Cannot open gate for visitors, HOA not helpful - HELP! (Canyon: tax, live)

[trekbiker]

Originally Posted by houstonfan

Ok, there's no way that gate doesn't have a punch in gate code. Talk to your neighbors, one of them must have it, esp if they've lived there for many years. The realtor who showed you the property must also know the passcode to enter the gate to show you the house?

I'll ask around the neighborhood, but I doubt they have a punch in code. My real estate agent had to identify himself and have the gate opened for us.

Originally Posted by houstonfan

I'm also 99% sure you don't need a land line, my gate is to my cell phone. If the free google number doesn't work, buy a pay as you go phone with a local number (Houston is a big enough place that 713, 281, etc are sometimes long distance). I believe 281 is the primary number in Richmond but not sure. Use that phone as your clicker, press 9 when someone dials in.

Yep, this is my best hope. I already set up a google number, and I just need to call the lady to get it in the system tomorrow.

Originally Posted by houstonfan

As for finding the HOA board, this is the number on yelp, 281) 341-7349 , is that the one you have? They also have a facebook page, not sure if it's active or not. Like others say, skip your payment or break a rule and they will be contacting you . Also ask your neighbors.

Thanks, I already have that number, but it only leads to the office lady who apparently "doesn't know anything"

[trekbiker]

Originally Posted by blktoptrvl

Call the company that maintains the gate and ask them how to make it work. Or go get a keypad tone generator from radio shack.

What does a keypad tone generator do?

[trekbiker]

Originally Posted by trekbiker

Yep, this is my best hope. I already set up a google number, and I just need to call the lady to get it in the system tomorrow.

Actually, I made a mistake... the zip code I entered was wrong by one digit, and I ended up adding a number that won't be local to my area.

Went back to try to correct my mistake, but when I searched for any numbers within 77469, and it said no new numbers available. Aaaaaghhh, FML

How much do pay-go phones cost, for the phone itself and the monthly bills? Is this any good: http://www.tracfone.com/

[jasonamd]

Originally Posted by houstonfan

Ok, there's no way that gate doesn't have a punch in gate code. Talk to your neighbors, one of them must have it, esp if they've lived there for many years. The realtor who showed you the property must also know the passcode to enter the gate to show you the house?

An apartment complex I lived at in Austin had no gate code. They had the proximity cards or remotes. No gate code was given out. It was always fun to get calls from the gate from random people trying to get in by saying "I live in apartment xxx and I forgot the code, can you let me in?" Lived there for 7 years and never saw anyone enter a code and the gate open.

[IC_deLight]

Originally Posted by trekbiker

As mentioned, I have a smart card where I just wave it in front of the sensor in front of the gate, and it opens. If you've ever used the METRO bus, you have a Q-fare card where you just wave it in front of the sensor as you get on the bus. It's the same thing.

Here's the thing about this HOA. I don't know the names of the board of directors, and I have no way of contacting them. The only phone number I have leads to this lady at the office. I don't think she is on the board because she "doesn't know anything". Other neighbors agree... she's awful. I feel like there's a big wall between the residents and the HOA here.

I'm seriously considering running for a position on the board so I can crack the whip and make sure this HOA does its job and works for the residents. I'm paying almost $1000/yr in dues, so I expect the very best from them.

The identity of the board members is not secret nor is the organization permitted to keep the identity secret.

When you have this problem you are usually dealing with a crooked management company or manager employee.

Often the information is not kept up to date as required by law. You can check the State Comptroller's office to obtain the identity of directors and officers. Use the following link to look up the HOA corporation you are dealing with:
https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa/Index.html

The HOA corporation was never designed for your benefit to begin with.

[houstonfan]

Pay as you go phone is cheap in that you only pay for minutes used, no monthly contract. Other than that, I don't know much about different types these days. I used to have pay as you go mobile when I was a student, that was over a decade ago and phone was about $50, I had to pay 10c per minute but minimum was about $10 every 3 months to keep the service ongoing, I rarely went over that. You can also add a second phone line to your current cell phone account, not sure what's the lowest monthly fee, but I don't think it'll be more than $10/mth, no text, no data, ask for minimal pkg you can purchase.

[TexasCatherine]

Originally Posted by IC_deLight

can check the State Comptroller's office to obtain the identity of directors and officers. Use the following link to look up the HOA corporation you are dealing with:
https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa/Index.html

Good information. The list of directors for your community can be found here. No phone numbers given, but addresses are. Send them a letter. Good luck!

[blktoptrvl]

Originally Posted by trekbiker

What does a keypad tone generator do?

It reproduces the tones that a phone makes when a key is pressed. It may be that the phone you are using does not create the tones with true fidelity.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Originally Posted by blktoptrvl

It reproduces the tones that a phone makes when a key is pressed. It may be that the phone you are using does not create the tones with true fidelity.

As blktoptrvl noted, some phones will sound the proper tone for the key pressed, some phones won't for security reasons. Try this... ask one of your neighbors with a "working" setup if you can test by forwarding your cell number to their phone, and give it a try. If it works, then the problem may be with your phone.

[jasonamd]

It isn't a problem with their phone, their phone number is a long distance number and the gate system doesn't do long distance.