Yay! more taxes and fees for things we are entitled to...

[esemerson]

...from already paying taxes!

A nice Christmas gift from the HOA today indeed.

[Common Sense Al]

...from already paying taxes!

A nice Christmas gift from the HOA today indeed.

Got mine today and now know what you're referring to.

Assessments did not go up but there will be a new annual property tax for EMS/fire service in June 2010. Another reason I'm glad I bought less house that I could have bought.

But I am happy to see that assessments can now be paid with a credit card or e-check... doesn't say there is any "convenience fee" for credit card and if there's not, that's the way I may go. I would like to set up a CC auto charge if there are no additional fees.

[matj6876]

For those of us on the road (and not home in Lantana) this week.....
.... what are you talking about?

details please!

[jlbates]

Yes please do share - inquiring minds want to know. As of today's mail, we haven't gotten anything from the HOA.

[Common Sense Al]

Basically, we will now get a separate bill for EMS and fire protection. The new tax/fee will be levied in June 2010 and will continue annually as an annual payment. It will be .059318 per $100 of appraised value on your home (as determined by DCAD). Average $300K house will be $177.95/year.

[Rosemary]

But I am happy to see that assessments can now be paid with a credit card or e-check... doesn't say there is any "convenience fee" for credit card

However, it appears Visa is not accepted.

[Common Sense Al]

However, it appears Visa is not accepted.

Yeah... I thought that was strange... hope they take AmEx then (of course with no extra fees for CC payment).

[Common Sense Al]

I went to the website to pay... this was interesting:

Due to Visa regulations, effective 03/30/2007 at 12:00 PM MST,
CABanc will no longer be accepting Visa Credit Cards as a method of payment

They accept MasterCard, Discover, and AmEx.

However, it's a one time charge and there is a convenience fee:

Payment Amount / Fee
0 – $150.00 / $5.00
150.01 – 300.00 / $10.00
300.01 – 500.00 / $15.00
Greater than $500.01 / $25.00

And it seems the e-check option is a one time payment as well. I don't want to have to fill out the form every month. Perhaps I could pay 6 months at a time or something?

I ended up setting up a monthly payment online via my bank, however I'm concerned because it says the payment will be made by paper check (and thus more room for error). What do you do? How do you pay your HOA dues?

[admin]

What do you do? How do you pay your HOA dues?

I do auto pay from my bank acct. and have never had a problem.

[Rosemary]

[ What do you do? How do you pay your HOA dues?

I paid mine the old-fashioned way - ripped out 3 coupons and sent a check for the first three months of the year. Hopefully that works.

[Common Sense Al]

I do auto pay from my bank acct. and have never had a problem.

Thanks.

I assume that your bank sends a paper check through the mail like mine would do?

[Common Sense Al]

I paid mine the old-fashioned way - ripped out 3 coupons and sent a check for the first three months of the year. Hopefully that works.

Thanks... it seems like a good idea to pay more than one month at a time if you have to "manually" pay it somehow... and it reduces the chances of mail getting lost or other human error. I think I will tell the bank to pay three months at a time (quarterly). Previously I did it six months at a time to the old address and haven't heard anything back so I'm assuming there wasn't a problem!

Also be sure to note that the address to send payments to has changed!

[admin]

I do auto pay from my bank acct. and have never had a problem.

Thanks.

I assume that your bank sends a paper check through the mail like mine would do?

Yes.

[slider701]

I paid mine the old-fashioned way - ripped out 3 coupons and sent a check for the first three months of the year. Hopefully that works.

Thanks... it seems like a good idea to pay more than one month at a time if you have to "manually" pay it somehow... and it reduces the chances of mail getting lost or other human error. I think I will tell the bank to pay three months at a time (quarterly). Previously I did it six months at a time to the old address and haven't heard anything back so I'm assuming there wasn't a problem!

Also be sure to note that the address to send payments to has changed!

I write a check each month, put it in an envelope, put a stamp on it, and drop it in the mail. Never had a problem in 2 years.

Why so much paranoia about sending a bill through the mail??????? I'd actually be more worried about the bank sending a check each month via the non-electronic bill pay through the bank. I do 95% of my bill paying through Chase on-line but if they do not give an electronic option (like the HOA and FWSD) I opt for writing the check myself and dropping it in a box at a real post office location.

And unless the HOA wants to give a discount for paying early, they can get it in the mail each month.

Personally I'd like to see the HOA put a drop box at the community center so it can be dropped off there.

[Common Sense Al]

Why so much paranoia about sending a bill through the mail???????

Because I'm paranoid and don't like spending the time writing checks when it can be done more efficiently.

By the way, when the bank sends a check, it's not with your own bank account numbers on it.