some advice on a public collection (for a library)

[daryl83]

ok, so in an earlier post I was enlightened that unpaid tickets, library fines and what not are considered de facto public judgements (although none of them are listed as judgements on my report). I have a collection account on my report from a public library for 38 bucks (god! since when did late fees go up so much?). I had already DV'd them before I learned that would be a useless tactic. Today i recieved a response:

They, the CA, sent me a copy of an email from the library that had an attached .jpg image of the computer screen showing my account and with the books that were turned in late and the fees. I knew they were late back when i turned them in; i just completely forgot about it and moved shortly thereafter and never recieved any notices.

The letter states: "Should you ignore this notice, we want to bring certain facts to your attention. Your credit may be adversely affected with the Library and with Unique National Collections [as if i care if my credit with a collection company is affected lol]. The library would like to have you, again, as a patron in good standing. Payment of fines and fees should be direct at to the library."

I dont mind paying the library at all. While I dont use this particulary library anymore; im an avid reader and love the public service. According to the letter, the CRA seems to just do the dirty work of placing derogatory infor on my credit report. What I would like however is to have the collection account removed from my CR.

How should I proceed to settle this debt? The amount is paltry; but why pay it if its going to continue to sit on my report as a paid collection. Should I send a letter to the CA asking them to remove the item upon payment and ask for that in writing before I pay? Or should I go ahead and pay and then beg to have the listing removed? Has anyone here had anything similiar on thier report that they dealt with?

Thanks,

Daryl

[VeVe]

Schmooze, beg, and offer an additional donation. Library's need money.

[Recovering Attorney]

I like a free service but please don't annoy me with things like fines when I don't hold up my part of the bargain.

[Recovering Attorney]

Pay the friggin fines and complain to the library trustees and your local county legislator ( I assume you didn't move far.).

[awwwgeez]

How much did the book cost? Usually, or at least in my area, the fee and fines doesn't exceed the cost of the book.

I agree with the others....pay the fee. The library is one of the last holds we have to the bygone days! Did you ever notice how good a library smells, especially the old ones?

[daryl83]

and to recovering attorney:

of course like i said orginally, i dont mind paying the fee (and im sure I probably will)and I would have if i hadnt forgotten about it; but im not about to have a paid collection for a library fine. And there arent any books missing; all were returned...just two weeks late.

What irks me about it is that I find it rather petty of a libary to hand over late fees to a CA. Its not like I moved far and I did forward my address. A notice from the library wouldve been good enough to get me in to pay it; but, i never recieved anything (unless the post office just returned to sender my mail). You dont have to agree with me. But next time you have a 20 dollar late fee at a library and forget for a couple of months and it ends up at some lame a$$ CA then you can sit back and tell yourself "oh man..i completely deserved the 75 point hit to my credit report! Justice is served!"

ironic that most the people on this board are trying to find ways to get out of paying thousands of dollars in CC debt....

[VeVe]

ironic that most the people on this board are trying to find ways to get out of paying thousands of dollars in CC debt....

WTF??????????????? That's a really low blow, and you don't know the situation of everyone on this board.

So exactly how do you know the library didn't try notifying you directly? Them using a CA isn't the most economical method. Odds are this was their last resort.

Also, the letter said "The library would like to have you, again, as a patron in good standing. Payment of fines and fees should be direct at to the library."

I'd be thankful, and take that as a sign they're willing to work with you. It's not even the CA asking you for the money. They're nothing but a middle man here, maybe for free since they're doing work for a library.

[daryl83]

your right, that was a low blow and i should not have said that. I apologize to anyone that may have offended. Everyone goes through some difficult times and its hard not to let a system, like the credit system, chew you up and spit you out. Again, I apologize for that. My foot doesn't taste so good.

ya, they may very well have tried to contact me via mail; but i moved right after i turned those books in and for whatever reason I never recieved any reminders. Not thier fault really. No one should have to remind me to go and pay my fines; i just wish i hadnt pulled my credit report to get my reminder. And the letter does give some hope. Im going to call them after work today and see what they say.

[razr]

your right, that was a low blow and i should not have said that.

Ohh pleeze! You're not wrong, there are lots of folks on this list trying to weasel out of debts they legitimately owe. The entire process of credit repair is not exactly ethical (Not mine!) either. We're all working the system to our benefit.

And I agree, getting stuck with a stupid little paid collection blows.

-r