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I believe I have found a way for Property Management Companies to steal their customers HOA Funds indirectly via construction and maintenance projects. I wanted to get some input from other people from this industry on my following theory on how this is being done.
In California it only takes 3 bids on any given project and if the HOA Board members sign off on the proposed price it's perfectly legal, regardless of the price being 2-3 times the average price. This is perfectly fine for HOA Boards that check the average prices, or even care, for any given project but most don't in my experiences. Seems that most HOA Board's allow the Property Management Companies to find or recommend the companies to bid on these projects and this is where I believe the potential for fraud arises.
I know of several Management Companies that handle 50+ Condo complexes or more with an average of $400k+ per year collected in HOA dues. Most of this money is spent on construction/maintenance of the buildings themselves in a condominium complex where the HOA maintains the buildings for the homeowners. That's $20+ million a year a good portion of which is going to be spent.
I believe there are many Property Management Companies that simply get their friends-colleagues (3 of them) to over bid these projects and then get construction kickbacks when they are completed. The lazy HOA Board members may be getting scammed by simply relying on the 3 bids to get the average price for any given project. Regardless of overcharging the projects or not a corrupt scam artist Property Management owner is in a perfect situation to become a construction kingpin providing his own painting, roofing, black-top and construction crews to bid on these projects and then get part of the profits. This would also be an incentive to neglect maintenance to the point that a major more expensive repair is needed.
Anyway I'm just a homeowner who suspects my current HOA Board is being scammed in this manor and I'm wondering if anyone else out there feels this is happening to them or has any input to offer. Seems to me this could be going on more than anyone realizes and no one knows because it's "legal"?
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
This goes on all the time in "Flori-duh" and some state licensed "management co.s" and CAMs have all kinds of related businesses such as you describe. The "homeowners" in mandatory HOAs in this country need to wise up and stop these mandatory HOA financial traps and HOA scams from operating and from being licensed by the "state" who in our opinion, esp. in Floriduh, will license anything as long as they get paid their fees!
I live in Chicago in a big condo complex. Many residents, including me, are convinced that the above mentioned situation is happening at our HOA. We have many examples of suspicious practices that should be investigated. Does anyone know where/how we can get started? Thank you for any feedback.
Yes sir, problem goes beyond manipulation of bids for new projects. Every invoice that is sent to the management company is being padded with incentive fees, kickbacks to the mgt co. Happens on a daily basis. I have seen resident board member directors who have tried to curtail this practise get their reputations ruined by the mgt co with the other directors and residents. If a directors steps in to manage say out of scope snow removal and sandings and tries to keep the "extra" treatments to a minimum, the mgt co says at the board meeting that "safety" is not being maintained and scares the residents into allowing "them" to take over again. Or lets say a director independently attains a bid that is way less that the mgt co's buddy buddy contractors, the mgt co spreads falsehoods on the director's relationship with the other contractor thus putting the kabash on the bid. It is a mess gents and the only way is via state regulation, good luck there as developer 's lobby is strong and hoa resident rights are always being abused coast to coast.
I am a new member on the board of an hoa in CA. I suspect this is happening in our community as well, but still learning the ropes before I raise this issue. I am afraid our situation is even worse: the mgmt company is very closely associated with a law firm that is in the habit of using 'less than ethical' and intimidation tactics to shut any objections. As mentioned above, most residents are either too naive, too busy with their lives or just plain scared.
I have a related question: seems the president of our board approves a bid at will, without any additional bids, or conferring with anyone. Are there HOA CA regulations that require a minimum # of bids? and require approval of the board (not just one member or the president)?
LA Mirabelle HOA Board’s crime during the preparation and execution of “Rehabilitation Project”
1) Breach of Fiduciary Duties by the Board
a) The elaboration of the main contract for the execution “Rehabilitation Project” with the General
Contractor was made without the approval of a majority of the members of the Association.
Board used their right stipulated for CC&R’s Article III Management and Operation Section D as
a cover for signing off (ratification) the contract with the terms of execution less than 1 year
(245 days).
The terms of execution of the contract evidently (deliberately) put too low, in order to get the
right to sign the contract without the approval of a majority of the members of the Association.
The fact of understating of the terms of the contract execution under 245 calendar days from the
date of the commencement had the premeditated, planned nature, because the contract did not
provision the measure of the responsibility by the General Contractor for the derangement
(wrecking/failure) of the terms and quality of the execution of the contract from 245 days to
516 days (the actual terms of the contract execution). In reality “construction” is still going on
now.
Actually, CC&R’s is compiled the way that it creates unlimited legal ground (sphere of action) for
causing material (pecuniary) damage to the ordinary owner and creates Board’s privileges
without placing any boundaries (limitations) in the Board’s activity.
The situation is being formed so, that the owner can lodge a complaint or protest against
these juridical infringements only in one year, since the moment of signing the contract by the
Board.
In spite of all this, the Judge replies that he does not discover it as the violation, because the Board
could not foresee everything, and General Contractor according to the contract does not bear the
. responsibility for the terms of execution contract either.
It came full circle. How come, on what grounds in the capacity of criterion for the recognition
as a fact of special significance of Rehabilitation Project was taken the terms of project execution,
and was not taken the cost of Special Assessment per 1 owner.
It was only made with one purpose to create juridical conditions for the Board for abusing their authority.
b) Board willingly engaged in the action of Non-Judicial Foreclosure initially for twelve families (owners) and had no mercy for Senior Citizens who lived in our Building since (long before) construction. Board utilized the tactics of threatening and intimidation with Foreclosure towards the Senior, ordinary owners who did not want to waste their hard earned money without having financial calculation and technical proof(s).
Board of Directors administered tyranny towards the other owners; and in case of the individual protest Board raised your Special Assessment share by implementing additional fees and costs.
Board’s organized the Action of Non-Judicial Foreclosure without participating in Alternative Dispute Resolution with a neutral third party up to the procedure of “Notice of Default and Election to Sell under a Notice of Delinquent Assessment and Claim of Lien.”
Selection of the General Contractor by the Board
It is very important moment in accomplishing Rehabilitation Project in Condominium.
Using the legitimate right in signing any contract with the terms of execution less than 1 year, the
Board has the right to choose the General Contractor without introducing/presenting him in front of all owners and without execution of the procedure of the competition of executors (selection of executors) on Open meeting of all owners.
The terms of execution of the contract in less than 245 days (less than 1 year) released Board from the necessity of the contract’s approval by all owners. Therefore, Board signed the contract privately, covertly without any discussion and approval of all owners and without the right to choose General Contractor by all owners.
The owners gave their money and were deprived of their rights to choose the executor- General Contractor.
General Contractor usually nominated (appointed) by the recommendation either by President of the Board or Vice-President of the Board.
President of the Board and Vice-President of the Board are playing the main part (role) in making very important decisions by the Board.
General Contractor is confidential person/agent of the President and Vice President of the Board and
all financial activity carries out through General Contractor. General Contractor is the first link (main link) in the process of the distribution and circulation of currency (money), although personally he (General Contractor) might not be the specialist for repair and rehabilitation of the condominium. He plays role of the first recipient of the money and then (subsequently) he fulfills the role of the distributor of the money to all executors of repair jobs.
The ordinary owner does not know General Contractor and thus the ordinary owner cannot influence anyhow on effectiveness of repair jobs.
Financial and Economic Crime by the Board
1) The main methods of obtaining of superprofits:
Exorbitant payment for the architect and engineer services “allegedly” necessary for execution repair jobs without real necessity (useless expenditure).
a) Architectural Firm PAO paid $87, 170
b) Architect/Engineer Specifications submitted to city for permits is $42, 000
c) Balconies: Structural Engineer “required” changes cost $47, 870
Total waste is $177, 040
These expenditure would be excluded if the Board for the execution of each repair job used the principle (method) of direct agreement without mediators in General Contractor, using the principle of bidding process and openly informing the all owners about it.
But this won’t do for Board members. The Board members need secrecy, mystery and confidentiality. Board needs it for their own interests.
2) Utilization of the method of exorbitant surplus payment in the most expensive type of Project.
Special attention deserves the problem of Additional job, which was included in Repair project as
an addition according to the initiative of the members of the Board of Directors of LA Mirabelle HOA that made up $668, 866.10: 41 =$16, 313.81 per 1 unit for Plumbing (Copper Water Pipes and Cast Iron Drain Pipes).
Whereas the replacement of old galvanized water-pipes by new copper ones was necessary, then the replacement of durable modern reliable combined quality sewerage system with the usage of Plastic Pipes as well as Cast-Iron Drain Pipes by the new sewerage system did not have neither technical necessity nor economical expediency. Especially as the main standpipes in toilets remained old, and was not replaced by the new ones.
The labor for the replacement of vertical Plastic Drain Pipes was not foreseen by the scope of work of the Architectural firm PAO as a result of executed technical inspection (Phase A) in 2006.
The main argument that the Board refers to is the result of homeowners voting on Special membership meeting that was held on June 2008 (There will be a vote of the membership on the following issues: ”Whether to approve including the additional fixes and upgrades to the building’s plumbing and drainage systems, without a need for further assessment”).
It was the planned trick (ruse) and misinformation in this formulation.
HOA Management Professionals, Inc (Vice President-CEO Mr. Bob Berthold) uses this verbiage (formula) for the voting when Board wants to get the approval of their idea.
The whole truth is that the Board and Management Company planned to spend on this inexpedient, non-effective job the enormous total of $668, 866 and obtain for all that the superprofit in the amount of $400, 000.
This superprofit obtained by General Contractor (Mr. Laurent Simon) was secured not only by the method of usage of unreasonable prices but also at the expense of using unskilled workers for the execution of plumbing work including gas-welding labor.
In witness of the fact that Board used unreasonable price is the proposal of the Professional Plumbing, Inc:
1) Proposal from John’s Plumbing, Inc (Copper Repipe Specialist) dated on 11-04-2009
Bid for work to be performed:
Copper Repipe and Drain Estimate
This is the cost for 41 Units ($300, 000)
This is the cost for 1 unit ($7, 317.00). It includes: Labor $4, 317 + Materials $3, 000
The above mentioned total includes all types of expenditure for this order including Permits (please see the attached Proposal of John’s Plumbing, Inc)
So, the overcharge for 1 unit is $16, 313.81- $7, 317.00 =$8, 996.81
Note: There are three proposals from several Professional Plumbing Firms that neither one of them matches this exorbitant price tag of $668, 866 that Board spent on this labor. I named the highest price of $300, 000 in this example that was obtained among three Professional Plumbing Firms bids.
I took this overcharge fact into Small Claims Court –North Central Glendale (Case # 09S01738). The court denied me by the motivation of incorrectness of the method of the price comparison.
That is to say, the Court approved the principle of arbitrary payment (cost) of usual standard repair jobs, which allows increasing the expenditure of more than 3-5 times. Such treatment (attitude) from the Court to the Board’s exorbitant overcharge (surplus payment), justifies the Board’s activity in their crime and it is directed to do damage to ordinary owners, who cannot really oppose the system of continuous overcharges and undisguised fraud conducted by the Board during “Rehabilitation Project”.
There is an illustration in point of the Board’s undisguised fraud.
1) According to LA Mirabelle HOA Building Repair Project [protected] Payment Tracking Record, Board paid $45, 000 for the repair of old (the terms of exploitation is 34 years) gutters and downspouts made of galvanized steel.
According to the proposal of the Professional Firm “Gutter Masters” the cost of the replacement of all old gutters and downspouts by the new aluminum ones type 3” x 4” is $8, 087.
According to the proposal of the “Total Roofing, Inc, The Right Choice” the cost of installation bonderized metal gutters to replace the existing leader boxes and down spouts is $19, 600.
The decision that was made by the Board regarding gutters and downspouts repair after 34 years of exploitation with payment of $45, 000 is sheer embezzlement. It is simple waste of ordinary owners money.
2) According to the same contract (Scope of Work LA Mirabelle HOA Repair Project of 2008/2009) it was executed the labor of carpet replacement “Carpeting in hallways, east and west stairs, lobby stairs, gallery, and billiards room”.
The total surface area of the new carpet was made up of 1, 258sq.yard.
The brand (style) of the carpet is “Inspired”, color is brown and the method of the installation is glue down carpet installation in condominium.
The actual payment for this labor according to the Payment Tracking Record was made up of $62, 435 plus there was an additional payment according to the Change Orders ($14, 012.50 + $3, 703), see Change Orders 009 1st Floor hallway and Change Order 010 2nd and 3rd Floor.
Board paid for this labor the total amount of $80, 150. It was executed only 85% of the job. There is no new carpet installation in gallery, lobby, billiards room, east and west stairs and storage room.
According to the proposal of the “Capitol Carpet Co” the total cost of the same type of labor including the same material, labor, tax and removal of all carpet is $24, 802
a) 1258 yards x $19.00 = $23, 902
b) Top set base color to be selected 600ft x $1.50 = $900
The Total is $24, 802
According to the proposal of the “ART’s Flooring, Inc, NWFA Certified Professionals” it was offered to furnish and install 1, 258sq.yard of commercial carpet including the labor and materials for the sum of $25, 000.
Thereby, the amount (magnitude) of the Board’s overcharge (surplus payment) in execution of given labor was made up of $80, 150 -$25, 000 = $55, 150.
Note: The vendor (Adan’s Carpet) who actually installed this cheapest carpet without padding in our Building provided the estimate for the same labor in the amount of $17, 000
3) Pool and SPA
According to LA Mirabelle HOA Building Repair Project [protected] (Payment Tracking Record), the total cost of repair jobs for Pool and SPA –new surface, plumbing, tiles, automatic filler made up $75, 849
Comparative analysis (data)
1. Sherman Villas HOA in April 2009 performed the similar type of repair of their Pool/SPA. The cost of the analogous Pool/SPA repair job in Sherman Villas HOA made up of $16, 375 (Jacuzzi even bigger in Sherman Villas HOA, Address: 14144 Dickens Street, Sherman Oaks, CA) (see the proposal and contract date April 21, 2009, the firm CRUZ Pool Plastering).
“Resurface Pool and SPA, it includes plumbing SPA, new tile, new break line tile, trim tile, split existing drains per County Codes, leak defect SPA, new wall steps, 2 coats of white plaster, 10 year guarantee.
And finally on this topic, according to the information received from the firm “Aquarius –USA Line, Inc”, the cost of the construction of the new Pool & SPA (size 32’x17’) makes up between $40, 000 - $45, 000. No explanation is needed.
The Jobs for Destroying and Making Worse Comfort of our Building
(Destruction of the Infrastructure of our Building)
With the purpose of providing the maximum comfort during the replacement of old windows and sliding doors by the new ones and also with the aim to decrease the expenditure (prime cost) for the purpose of obtaining superprofit the Board along with General Contractor made the decision to remove all Trees. General Contractor destroyed all perennial trees around the building; the total cost of this destruction made up $19, 522.
The green zone surround the building at (14569 Benefit Street, Sherman Oaks, CA) was planned and executed according to the general plan of the building construction in 1974. It had been presented for a long period of time as a clean ecological zone that was being given the constant cool and oxygen to the people. The Board’s action is the Ecological Vandalism.
The analysis of LA Mirabelle HOA Building Repair Project for [protected] demonstrates, that HOA Directors (President Mr. Wesley Warner) and HOA Management (Vice President Mr. Bob Berthold) ransacked, wasted, squandered to the tune of $1, 817, 000 (note the embezzlement would be the worse if the remaining 4 foreclosed without court units gave Board of LA Mirabelle HOA their share of Special Assessment that makes up $195, 000)
Our HOA Management (Vice President/CEO –Mr. Bob Berthold) stated in their website that they have 165 client associations. If you multiply the amount of ransacked funds (stolen money from ordinary owners) in one association such as our LA Mirabelle HOA by even half of these 165 client associations you will get the economical crime of epic proportions.
Regarding the scale of crime (felony) committed by the Board during Rehabilitation Project testifies the following fact - each owner spent $48, 050, that is 30% of full cost price (at par) of 1 new two-bedroom unit, and each owner received as a result of it - the new windows and sliding doors, repaired balconies, paint exterior of the building, carpeting, pool-spa repair, copper water-pipes. The real price (nominal cost) of useful stated jobs does not exceed $17, 000 per 1 unit.
Consider the following facts that the prime cost to build brand new unit is $150, 000, and the Board spent $50, 000 (30%) on repair of old unit.
It was thought out, large-scale action with the increase of real price of the Project by three times with the whole purpose to create the conditions of misappropriation of super profits.
Board would use inflated estimates for repair work to pocket the enormous excess money for themselves. Our Association has suffered embezzlement, gross mismanagement and outright harassment of ordinary homeowners. We lost hundreds of thousands of dollars (I personally lost $56, 872 in 2009) from those “poor volunteers” on the Board and HOA Management “Professionals”, Inc.
The building (at 14569 Benefit Street, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403) that was built with 41 units now has only 33 owners (units).
P.S. It was made numerous failed attempts to get the details of Special Assessment Worksheet (LA Mirabelle HOA Special Assessment Received information as a Report for the year [protected]) by ordinary owners of condominium.
This information (The Sum of the balances of the creditor's accounts (for each charge customer) in the accounts Payable ledger LA Mirabelle HOA -Special Assessment for fiscal period beginning on November 1, 2006 and ends December 31, 2009) should indicate where, what and to whom the money ($1, 817, 000) for Special Assessment was transferred. We are interested in Financial Information about each executor of Repair Jobs.
P.S. After the completion of repair jobs for the replacement of Windows and Sliding Doors, starting on January 20, 2010 as a result of raining, the water has been penetrated from the top part of Sliding Doors and poured (flooded) over the floor into several units in our Building.
Thus, the executed and paid by the Board labor for the replacement of Windows and Sliding Doors does not provide the technical demands of hermetically waterproof protection (tightness) of all space, where the Sliding Doors are located. We also now have the issues with the Plumbing.
And this is only 1 month has been passed after the completion of “Rehabilitation Project” and no one among Board members wants to investigate the leak and make appropriate repairs.
On March 12, 2010, after two months of “completion” Rehabilitation Project I received the letter from LA Mirabelle HOA Board of Directors with the NEW additional Special Assessment for $17, 500.
Since March 20, 2010 there is Mechanics Lien recorded (Document #[protected]) in our property at 14569 Benefit Street, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
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There are the names of the people who involved in this exorbitant Fraud (Scam, Ransack, Embezzlement, Gross Mismanagement, Misappropriation of Funds, Money Laundering, Corruption)
Bob Berthold (mastermind of all this Fraud, etc) –CEO/Vice President of HOA Management Professionals, Inc [protected]
Wesley (Wes) Warner –President of the Board of LA Mirabelle HOA [protected]
Tamara Gasparian –Board member for many years (Again Board member in 2010) -а Friend of Laurent Simon (General Contractor)
Inna Patlis –Board member for many years (New Treasurer started in 2010)
Alla Berelovich –Board member (Treasurer) for many years
Laurent Simon –General Contractor (Lic No CSLB 891544 B California, Lic. No 930608)
Jaleh. Berset – Board member (Again Board member in 2010)
Derek Gerrman –Board member (New President of the Board of LA Mirabelle HOA in 2010)
Vladimir Shakov –Former Board member (many times was in Board) and Current Technical committee member
Anatoly Boz –Technical Committee member
Herbert Horowitz - Former Board member (many times was in Board) and Current Technical committee member
Lee Aronsohn – Former Board member (many times was in Board)
Margaret Pope - Former Board member (many times was in Board). Again Board Member in 2010
Gary Mann –Former President of the Board
Adams Kessler LLC (Mr. Adrian Jay Adams, Esq, Mr. Matthew Gardner, Esq, Mrs. Karen Nagad, Esq) ----а many years cover up Board and HOA Management Professionals, Inc
.
What happened to Bob Berthold and HOA Management Professionals Inc as a result of this whole theft and crime? He's still at it right now in 2023, stealing and embezzling and inflating construction bids and taking huge kickbacks for shoddy unlicensed workers. He has stolen from HOA funds around the state for years. Why hasn't he been sent to prison? He needs to go to jail.
I live in a townhouse Condo community and our board actually roofed condos that they owned themselves then voted to have the rest of them our own responsibility... and then they offered us a deal at $1500 if we used the presidents company... We have a guy driving through our neighborhood (two brazilians) with a pickup truck who picks up our trash... And a landscaping company that has improved but still only shows up a couple times during the summer season (and it supposedly costs 12k for this)... We have about 50 units... About 50% of them are owned by the developer and his family and friends and the condo annual meeting is on Thanksgiving day... Think I am going to start up my own little investigation to find out where these trash trucks and landscaping trucks reside... If anyone has any helpful info please feel free to email me at rotciv842@yahoo.com
yea i see all this information but whats the next step how do we vote these [censor] out?
absolutely
it is happenig everywhere
I am doing investigation right now for my daughter's condo, located in Thousand Oaks, Ca
It is just a disaster: you have to spend money and time to fight the HOA Board
They refuse to open the books, their behavior is absolutely outrageous and ugly
The reason is, that homeowners never bothered to check financial situation with HOA Board before
It is unbelievable that people hire somebody to manage their property and never request audit and control their own noney+
let the Board and manager to harass and disrespect them
Your analysis is correct, but you also need to consider when the management company is selecting certain board members they want (can manipulate easily) on the board, they tend to only be able to complete tasks from the members they like (want to keep). Certain management compnies have been manipulating individuals by way of inciting arguments and/or secret meetings.
Yes, it has happened at our condo complex in CA. We saw funds drift away too easily under the former management co. Fortunately we changed to a new company and - almost - got a fresh start. We now need to change the president who is dictatorial and hostile. She has one passive ally and others do not want to work with her because of her difficult personality traits (unpleasant like Darth Vader). She gets away with a lot. I hope she will be voted out next term, as I have alerted homeowners to her shortcomings in leadership style and judgement. It's hard to be in my position as the neighbors are not eager to listen to problems. They would rather pretend it does not exist. Apathy helps dictators take advantage. I hope one voice is heard. This is stressful!
In CA in San Luis Obispo we have a place called Five Season's town homes at 676 12 st. They charge 300.00 a month and vote themselves back in. I asked 4 homeowners new one's if they voted for these corrupt board members who have been in place here for years.. They get a check for $5.000 each month and work through the landscaper as their loop hole. Everything they do is about landscaping. We even put in a drip system for ivy. Kathy Bond. Jeremy Bond, Jane Hill. Kathleen Deragon. Joe Saint Clair who wife divorced him due to she found out while he was not living here he was getting paid. These 5 board members live off the dues. We have a pool that cannot be drained due to drought. So it's a toxic mess of chemicals. We have a tennis court that's for dogs. No lighting fixtures or security is put in as they all say they are going to do. Never any minutes. No spending nothing except a hostile board who works through landscaper as their loop hole. Due to these 5 members they hired a renter to do odd jobs which U caught and they allowed all rules to be broken with kids in common area.. There are never any kids in common area now. I asked this renter to abide by the rules and he poisoned my beautiful standard poodle along with another unit's dog. Twp dogs suffered a horrific death. He used one board member's cat food she would not put inside. Then they allowed drug dealing and I opened my front door to dog killers child putting flowers out by the roots in a fountain area at my front door. This dog killer was fired from LAPD. He had his daughter lie that sprayed her with roundup a weedkiller which I never in my life used. There was another child at my door who simply said replant the plant a it has roots. I said thank you Jacob Mussey and said how smart he is. I then was so sick from my dogs murder mafia style. I weighted 123 lb's and walked to my mother's unit with my young puppy who lost her best friend.. They bullied me and teased me relentlessly and had this child lie that I sprayed her. I ended up i jail for 4 days and my name went world wide. why? Because the Chief of Police here was retiring and he wanted to shut me up about the real estate fraud that happened to my mother and I n 2010. It was a set up and the dog killer befriended the two realtors who refused to sell my condo in 2010. This is a true story and my lawyer wrote that if it were not for this HOA I would not be in appeals court. This HOA saw me replant this flowering bush.. as they were 4 ft away and they never came forward. http://calcoastnews.com/2014/06/grover-beach-woman-sprays-pesticide-childs-face/
There are so many ways to commit fraud on the HOA and I have seen many of them. If you look up condo fraud in Las Vegas you will see a real dozy which is happening all over the country. The oversight committees (govt agencies) are in up to their eyeballs. . .not just for a fee, but they have a lock on the money. Once these people are over the trust account every crooked agency, cop, board member, attorney, property manager and the like treat it as their own special retirement fund. Additionally with a couple of insiders, you can money launder through the trust account just as they did in Vegas, and run drug and other illegal operations through the community. What you are describing is the very tip of the iceberg. This is happening at Seminole Palms right now in Greenacres, Florida. Some of the owners have tried to fight it but the agency, court and cops are in this up to their crooked heads. Very sad to watch one lady try to fight all of this. She has no chance because the crooks own the system.
I am surprised that there is NO state or Federal involvement in this type of the assurances. I have been found out that North Hollywood HOA used $20.000+ a yearly for the pest company that been dissolved 10 years ago according to to California State department. Where did money go? No one provide any documentation, and there is no way to vote them out. They hire lowers using HOA funds to defend there incompetence and stilling the money.
HELP!
I live in a community in Southern CA that has no HOA, but individual Homeowners have taken it upon themselves to control the common pool area and claim to be secretary of a non existent HOA, demanding outrageous pool fees, with no proof of where the money goes, then if you don't pay, they put liens on your property, which is what happened to me, so I hired an attorney and filed against the person committing the fraud. My attorney screwed up the case and informed me he went to mediation and agreed to a no fault settlement in exchange for liens to be removed with no monetary value and then closed the whole case with prejudice which I never agreed to, then called me a month later to tell me the papers were in for me to go to recorder and have them removed, for it would be cheaper that way. What?!. He has never given me a copy of anything in this case and other than the original complaint, the courts have nothing on file. It never went to mediation. My attorney screwed me, only filing for Quiet of Title and closed the case before I found all this out. .I told the attorney I was seeking monetary compensation, I demanded it go to trial, because I wanted the person to be accountable and pay me for damages and all legal fees, as well as, have to write a letter to all the homeowners stating that she fraudulently collected fees for a fake HOA, with hopes the judge would order a criminal investigation, but now, I have no recourse and while I get another attorney to sue the first one.
The lady who claimed to be secretary, has sold her home and turned her whole scam over to a management company, under the rues that she is secretary of the fake HOA. I called the management company, twice, to inform them they signed a contract with a fake HOA, which makes their contract null and void and if they continued seeking money from homeowners, they were conducting criminal fraud. They responded by sending each homeowner a bill for $625, instead of trying to verify my claim.
I can't find a government agency that'll charge these people with the fraud, extortion/coercion and theft or any of. Since there is no HOA, the Attorney General won't touch it, because they are not in violation of a CC&R, the Sheriff dept won't touch it, because they say the money is going towards pool maintenance, (even though we, the Homeowners have no vote or say as to how the money is spent or the pool area is managed.). So what can I do? I can't afford another civil attorney to file on the management company. HELP!
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