott, a former association board member, is one of those people who haven't paid her dues in years. Management said she owes $10,000. She and other homeowners haven't paid because they question where previous funds have gone.
Several homeowners are fighting a legal battle to have a third party handle the dues and payouts.
"Another company they run the association and clean us up," said Scott.
WFTV tried to contact the property manager who is also the board president, but he didn't come to the door and has not returned a phone call.
Homeowner Kevin Souder, who's paid his bills, is afraid time may be running out. "I'm out because of course I have a mortgage payment here and my tenants out because she won't have anywhere to live," said Souder.
The homeowners trying to get a third party to take over the dues will be in court Thursday. If a judge grants a third party. the homeowners said they plan to pay their back fees to management. If not, residents said they plan to stay as long as they can without water.
Renters and homeowners have taken it upon themselves to try to come up with the $12,000 owed to OUC. So far, they have raised $7,000.
CBC News: Betrayal of Trust (A CBC investigation reveals how lawyers across Canada have misappropriated and mishandled clients money, to the tune of tens of millions of dollars, or sometimes even charging vulnerable people top dollar for shoddy services)
Land Contract/Contract For Deed/Rent-To-Own Rackets
The New York Times: The Housing Trap (In the wake of the housing crisis, low-income families have turned to seller financing to buy homes but these deals can be a money trap)
Beware The Fine Print: Consumers Forced To Sign Away Their Rights To Use Court System
The NY Times: Arbitration Everywhere, Stacking the Deck of Justice(Part 1 in series examining how clauses buried in tens of millions of contracts have deprived Americans of one of their most fundamental constitutional rights: their day in court)
Foreclosure Mills' Abysmal Record In Complying With New NYS Foreclosure Requirements
Justice Deceived: How Large Foreclosure Firms Subvert State Regulations Protecting Homeowners
MFY Legal Services Report On Questionable Practices By Process Servers In Debt Collection Cases
Justice Disserved: A Preliminary Analysis of the Exceptionally
Low Appearance Rate by Defendants in Lawsuits Filed in the Civil Court of the City of New York
Mortgage Mess Redux: Robo-Signers Return (A Reuters investigation finds that many banks are still employing the controversial foreclosure practices that sparked a major outcry last year)
CNN Video: As Foreclosures Mount, Florida Court Turns To 'Rocket Docket'
The Wall Street Journal: A Florida Court's 'Rocket Docket' Blasts Through Foreclosure Cases (2 Questions, 15 Seconds, 45 Days to Get Out; 'What's to Talk About?' Says a Judge)
"Produce The Note" Strategy When Dealing With Missing Promissory Notes In Foreclosure Actions
ABC Video: Fighting Against Foreclosure (Some homeowners have found a new tactic to keep the banks at bay)
<< Home