I’m picturing a sort of rotary tool action.
Agreed. In the history of Homeowners Associations, none has ever realized they were “acting petty.” Acting petty is what HOAs are for; its how they roll.
Just for example, Clarence Thomas’s in-laws were fined for flying an American Flag in violation of a HOA no flags policy. All flags, including the American Flag was forbidden, even on Memorial day, because “it makes the place look like a frat house.” However the HOA admitted they would stop short of physically removing it.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,121255,00.html
I’m sensing that Hippy Hollow would prefer to exhaust other options before strapping on the knee pads.
Right. I’m a stand up guy, I do the right thing, and of course I admit to getting things wrong if I do. But I’ve missed critical deadlines, gotten out of tickets, avoided late fees, etc. many times without going into Full-On-Dick-Mode, simply by asking and explaining the situation. I find if you approach these things the right way, you might get a break every now and then.
The letter took me five minutes to write; it’s what I do for a living. NBD. In fact, I got my credit card company to waive a late fee last week after dealing with a inflexible CSR, simply because I asked in a letter. Companies/organizations are run by people, and most of us appreciate when we’re approached nicely, and we try to help each other out every now and then.
In a former life I was in charge of billing appeals in the res halls at Emory U. I would always endeavor to work with appellants who took responsibility and were respectful. Those who were demanding, dickish, and entitled were not so successful. Just applying the same principle here.
I know you defined how you meant it, but the Jewish community does view it as an insult.
Last time I checked, the HOA is supposed to work for the benefit of its members. We’re not talking about a ridiculous bureaucracy; it’s a subdivision of 60 homes. Personally, seeing that I pay dues involuntarily to the HOA, I feel quite comfortable approaching them about this. (If I was in charge, I’d have a policy of waiving the first violation, just so you would be more justified if someone violated it again - plus it’s neighborly. Not to mention listing exact dates when violations should be corrected… and e-mail notification along with snail mail.) Again, I’ve spent more energy posting here than I have with the letter, so it’s not an issue for me.
I observe only this: if this is the standard, than Yiddish may as well be banned from the SDMB. 
Point understood.
I mentioned it because we did have a complaint, and other Yiddish words have been used as backdoor insults (“I can’t call someone a ‘dick’ in GQ, but maybe if I call him a ‘putz’ I can get away with it”). So just be aware that, by its dictionary definition, ‘schnorrer’ would be an insult.
Just for the record, that wasn’t an official warning or anything. I didn’t have my mod hat on.
I’m a member of my HOA.
- We don’t like to waive fines -with the one BIG exception below- and it has nothing to do with meanness or power trips. It’s just that if we do it for one person then everyone else will throw that back at us when we refuse to waive their fine and some may accuse us of discrimination.
BUT
- We waive any minor first offense if the homeowner asks. It’s an unwritten rule and the management company knows to do this for us. I incurred a late fee due to returned mail shortly after I was elected to the HOA, and I just went ahead and paid it because I wanted to avoid an appearance of favoritism…then they told me they ALWAYS waive it the first time.
So you really should ask nicely but don’t get mad if they say no.
Hey Sound Mind, that’s interesting… maybe you should start a thread called “Ask the HOA member.”
I just ID’ed myself as a member of the HOA - which I thought I was as a homeowner. So are you actually a board member, or have I been inappropriately labeling myself?
Wrong, the Board exists to enforce the “restrictive covenant” (contract with restrictive conditions) that runs with your property. That is to say, they work for the benefit of the land (the property as a whole) not for the benefit of the homeowner directly. Some of them (I would argue most) take this responsibility to a patently absurd, yet legally enforceable, level.
Depending on your HOA, the board also exists to make new rules and fees, spend association money, and to bicker amongst themselves endlessly.
Good for you. I’m of the opinion that it never hurts to ask for what you want.
And on a completely unrelated note: If I were you, I’d take a good, hard look at the colleague who encouraged you to lie as a way to solve problems. :eek:
Yeah, I think sometimes Dopers can get in a very rigid mindset and as you note, I’m just asking, and I’m fully aware they might not do what I want, and I’m okay with it. I don’t think it’s a problem to ask for consideration. Try it sometime, you’ll be surprised with the results!
My colleague is of the mindset that there’s no way to get a break unless you can assign blame to someone. He thinks my approach will fail, and maybe he’s right, but I feel that it’s the right way to approach it.
Not to reanimate the dead, but an update on this issue:
I got this letter in the mail Saturday:
Thanks all, for the advice. I think this bears out the saying, “it never hurts to ask!”
My god. They sent the check back. I am truly shocked and amazed.
I believe I have some edging that somebody’s dick needs to attend to.
ETA - I always thought you were a woman. Sorry.
They seem very reasonable for a HOA. Congrats!
Ewww!
No worries. That’s sort of a good thing that you didn’t know my gender… means I’m not always posting about itchy balls, chicks’ hooters, or farting in sleeping mates’ faces. 
control-z, I agree. I’m going to drop the writer of the letter a line to say thanks!
I would have been very surprised if they didn’t waive the fine considering the circumstances. Fines are to obtain compliance, not generate revenue.
Did the letter come from the manager or from a board member?
Late replying, back from the first part of a 2 part vacation.
I’m a board member. It’s actually a co-op apartment building so we actually have MORE power than your standard HOA…you can’t sell your apartment unless we approve the prospective buyer.