Borough of Catasauqua, PA Municipal Claims and Liens

Initial review and sending first legal demand letter	$175
File lien and prepare satisfaction	$250
Prepare writ of scire facias	$250
Prepare and mail letter under Pa.R.C.P. 237.1	$50
Prepare default judgment	$175
Research, prepare and obtain reissued writ	$175
Prepare praecipe to amend	$100
Prepare motion to amend	$150
Present motion to amend	$50
Obtain vehicle identification number (VIN) for mobile home	$100
Prepare motion for alternate service	$250
Present motion for alternate service	$50
Prepare motion to consolidate claims	$250
Present motion to consolidate claims	$50
Prepare motion to add united states as defendant	$175
Present motion to add united states as defendant	$50
Prepare writ of execution	$800
Preparation for Sheriff's sale; review schedule of distribution and resolve distribution issues	$400
Prepare motion to continue Sheriff sale	$50
Present motion to continue Sheriff sale	$50
Prepare petition for free and clear sale	$400
Present petition for free and clear sale	$50
Services not covered above	At an hourly rate from $75 to $275 per hour

Collection fees.

Notice of delinquent claim and fee shifting	$40 per notice, plus applicable postage
Validation notice	$25 per notice
Bookkeeping fee for payment plan of three months or less	$25
Bookkeeping fee for payment plan of more than three months	$50
Handling fee for returned check	$25

§ 182-2 Costs to be added to unpaid claims.

In addition to the fees set forth in § 182-1 above, the reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket charges, costs, expenses, commissions and fees incurred in the collection of the unpaid claims, including but not limited to postage, title searches, VIN searches, prothonotary fees and charges, and sheriff fees and charges, shall be added to the unpaid claims.

§ 182-3 Credit card and debit card charges.

The Borough authorizes any attorney or private collector collecting the unpaid claims to accept payment of the Unpaid claims by credit card or debit card. When payment is made by credit card or debit card, any fees charged by the credit card company, debit card company, credit card servicing agent, or debit card servicing agent shall be charged immediately to the credit card or debit card used to make payment. This applies to credit card or debit card payments made by mail, telephone, over the internet, or in person.

§ 182-4 Interest.

Interest will be assessed upon the unpaid claims at a rate of 10% per annum and added to the unpaid claims. The Borough is permitted to waive any interest owed by any property owner to the Borough when the Borough or any attorney or private collector collecting the unpaid claims believes, in its discretion, that such amount is de minimis or that the cost or burden of continuing collection outweighs the benefit of collecting the interest.

§ 182-5 Collection procedures.

The following collection procedures are hereby established in accordance with the Act:

At least 30 days prior to assessing or imposing attorney fees in connection with the collection of an unpaid claim account, the Borough or its designee shall mail or cause to be mailed, by certified mail, return receipt requested, a notice of such intention to the property owner or other entity liable for the account (collectively, the "property owner").

If the certified mail notice is undelivered, then, at least 10 days prior to assessing or imposing such attorney fees, the Borough or its designee shall mail or cause to be mailed, by first-class mail, a second notice to the property owner.

All notices required by this chapter shall be mailed to the property owner's last known post office address as recorded in the records or other information of the Borough or such other address obtained by the Borough from the county tax assessment office.

Each notice as described above shall include the following:

(1)

The type of tax, municipal claim or other charge, the year that it became due and the amount owed, including penalty and interest;

(2)

A statement of the Borough's intent to impose or assess attorney fees no earlier than 30 days after receipt of the first notice, or no earlier than 10 days after receipt of the second notice;

(3)

The manner in which the imposition or assessment of attorney fees may be avoided by payment of the account; and

(4)

The place of payment for accounts and the name and telephone number of the Borough's representative designated as responsible for collection matters.

§ 182-6 Related action.

The proper officials of the Borough are hereby authorized and empowered to take such additional action as they may deem necessary or appropriate to implement this chapter.

§ 182-7 Repealer.

Any ordinance, resolution and/or other regulation of the Borough, or any part of any ordinance, resolution and/or other regulation of the Borough, conflicting with this chapter are hereby repealed insofar as the same affects this chapter.

§ 182-8 Appointment of solicitor.

The Borough appoints Michelle R. Portnoff, Esquire, as Solicitor for the limited purpose of collecting the unpaid claims and hereby authorizes her, and all attorneys employed by Portnoff Law Associates, Ltd., to sign any and all documents, including municipal claims and liens, on behalf of the Borough.