ComplaintsforBell Woods Management

• Initial Complaint

  11/29/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Timeline of Events:1.31 March 2023: Purchased Townhome a.Seller paid at closing: *************** 3/31/2023 to 06/30/2023 in the amount of $700.00.b.Buyer paid at closing: HOA Administrative Fee to Bell Woods Management: $200.00.c.Buyer paid at closing: Transfer Fee to The Town ********************************* $2,525.00.2.27 November 2023: Received initial notice of **** stating I was past due with a due date of 31 July 2023.3.27 November 2023: Called HOA Office @ ************* and was told the following:a.Can be seen in office by appointment only.b.HOA staff told me on this day they would call me the next day, but never received return call.c.HOA staff told me they all work at home due to Covid.d.HOA staff unable to explain invoice details to include dates charges covered.

  Business response

  12/01/2023

  ************ spoke to one of our reps over the phone who explained to him that since COVID, we have changed our business structure. Some of our reps work off-site and work from home. In office meetings do require an appointment. Our rep did explain to ************ that the invoice he received was for his *************** for the 2nd half of 2023 (July 1 - December 31, 2023) which coincides which the prorated dues amount that was collected from him at closing from his closing date in March until June 30th. That 2nd half 2023 *************** notice was sent out to him in June, with a due date of July 31st on the invoice, it is now December. He is VERY overdue for this payment. The *** management office is simply trying to do its job to collect the payment that is due. 

  Customer response

  12/06/2023

   
  Complaint: 20930285
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  1) As of 06 December 2023, I still have not been received the following:

          a) Phone call scheduling me for an office appointment as promised on 27 November.                                                        b) Official invoice that includes monthly costs times the number of months equals the total.                                                c) ********************* by-laws/rules handbook.                                                                                                              d) Notice of meetings, elections in writing.                                                                                                                            e) Homeowners statement showing expenditures and amount of funds on hand to include reserve funding based                on *** payments.   

  2) I did not receive a notice of *************** owed until 27 November 2023 and that was only via email. I have never received anything via mail, only email. There is no transparency and it is evident whoever runs the *** doesn't want to speak to the residents, answer their questions or be held accountable for what they are doing with mine and my neighbor's money. 

  3) The person that spoke to me was highly disrespectful and acted like he was a dictator. If he talks to me this way, how does he speak to others? I am a disabled veteran and I don't appreciate the way this company talks to people. 

  4) The bushes in front of my townhouse were dead when I moved in and the bark around the bushes needs to be replace. To date, I have paid almost $4,000.00 to the *** in the nine months I have been a resident and received nothing in writing, minimal service on the lawn area and bad attitudes when I ask why. This is unacceptable and I will not back down until the *** does the right thing.

  
  With Much Contempt,
  
  *******************

  Business response

  12/11/2023

  Our rep is still waiting for ************ to respond to his voicemail about the proposed appointment date (which has now passed and a new date will need to be set). ************ has indeed received the invoice as he has viewed it 13 times per the tracking software program. As its 2023, and the mail service isnt always reliable, invoices are not mailed out, they are emailed out 15 days before each due date. ************** invoice was originally emailed out on 6/16/2023 to ************** email address. *************** are not figured at a monthly rate, *************** are semi-annually, and the invoice is for the semi-annual amount. *************** include not only landscaping services on ************** townhome but on the common areas and upkeep and access to all the amenities. These are services and amenities that ************ has received but not paid for by not paying his ***************. Until 12/6/2023, ************ had not paid any ***************, and had only paid the *** transfer fee at the time of purchase, which did not total the $4,000 as claimed. We do appreciate him finally paying his 1st half 2023 *************** on 12/6/2023.
  ************ did not ask for a copy of the *** Covenants & Bylaws,but we are happy to provide them to anyone who asks as it is important that every resident know and follow the covenants, and we will gladly email them to him. There are no copies of meetings & elections as the *** Board is currently Developer run, not run by an elected Board. As the neighborhood is currently under development, there is no reserve fund, and it is being partially funded by the Developer and is being run on an estimated budget, which we will provide.
  We will also send ************ a copy of the Landscapers Duties.It is important for him to familiarize himself with what is covered by the landscape contract and what they are and are not responsible for. All ***** and fauna on a lot, for example, is owned by each lot owner. Diseased or dead trees and shrubs are, therefore, the responsibility of the lot owner to replace. Additionally,the mulch is refreshed once per year, typically in January, per the contract. 

  Customer response

  12/11/2023

   
  Complaint: 20930285
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  

  At the end of the day, I love my community, the **************** and my country as I served over 23 years on active duty.  

  Since Ive moved to ************, all I have received from my questions to the *** are grief, backlash and avoidance.

  Why?
  
  Our rep is still waiting for ************ to respond to his voicemail about the proposed appointment date (which has now passed and a new date will need to be set).
  Response: This statement by the *** is an absurd lie. I do not have a phone with a functioning voicemail and havent for several years. No one from the *** has contacted me offering to setup an appointment.
  ************ has indeed received the invoice as he has viewed it 13 times per the tracking software program.
  Response: After reviewing my email history, the first invoice for *** fees due from 7/31/2023 to 12/31/2023 arrived in my inbox on 11/27/2023. The first email I ever received from the *** that is currently in my inbox is on 8/28/2023 with a subject line of Weed Treatment Notification.  
  As its 2023, and the mail service isnt always reliable, invoices are not mailed out, they are emailed out 15 days before each due date.
  Response: Glad you admitted not officially sending me anything in writing.
  ************** invoice was originally emailed out on 6/16/2023 to ************** email address.
  Response: No, it wasnt.
  *************** are not figured at a monthly rate, *************** are semi-annually, and the invoice is for the semi-annual amount.
  Response: This is the first time I have been told this in writing.
  *************** include not only landscaping services on ************** townhome but on the common areas and upkeep and access to all the amenities.
  Response: What percentage of my payments go to the upkeep of my yard versus the common areas you are referring to above? How many common areas my money is responsible for and what are the dimensions of each common area versus my small yard?
  These are services and amenities that ************ has received but not paid for by not paying his ***************. Until 12/6/2023, ************ had not paid any ***************, and had only paid the *** transfer fee at the time of purchase, which did not total the $4,000 as claimed.
  We do appreciate him finally paying his 1st half 2023 *************** on 12/6/2023.
  Response: First half of 2023 wouldve been 01/01/2023 to 06/31/2023. I did not close on the townhouse until 03/31/2023. Check #**** was mailed on 12/2/2023 in the amount of $700.00 for *************** dated 7/1-2023 to 12/31/2023. As of 12/11/2023 check #**** has not cleared my account.
  Check #****** in the amount of $2,425.00 was cashed by FNB ************ on 4/11/2023.
  Check #****** in the amount of $200.00 was cashed by Bell Woods Checking **** on 5/5/2023.
  Homeowners Association Dues at Closing 3/31/2023: $700.00 was paid for *** fees dated 3/31/2023 to 6/31/2023. This data is on my closing documents and I can prove it.
  Question: Shouldnt three months of dues be less than $700.00?
  Total amount paid by seller and closer through 03/31/2023: I paid $3,425.00 to the *** at closing plus what you received from the seller prior to closing eclipsed $4,000.00. From 3/312/2023 through 12/11/2023, I have paid $4,125.00 to the ***.
  ************ did not ask for a copy of the *** Covenants & Bylaws, but we are happy to provide them to anyone who asks as it is important that every resident know and follow the covenants, and we will gladly email them to him.
  Response: Why wasnt this information provided to me as a paying customer without having to ask? Why cant I meet the *** staff, have a friendly conversation, get to know the employees of the *** and have a good, civil, working relationship versus the adversarial environment created by the *** against its paying customers?
  There are no copies of meetings & elections as the *** Board is currently Developer run, not run by an elected Board.
  Response: Is H3138353036333****631H the builder or the just the check ******? Having no copies of meetings and the meeting minutes is a huge problem. The meeting history and minutes should be recorded and every resident should have access to this data. There has to be statutory law violations based on this missing information. Wonder what the ****************************** would say about this?
  As the neighborhood is currently under development, there is no reserve fund, and it is being partially funded by the Developer and is being run on an estimated budget, which we will provide.
  Response: If there is no fiscal discipline to the *** fund, how can you handle emergencies that *** arise. How will you pay for that without a reserve fund? Where is all of this money going, if not into a reserve fund?
  We will also send ************ a copy of the Landscapers Duties.
  Response: Thank you. Mail me a hard copy.
  It is important for him to familiarize himself with what is covered by the landscape contract and what they are and are not responsible for.
  Response: Who are the parties listed on the landscape contract? What is the start date of the period of performance? What is the term of the period of performance, terms & conditions of the contract? Is the contract a 12-month base period with option years? If so, how many option periods and how long are they?
  All ***** and fauna on a lot, for example, is owned by each lot owner.
  Response: If this is the case, then who owns the ***** and fauna in the common areas?
  Diseased or dead trees and shrubs are, therefore, the responsibility of the lot owner to replace.
  Response: Yet, I am responsible for paying to replace dead trees or shrubs in the common areas?
   Additionally, the mulch is refreshed once per year, typically in January, per the contract.
  Response: Again, there is no accountability or transparency with this *** as per the contract I have yet to see makes any sense. What is the period of performance, terms & conditions of the contract? Is the contract a 12-month base period with option years? Who is the vendor? Who provides appropriate oversight to ensure services paid are received?
  
  In addition to my questions above, what I am seekingfrom my original complaint still hasnt been satisfied:
  I want to speak with the Owner and Co-Owner of the *** management company simultaneously which is listed as H3138353036333****631H face-to-face and get my questions answered.
  Owner listed: ********************* Woods
  Co-Owner listed: **********************
  Explanation of what the $2,525.00 in charges at closing labeled as Transfer Fee to The Town ******************************** are utilized for once received by H3138353036333****631H?
  Why are most of the bushes in the front of my townhouse dead? (See photos)
  Why is the landscaping not being maintained appropriately? (See photos)
  What are *** fees actually being utilized for since the landscaping is not being maintained?
  Where is a homeowners association report showing accountability of funds being paid to the management company?
  Why doesnt the property management company setup a website where the paying customers can establish accounts, pay online and forecast bills?
  Why the lack of transparency with mine and my neighbors money?

   

  Sincerely,
  
  *******************

  Business response

  12/20/2023

  Proof that we did indeed attempt to schedule a face-to-face meeting with ************.

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