Library fine sent to Unique National Collection

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 07/22/2008 - 23:55
Forums

I had a music CD due back to the library on May third of this year. May third happens to be a day that lives in imfamy for me. Early in the morning that day my mother passed away.

Anyhow, time had passed. I was away from my house much of the time to help with fixing up my moms house to get ready to sell it. Late last week I receiced a letter from Unique National Collection requesting that I pay a fine that by now has ballooned to over $46.00, including $10.00 for the collection service.

Not knowing for sure whether I returned the CD or not since a spent much of the early going in May in a fog and stressed out, I spent time reveiwing my own CD collection, the rest of my house plus the confines of my mothers house and came up empty handed. Saturday I went to the library that the CD was taken out and found that I indeed returned the CD to the library as it was in the library's CD rack,

I called this to the attention of one of the librarians and they told me to take it up with the library manager the following Tuesday which is what I did.

The library manager me that there were steps taken to contact me and even though I erally was not late I still must pay the entire fine, including the collection fee and the fine on the CD that really wasn't late.

This is where I am. I plan on writing a letter to the circulation department of the main library tomorrow to see if I have any recourse.

Any comments about my situation will be appreciated whether it's what I want to haer of not.

Bcat.

This is really bull. I would call the collection co. and tell them but I would make sure you hed proof you returned it since they probaly reciseve I didn't do ikt claims all the time (not saying you are). Id the put it on your report contact the credit report palce and deny this charghe. There is probaly alot of other things you can do so please stop back and someone will more than likely give you the exact steps to take.

Wed, 07/23/2008 - 00:30 Permalink

Since whe do you give your SS# to get a libary card? Jeez, When I was a kid if you owed fines you just couldn't take a book out until you paid it!

Anyway, send a strongly worded DV letter to the CA, libary and make sure you follow up w/ a 2nd dv letter if no responce in 4 days then send an intent letter in another 45 and dipsute with the CRAs

Wed, 07/23/2008 - 08:45 Permalink

OMG, I ain't getting no library card!!!!

Who would have thought that a past due CD would come to this, this is nuts.

Wed, 07/23/2008 - 23:18 Permalink

Unbelievable! I guess it's a sign of the times. Last time I was at the library I wanted to use their public computers for internet access and I had to show my library card (which I had not used in a while). I was denied computer access because I had a fine of $10.00 on my account!

But, in your situation, you took all of the right steps, you looked for the item, couldn't locate it, found that you had returned it and brought it all to the attention of the library.

This is clearly the fault of the library and you should not have to pay. I wouldn't pay it...stand your ground.

Wed, 07/23/2008 - 23:53 Permalink

I haven't had a library card in ages. Don't think I want one.

Fri, 07/25/2008 - 00:27 Permalink

seems like a dangerous thing to have, who would have thought that a library would give you this kind of trouble. This post surprised me.

Fri, 07/25/2008 - 02:57 Permalink

Well when you consider that many times libraries are county organizations or city organizations, it makes sense that they would try and collect library fines the same way they collect say your trash pickup bill or something.

Fri, 07/25/2008 - 19:31 Permalink

besides, with the internet who needs a libary

Sat, 07/26/2008 - 01:27 Permalink

Oh I have to interject here---you are talking to an avid "real" book reader, livelong library/book fiend. The internet is very useful and we can't get along without it BUT---it will never replace curling up with a good book. Kind of hard to curl up with a piece of plastic! There are things to be discovered on the internet, that you won't find in a library and many things in a library you won't find on the internet. So we really can't get along without either of them. End of story---NEXT...

Sat, 07/26/2008 - 05:41 Permalink

LOL your right. I also read a few hours each night and would not enjoy it as much if I had to drag the laptop or PC over. I normally buy my books so that didnt even cross my mind! Thanks for pointing that out :)

Sat, 07/26/2008 - 07:13 Permalink

Thanks--I get on my soapbox about things like that. Glad to hear you read REAL books.

Sat, 07/26/2008 - 07:15 Permalink

Here too. I have always loved to read and even had a room in my house redone into a "library" where I can go and pick up a book to get lost in.

Sun, 07/27/2008 - 01:13 Permalink

I am a little scared to go get a book from the library after reading this post, It gives me bad memories of the card file and duie decimal system in our high school library. I am gonna have nightmares tonight, thinking about the mean librarian.

Mon, 07/28/2008 - 03:06 Permalink

I loved all of that. I use to volunteer in the library at my school. Everyone thought she was just a mean old witch but I think she was teased so much by the students she just started putting up a mean front. She wasn;t the prettiest girl in the hair salon, if ya know what I mean, so I think she just put up her defenses.

Mon, 07/28/2008 - 14:23 Permalink