Hoa Has Ignored Multiple Efforts To Settle, Now Demands $2k

Location: Florida, USA

I was 46 days late paying my HOA dues a few years back. I had been unemployed for a period of time and I paid as soon as I could. They slapped me with a $125 fine (the dues were on $660, so a ~19% fee). I disputed the charged calling it excessive. Management company basically said "tough shit". Interest charges of a few cents per month continued to accrue until March of 2022, when they added a $25 late fee. I told the management company that a $25 late fee *was* appropriate, and I offered to settle the outstanding balance for that amount. The representative of the management company said she'd take this to the HOA board for their response. The total balance was around $250 at this point.

Since then I have contacted the management company numerous times, emailing 3 different people on numerous occasions in addition to the original representative, asking for status update. Still getting statements each month, with the amount continuing to creep up.

August 2024, management company calls me. The rep (now the 5th I've talked to) says he's calling to help put this thing to bed. I explained the situation and how I'd been trying to get my settlement offer accepted for over 2 years now and that I also wanted to end this. I put my summary in email to him (also forwarding previous emails) and upped my offer to $125. After 2 more follow ups and a couple of months, he tells me that the board wants to go to mediation. Great, now we're getting somewhere.

January 2025, I email him back - when will the mediation take place? He refers me to the HOA attorneys office. I contact them asking for our mediation date. No response.

September 2025, attorneys send a letter that they intend to lien my property due to about $1600 in outstanding balance. They offer an email address for disputes. I follow their instructions and dispute the charges, including the email chains. My reasoning is that they have continued to assess fees and interest after my good faith offers, despite numerous follow ups from my side. I end the email with: "I reserve all rights to challenge the claim of lien and request that you immediately halt any foreclosure action and provide a response outlining the next steps to schedule the previously agreed-upon mediation."

This week I get a certified letter. Attorneys include all of the assessed charges, a copy of my HOA covenants, and a demand that I pay the balance of $2178 before Dec 1st to avoid foreclosure.

My gut is to suck it up, pay the $2178 now and then sue the management company in small claims for this amount minus the amount owed as of the date I made my settlement offer. Any other ideas?