Vivian claimed I owed $1,247 in fines and fees.
If I didn't pay, she threatened foreclosure proceedings.
I immediately contacted Janet, a legal-aid attorney helping residents.
She reviewed the notice.
“This isn't valid,” she said. “She doesn't have the authority to do this by herself.”
I finally understood.
Vivian wasn't simply trying to control me.
She was trying to force me out of my own house.
Chapter 3 — The Money
While investigating Vivian's behavior, we discovered something much bigger.
HOA financial records showed thousands of dollars going to companies connected to Vivian's family.
Monthly payments were being made to Ashworth Property Management Services.
Other payments went to Ashworth Lawn Care Services.
Some invoices described emergency repairs that had never happened.
We compared the financial records with the actual work done around the neighborhood.
The numbers didn't match.
Phil, a resident with accounting experience, examined the records.
His estimate was shocking.
At least $73,000 appeared to have been misused over three years.
Then we found records from previous homeowners.
One family had received forty-seven violation notices in six months before eventually selling their home.
Another resident had been fined for rules that weren't even in the bylaws.
Vivian had a system.
She targeted residents.
She overwhelmed them with fines.
She discouraged them from questioning the finances.
Then she used HOA money to benefit businesses connected to her family.
We decided to expose everything at the annual HOA meeting.
But Vivian learned that residents were organizing against her.
She postponed the meeting.