New resident gets fined $75 by HOA for violating package rule when it's their fault for not giving him a proper mail key: 'You can't cite people for problems you created through your own incompetence!'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Aug 9, 2025 8:00 AM EDT

No one should be fined by the same people responsible for said fine. That's about as counterintuitive as it gets, and yet no amount of hypocrisy is enough to stop your local homeowners' association from trying to get some extra cash from its residents. 

This new tenant lived in an apartment building that was, unfortunately, part of an HOA, and he felt the negative consequences of the HOA-resident dynamic almost immediately. First, he was promised a key to the mail room upon moving into the complex, but the delivery of said key was delayed for weeks on end. At first, this wasn't a problem for the resident. Then, one day, he received a $75 fine from the HOA for allowing too many packages to accumulate in the mail room. Of course, these packages could not be properly accessed and taken by the resident because he still did not have his key to the mailroom. He made numerous attempts to explain his predicament, but the HOA board members refused to acknowledge their own part in this mess. 

This catch-22 illustrates just how useless HOAs are when it comes to actually helping out their residents. However, when they discover new ways to enforce ridiculous rules and collect more money from folks, they will jump at the opportunity.

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  • A man in a blue crew neck shirt and a backwards cap places his hand on his forehead with a look of frustration.
    via Sander Sammy

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

  • At the end of the day, the $75 fine is not about the actual money. It's about the principle of the matter. No one should have to pay the price of a violation to the very people responsible for that violation in the first place. These HOA board members need to do their own due diligence and get a life while they're at it!

  • "HOA cited me for PACKAGE THEFT! Turns out they never delivered my mail key"

    Moved into this townhouse complex three months ago. Been waiting for my mailbox key from the HOA since day one & kept getting told it's being processed every time I called.
    via BraveMarionberry9984
  • Yesterday I get a violation notice for allowing packages to accumulate in common areas, creating safety hazards and attracting theft. Apparently my Amazon deliveries sitting by the mailboxes for days violated community standards.
    via BraveMarionberry9984
  • When I called to explain I literally can't access my mailbox without the key they wer supposed to provide, the property manager acted like this was news to her.
    via BraveMarionberry9984
  • No sh, Karen. I've called six times about this exact issue. Now they want me to pay a $75 fine for the "violation" while they figure out their own paperwork.
    via BraveMarionberry9984
  • Meanwhile, I've had to have packages delivered to my restaurant because they keep disappearing from the common area. Exactly the problem they're supposedly trying to prevent.
    via BraveMarionberry9984
  • Best part? When I asked why it takes three months to cut a mailbox key, she said "we have to coordinate with the postal service and it's a complicated process." My neighbor got his key in two days when he moved in last month.
    via BraveMarionberry9984
  • Finally getting the key tomorrow, but still fighting the fine. You can't cite people for problems you created through your own incompetence. Grrr
    via BraveMarionberry9984
  • FlyingPaganSis⚫ Stop dealing with them over the phone and do all future communications via email or traceable written means.
    via BraveMarionberry9984
  • A delivery truck is stacked with piles of packages.
    via Claudio Schwarz

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

  • This includes refuting the fines. Include the times and dates and a name of who you spoke to for all the calls you already made when you refute the fines in writing.
    via BraveMarionberry9984
  • Masked Crocheter ⚫ Uno reverse. Send them an itemized bill for not providing a key in a timely manner, unprofessionalism in regards
    via BraveMarionberry9984
  • to how they've handled the situation, any damages for missing or damaged packages and mail, and pain and suffering for the borderline harassment you received because they couldn't do their jobs.
    via BraveMarionberry9984
  • Make it for at least triple the price they want to fine you and add in that you'd be willing to waive your counter bill if they waive the $75 you DON'T owe them and provide the key by "x" date.
    via BraveMarionberry9984
  • Tell them if they don't you'll be speaking to a lawyer and you guarantee the price will go up and there will be no negotiation after that date.
    via BraveMarionberry9984
  • If you want to be really Petty you can end it with something along the lines of "can any of you say full audit for negligence and/or criminal behavior?"
    via BraveMarionberry9984
  • fatalxepshun ⚫ Funny they are doing this sh now at my place. They replaced the mailboxes with new ones but our old keys. don't work. We were told to pick up our mail at the post
    via BraveMarionberry9984
  • office until they get new keys. They used the same line about having to coordinate with the post office and they don't know how long it will take. This was two weeks ago now.
    via BraveMarionberry9984
  • They didn't even take our mail out of the old boxes. I had to put in a ticket to get a maintenance guy to show me where my box was in the pile of trashed mailboxes which were outside one of the garbage dumpsters.
    via BraveMarionberry9984
  • jbohlinger. Write them a letter saying by failing to provide a key they are obstructing your access to correspondence. That's not an HOA violation, that's a federal felony that has both civil and criminal
    via BraveMarionberry9984
  • penalties. Tell them unless the key is produced and all fines are dropped in 24 hours you will be notifying the post office.
    via BraveMarionberry9984
  • And for what it's worth, I'd rather be investigated by the FBI and the IRS than the Federal Postal Inspection Service. The HOA is in for a world of hurt if they don't comply.
    via BraveMarionberry9984

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hoa hoa stories neighbors neighborhood neighborhood-drama neighborhood-stories entitled people karma entitled entitled people hoa members
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