HOA issues unfair fine to resident for using his own trash bin, he spams them with notifications: 'I’ll notify you every time I’m using my trash cans'

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Feb 9, 2025 8:00 AM EST

HOAs always seem eager to fine folks whenever they smell a slight violation. Unfortunately for this HOA, they were completely mistaken.

Now, every HOA was a set of standards that are relatively normal and a set of standards that are, well, ridiculous. For the most part, however, it's the enforcement of said policies and regulations that can cause frustration and aggravation. Here, we have a resident who, thankfully, recognized the lunacy of the violation notice he received and subsequently advocated for himself until they removed said violation. Keep scrolling below to see how he pulled it off!

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10465089024
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • This guy found out that he evidently violated the by-laws of his HOA because he opened his garbage bins to properly put his trash inside. The rules state that bins are meant to be properly closed, but of course, that rule should not extend to when they are in the process of being used!

  • 02
    I've never met anyone that said "Oh good, an HOA." We all have trash cans, but the sight of them offends the delicate eyes of some, so I complied with the new rule of 'no seeing bins from the street'.
    via Endoman13
  • 03
    I find a notice of my bins being out, which is surprising because I'm the only one who touches the cans and I know I'm 100% compliant.
    via Endoman13
  • 04
    I call in and ask why I got the notice. The full description says "Bins in driveway with lids off." I asked if this happen to be a Tuesday, and sure enough it was. Wednesday is pickup, and I was doing my weekly cleaning. I using them, I calmly was explained through gritted teeth.
    via Endoman13

  • Luckily, this resident had a sense of humor and decided to maliciously comply with these rules by notifying the HOA every single time he used his own trash bins. Sometimes, the best way to demonstrate why a rule or a policy is flawed is through showing not telling.

  • 05
    "Oh okay I'll remove the notice." Great, but how do I prevent this from happening again? "Oh, uh....I guess notify us." Alright, I said, I'll notify you every time I'm using my trash cans. "Oh that won't be necessary...." Clearly it is.
    via Endoman13
  • 06
    That was five Tuesdays ago. Today, I once again called promptly at ten o'clock and let Alan know I was about to use my trash cans. "You know what,
    via Endoman13
  • 07
    Mr. Endoman? I'm just going to put a hold on any trash can notices for you." Hey that would be swell, Alan. That would be swell.
    via Endoman13
  • 08
    raptorlord33 wait you called him at 10 every Tuesday for 6 weeks straight
    via Endoman13
  • 09
    DLS3141 Today, I once again called promptly at ten o'clock and let Alan know I was about to use my trash cans. "You know what, Mr. Endoman? I'm just going to put a hold on any trash can notices for you." Hey that would be swell, Alan. Why call so late, I would have called on my way into the office a 5:30 am.
    via Endoman13
  • 10
    Next Tuesday, you should call him again, not to inform him that you're once again using your bins, but just to confirm that he did indeed put a hold on the trash can notices. Just to be sure.
    via Endoman13
  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10465089280
    via Nikola Knezevic

  • Several members of the online community praised the resident for his clever way of uncovering the ridiculousness of these rules and regulations. Others shared their similar stories of HOA violations and how they combated them. 

  • 12
    idlikearefund I got a trash can ticket in the mail. The photo showed me actively pulling weeds and the trash can was rolled over by me where I was throwing weeds away. Gotta love HOAs
    via Endoman13
  • 13
    grumblyoldman. I don't live in an HOA, and I honestly don't think I've ever heard a single thing that makes them sound like a good idea. Why do people do this again?
    via Endoman13
  • 14
    xhalcyon. Moved to a new city and first time renting a house with an HOA. They said we had to order garbages and get that set up prior to moving in, so we did. The garbage company dropped the bins
    via Endoman13
  • 15
    off in the back alley and we had a week or something before we got our stuff moved. Then later received a $75 fine from HOA for leaving bins out... When we hadn't even moved in yet..... Got it waived though, but f them.
    via Endoman13
  • 16
    WonderlustHeart ⚫ I recently stepped on deck and small piece broke. I called and left message.. after hours. I'm working nights as a nurse. 108 hours in 11 days. I literally today looked up from phone and asked where my phone was... 19 days later I fell up
    via Endoman13
  • 17
    to thigh. I emailed the HOA with details. I got a message basically saying unfortunately we didn't get your message. You called emergency line this time and said not an emergency. It will be fixed' Nothing asking how I was or addressing any issues.
    via Endoman13
  • 18
    I sent the most aggressive yet passive ish email I ever had. 'A hole in a deck I can assure you is not an emergency. I'm an operating room nurse who does gunshots to head, stomach, meh wherever someone shoots, brain surgery, hearts,
    via Endoman13
  • 19
    whatever... an emergency constitutes a fix within minutes to a few hours. This I can assure you, was not an emergency, but I can send you the healthcare standards of an emergency if you'd like!'
    via Endoman13
  • 20
    That's not verbatim but I have never been more proud of myself. They called. I was lost night shift. I still haven't listened, I'm sure their answer sucjed
    via Endoman13
  • 21
    Fr00shy-4 I once received a warning letter from my HOA that the blades of grass on my lawn were above the allowable 4" maximum length.
    via Endoman13
  • 22
    That was the day I wished I had the superpower of being able to mail an outgoing punch to someone's face. My lawn was green and w d free, but the line was drawn at the height of grass blades. Sometimes I want to skip a week of mowing. me for taking a weekend off.
    via Endoman13
  • 23
    The HOA before that.... My dogs were barking too loudly at night. They never responded to my reply email that I don't own dogs or pets of any kind. One of my neighbors manifested invisible dogs and placed them onto my property and blamed me for my inability to control their natural behavior. That was the day I wish I had the superpower of being able to punch a neighbor through drywall.
    via Endoman13
  • 24
    Kawai_Oppai Lol, at my old place growing up my dad was in charge of maintenance, managed a few guys to do repairs, pool equipment etc. Installed the roofs, did pavement, painted the whole place etc. anytime people wanted full remodels, my dad would usually get his crew in there at really good prices. It was a great place to train up his workers and be able to keep an eye on their work basically from home.
    via Endoman13
  • 25
    People were complaining they felt he was paid too much and it was costing them too much so they eventually decided to switch to a property management company and wanted to cut his pay etc, he quit, letting them figure things out for themselves. He is the type that if he isn't the boss and in direct charge of the projects then forget it. The crews they were making him use instead of his own were complete idiots.
    via Endoman13
  • 26
    They very quickly learned just how much they were saving by my dad having been in charge and using his own crews. Without him they were hit with a million dollar+ assessment to replace roofs in the other half of the complex, for the other roads needing done, pool services, and retaining wall repairs etc
    via Endoman13
  • 27
    They then begged to get him back, but he had already been planning to move and this place was really just a side job of convenience for a free house. Obviously he declined.
    via Endoman13
  • 28
    Every so often we get jobs in the area and the place has completely fallen apart. Pool is neglected and not operational, roads still aren't done years later, they had to abandon and tear down tennis courts because it turns out people usually charge a ton to re-do big retaining walls etc.
    via Endoman13
  • 29
    The only buildings in good condition are the ones his crews had completed before we left many years ago. Very sad honestly because a handful of HOA bad decision really over so many people. fu
    via Endoman13

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Tags

hoa neighbors malicious compliance neighborhood-drama neighborhood-stories trash garbage entitled people karma entitled people
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