CHARLOTTE — Carter Eck sold Pokemon cards, enough to cover the down payment on his first house. It’s in the Turnberry neighborhood of northeast Charlotte.
“I worked hard to get in here at 23 years old,” he told Action 9 attorney Jason Stoogenke.
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Eck assumed his HOA dues were part of his monthly escrow payment. In other words, he thought he was already paying those dues. So he admits he never paid. Plus, he says the HOA wanted him to fix some things. But says no one told him.
The HOA is claiming he owes more than $10,000, mostly for the dues and late fees associated with them. But also for a fence issue and another issue, both of which -- he says -- he took care of when he did find out. “I’m not someone that would just let something this big just kind of snowball and just surprise me like that,” he said.
Now, he says he’s facing foreclosure. The hearing is in November. “I don’t really want to pay it because it’s not something I don’t believe I was in the wrong,” he said.
Action 9 reached out to the HOA’s management company and their lawyer. He called and emailed both between July 22 and August 17. No one responded in time for this report.
Stoogenke points out it can be hard to win a fight with your HOA. After all, you agree to live by their rules when you move into the neighborhood. He says if you have an issue:
- Try to get the support of your neighbors. Strength in numbers.
- Try meeting with the board as a group, not by yourself.
- You may want to consult a lawyer. Just know it may cost you.
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