Southern Walk Expenses Out of Control? $360 increased assessment for 2013!

I agree 1000%, Flynnibus!!! You hit right on the NAIL here. Thanks for your comments!

 

Agreed. Let's have a private meeting please with all of this information available. Please let the community know when and were this meeting will take place.

Please also provide the following:

1. Periodic statement of objectives of legal issues
2. Regular updates on legal issues
3. Chances of outcome

To date, we have not received this information.

Thanks.

 

The difference may be that some of us were informed about the long term contract when we bought, yet we chose to accept the contract and bought our homes. We were not informed that once the HOA took over they could make as many special assessments and rate increases that have ZERO to do with the cost of the services I am getting, that I signed up for because now the HOA wants to change the rules that were signed onto when we bought our homes. As far as stomping our feet about $600 or even $2000, to some of us that is actually a significant amount of money. Please stop belittling those of us that have a different opinion or opposition to what is being done. Being flip about it being a carpet, driveway or fence doesn't help. Some of us are just trying to keep our homes, are happy with the service that we signed up for and cannot necessarily afford to keep paying these unexpected fees.

 

Ya'll can keep screaming and stomping your feet all you want but special assessments are part of being a HOA. I have lived in several other HOAs and they have had special assessments. If you don't like special assessments or want to avoid them at all costs, move to a community that does NOT have a HOA. Simple as that.

If you have questions/complaints/compliments/comments- take them over to the FB page or call the SWHOA and voice them. I doubt that they will bother to answer them on this forum.

Secondly, someone demanded that a meeting time, etc be placed on this forum. Not an appropriate place for that information. I surmise that it will probably be placed on the FB website as its more secure or in a newsletter. I support SWHOA for following lawyer's advice to minimize their legal exposure, rightfully so!

Lastly, if you were ahead and about to win the game, would you simply give up and walk away in the 4th quarter? I think not. Its only SEVERAL more months before we find out what will happen in court. To me, its worth the investment to be able to have a CHOICE in what provider I want at a cheaper price for BETTER services than what Im getting.

I implore you to call your SWHOA members and discuss it with them if you really are concerned. Discussing it here really will get you NOWHERE.

 

As has been stated before but worth repeating:
- you are part of an HOA (in this case two since SW HOA is soley responsible for OpenBand)
- please review your guidelines that you signed about the roles and responsibilities of the SW HOA. Someone may need to dig theirs out but I am pretty sure it covers special assessments and the such.
- you have had ample opportunity to be involved in any and all decisions (even prior to FB)
- this battle started in 2003, prior to our current SW HOA leadership, back when we figured out there was no SLA and OB could raise rates at will. Why do you think it hasn't happened? Its because of people who volunteered their time to fight on your behalf.
- as has been stated, you have more than one way of reaching out to the SW HOA and what is going on besides having a FB account.
- i also agree with the decision (and it was discussed at some length - where were you?) when the SW HOA decided to move to a FB account to secure information. Again FB is not the sole way of getting information, or asking questions.
- maybe there is a minority that is happy with OB's service, but by not being vocal, your voice cannot be heard and if you were vocal you were simply outvoted. Part of being a part of an HOA community.
- it is uncalled for to have anyone put down and verbally attacked at any meeting that is for the greater good of this community and if this happened to you, I am sorry. I would have spoken up if it had and I had been there.
Just ask Erika how much she has been harassed by homeowners who have not agreed with her, held her personally responsible, and have said the nastiest things to her.
- there is nothing wrong with asking a question. About the lawsuit, or how money is audited, etc. just please understand that not everything can be asked in a public forum given the current legalities.
- demanding a meeting outside of the regular meetings the SW HOA regularly holds doesn't make sense or are you asking if there can be one put together? These are volunteers, with families. If you want to talk with them directly, you can reach them, if you want to attend the next meeting, the information is posted.

Before you get upset, attack, and demand, be informed and remember you can always be part of the solution by running for a spot on the board, attending meetings, joining a subcommittee, being vocal....

 

Chances of outcome: As any legal lawyer will tell you. It can go in either direction- For you or against you or even a tie (you may win some and lose some). That's the probable outcome. I've seen lawyers say "we've got a great chance of winning" and they LOSE (without expecting to!).

 

Amen!

 

Being told about the contract vs. reading the actual contract are two very different things. We were told about the contract at closing but it was not available to us. When we finally did get a copy and saw that there was no SLA, meaning no means or requirements to improve infrastructure or as technology or innovation occurred. There was a huge conflict of interest previously not known, and no means for the Homeowners to stop price increases..... that became a HUGE 70+ year problem and one of the reasons these contracts are no illegal. Those that know more details please feel free to correct or add to what I said about our existing contract. It has been years since I read it.

 

This makes me laugh so hard. I didn't have to cherry pick anything.

 

Except that you did cherry pick...while ignoring all of the successes.

 

Cavalier--that's what I was thinking. You took the words right outta my mind and posted it here!

 

LOL that is lawsuit that we were all told the money was for. How am I cherry picking. You people are amazing.

 

Interesting, but thats just one person's (judge) opinion. Judge Lee seems to have taken a very technical view and narrow interpretation of the case.

 

Good for the judge. Contracts entered into without coercion shhould be upheld. Enforcing contracts is one the most important functions of the courts.

 

Good for the Judge?? You siding with OB here? What about the LTOP lawsuit that LTOP won in the SAME court but with a different judge? Now SWHOA has joined forces with LTOP and FCC has filed a legal friend of the court amicus brief stating that OB is operating illegally? FCC is siding with us and so does Loundoun County BoS (twice!). Only is that weirdo BoS Delgaudio is on their side.

 

Signing into a contract for an illegal service doesn't legitimize the service. Lol, an entire subsection of your neighborhood are unhappy with this arrangement, have backing from all levels of govt that his is not legal, and you're response is 'F*** you, you signed the contract so live with it." ? Nice.....

Here's to hoping you never get screwed and need to back out of a bad situation. You may need to eat those words ....

 

You need a hug.....and milk & cookies. :rolleyes3:

 

I'll take the cookies.