Hoa Asking For Years Old Payments ($1500) That For Years We Agreed Were Settled, But Now Asking For Payment With Interest ($6000)

Long story but somehow when I closed on my property I somehow agreed with the HOA that the first year's payments were made during the closing. Since this was about 8 years ago I don't remember the details. After a couple years they called me asking about it and I reminded them of our agreement and they verbally agreed over the phone and dropped it. Later again I rented out my apartment in 2022 and was approved that my unit was in good standing so I was approved to rent it out (unfortunately I don't think i have this in writing). Now they are asking again about the payments during the closing and while I was looking for evidence they came back demanding interest payments back to the original debt, which accumulates to about $6000. I don't mind paying the payments but the interest I think is excessive.

I asked to settle and the HOA is saying they need funding for the building and they are going after several units in the building. They didn't address my concerns about the agreement we had in place and that I was only notified this year. I think if the building needs money then they should charge an assessment.

Is it legal for them to charge interest back to 2016 when we had verbal agreements in place that it was paid? I was only notified a few months ago of these payments and they are demanding immediate payment or a lien can be filed. If i just pay it, can I take them to small claims court?

I think I found some evidence of 2 payments made during closing, which is about 1/3 of the original debt. I haven't presented this yet.

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