While not all municipalities use private collection firms, the trend is increasing across the country. Many consumers don?t know that charges like this can affect their credit. A single collection item can drop your credit score as much as 100 points. That?s because collection agencies report delinquencies to the three major credit reporting agencies. The risk to consumers who don?t make those payments in a timely manner, however, is significant. Private agencies typically charge a percentage of the balance actually collected, so there?s no risk to the government. Those dollars can be collected with little investment by the cities if they?re turned over to private collection agencies. For many cities, however, these unpaid fines and fees add up to millions of dollars a year. To each individual consumer, the fines in question may be very small and collection actions may seem petty and unnecessary. The Library does not offer refunds for processing fees, collection agency fees, or copies.As municipal governments increase efforts to collect unpaid parking tickets, dog-catcher fines, library fines and the like, some consumers are seeing a surprising impact?a radical drop in their credit scores. Refunds for returned lost items that were paid with check or credit card can be done at any District library Customer Service Desk during open hours. The Library District does not offer cash refunds. Refunds will be issued by check within two weeks from the date of the original. To receive a refund the item must be in good enough condition to return to the Library's circulating collection. If you pay for a lost item and then find it and return it to a Library Service Desk within 60 days, the Library will refund you the full amount you paid for the item. The Library District does not accept replacements for lost or damaged items. Excessively late accounts may be turned over to a collection agency. Once fees reach $50.00 your library card is blocked from use. Up to item cost + a $10.00 processing fee The District does not accept cash payments. The Library does not accept replacement items in exchange for any lost/missing materials or refund the replacement fee should you locate the material at a later date.įees can be paid via check at a Customer Service Desk or via My Account with a credit card or debit card. If the item is returned in good condition and can be returned to the circulating collection, the replacement fee is waived from your account. This fee must be paid if the item has been lost. When library items become three weeks overdue, it is considered "lost/missing" and the item is billed to your account. It's important to note that while the District has always sent reminder notifications before billing an account and has used the services of a collection agency to recover items or funds, we do not report to credit bureaus, so it does not affect credit scores or credit reports. Library accounts with items that become four weeks overdue may be sent to a collection agency. To update your email address, call 97 or log on to your account. You must have valid contact information in your library account in order to receive courtesy notices. It is your responsibility to let us know when your mailing address, telephone number or email address has changed. Item is considered "lost/missing" and the amount for replacing the item is billed to your library accountĪccounts with a fee balance of $50 or more are turned over to an outside agency for collection and assessed a $10 processing feeīe aware that non-receipt of these notices does not release you from your responsibility to return materials on time. Reminder email is sent if there is no email connected with your account, notification is mailed via USPS to your addressįinal notification is mailed via USPS to your address To help you keep track of item due dates, the library sends the following notices: Knowing when your library items are due is your responsibility. Replacement and processing fees for lost or damaged items still apply. When an item becomes 21 days overdue it is considered "lost/missing". All checked out items do still have a due date and must be returned once the checkout period has expired and all renewals have been used. As of November 1, 2020, the Library District no longer charges daily fines for overdue or late returns on Library items.
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