HOA Management Company: Leave a Message, Pay A Fee
Residents in the Weston Hills Subdivision in Orlando said when they called the management company after 5 p.m., a recorded message warned of a $25 fee for every non-emergency message left with the service...But when reporter Mike Holfeld listened to the recording, there was no indication that there was a line designated for emergency calls only. In fact, the beginning of the recording clearly states, "If this is an emergency call 911." Jan Bergman, a member of the state HOA task force under former Gov. Jeb Bush said the whole thing is "over the top."

HOA Management Company: Leave a Message, Pay A Fee 
Company Says Fee Stopped Overuse Of Emergency Phone Line
ORLANDO, Fla. --A Texas-based home management company has been charging local residents a fee to leave a phone message after hours.

Video: Mike Holfeld Reports
Community Management Professionals is one of dozens of Florida companies run by Associa of Dallas.

Residents in the Weston Hills Subdivision in Orlando said when they called the management company after 5 p.m., a recorded message warned of a $25 fee for every non-emergency message left with the service.

Residents like Mike Izzi simply hung up the phone to avoid the fee.

"It's outright abuse," Izzi said. "Charging people to leave a message? What is that?"

Associa Spokesperson Carol Piering said it was a method to stop "overuse" of a 24 hour emergency line.

But when reporter Mike Holfeld listened to the recording, there was no indication that there was a line designated for emergency calls only.

In fact, the beginning of the recording clearly states, "If this is an emergency call 911."

Jan Bergman, a member of the state HOA task force under former Gov. Jeb Bush said the whole thing is "over the top."

"People pay enough in these home owners associations already," Bergman said.

Associa said it's all a big misunderstanding. If residents waited for the entire message there was an option to leave a message on a "general line" at no charge.

When reporter Mike Holfeld pointed out the confusion, Associa made a new recording making it clear there is an emergency line and a general messages line.

"We pride ourselves on doing the right thing," Piering said. "We apologize if the original message is unclear."

The new recording is now in place.
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/23610202/detail.html