Any Defense Against Abusive HOA Fees?

One of our clients recently bought a condo at the foreclosure auction. Six weeks later he has the condo sold - it is in escrow but now he is being pounded with demands from the HOA to pay many fees. The HOA mailed his escrow officer two documents listing many charges for selling:

The first document listed a "Title Demand" :
The HOA Owner Balance Due - $40.07
The HOA's "Real Manage Services Comany" also added a "Title and Owner Transfer Fee", a "Forelcosure title processing, fee" and a "Title Demand Fee", all of which totaled $600.00

The second document of "Resale Demand" listed charges:for:
HOA Common Interest Management Services - Prepaid Package of Resale Demand: $503.00
HOA charges - "Owner Balance Due" of $626,00 (reason for this charge is unknown)
HOA charges - Retro Transfer Fees of $395.00 (the transfer fee not paid in the foreclosure is tacked on).
HOA - Prepaid Assessments $616.00.

Naturally the owner/client is a bit stunned at all these escrow charges and not too happy. Is there any recourse against the HOA for essentially pulling made up fees from their arse (excuse my french) without providing any substantive service or work for the charges?

I read a forum recommendation to take them to small claims court (which I will threaten of behalf of our owner client) but does he have a legal basis? Is it unconciouable dealing by the HOA? What else could be his tactic?

Or under the law may the HOA charge whatever the hell it likes?



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2011 08:30PM by Mark H..