UPDATE: A woman whose condo was going to be sold at auction over an overdue tax bill of less than $95 has now been told she can keep her home, as long as she pays a $300 late fee. (Source: WSB-TV)
PREVIOUS REPORT:
A Norcross, Georgia, woman is pleading with city leaders not to take her home over an overdue tax bill of $94.85.
The woman says she never received any notices and never knew her condo had been sold at auction. Now city officials are trying to figure out what, if anything, went wrong.
Xui Lui says she never knew there was an overdue tax bill on her place because the notices were returned to city hall.
Lui bought the two-bedroom Norcross condo with cash in 2011. She lives there with her 4-year-old child. Records show she's paid the county taxes and the city tax every year except that first year, when the certified letters warning of the outstanding balance were returned to the city because of clerical errors. That error turned out to be an incomplete address.
“No street, no name. How can I receive the letter?” Lui asked.
Last week, Lui got a notice telling her the condo had been sold at auction and she needs to move out by Nov. 25, all because of the overdue bill.
“Where are we going to go? I have nowhere. This is my house. Why do I need to move out?” Lui said.
Lui’s friends and even strangers are coming to her defense, trying to work with the city to fix the situation.
“Anyone in their clear mind would say this is crazy,” said family friend Ruben Ortiz.
Norcross City Manager Rudolph Smith told WSB-TV on Monday, “We are going back and doing our due diligence. (The city contractor who handled the sale) will try to work something out.”
However, since the property has already been legally sold to another buyer, it's unclear what can be done.
Lui and friends are trying to find a lawyer to help press her case as the days till a possible eviction dwindle.
“Someone can rob your house? Rob your property? This is not American style, right?” Lui said.
Norcross city leaders said they are trying to work with Lui to fix the situation. They weren't aware of any problem until Lui came to them just a few days ago.
Lui said city leaders have admitted to her mistakes were made.
