5 December 2012

Library Fines

| starfishy33
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Hi All,

Have a friend who has managed to get a couple of fines on their library card.

There has been some new fine system brought in via Canberra Connect.

Has anyone had any experience with not paying their fines – what happens?

Thanks!

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NoImRight said :

watto23 said :

What amazes me though is places like the unis etc can withold grades etc for unreturned books and unpaid fines, but this government can’t collect fines etc.

I think the fines being as high as they are, would stop people from eveer returning the book. What they really need to do is issue a Residents bill, which has everything on it, ie car rego, rates and any other fees paid to the ACT government. On that they could also collect unpaid fines etc. They can then allow monthly or fortnightly payment on the lot. simpler easy and effective.

Geebus calm down. We are talking about Library fines and you go all “this Government” like your Tony Abutts love child.

Its easy to say some idea you havent thought through is simple when its not you that has to make it work.No doubt You’d also be the one bleating if “this Government” announced that it would cost X thousands of dollars to implement.

Maybe you need to not hastily jump on a post… have you read any posts of mine ever?

I’d drag myself across broken glass before voting for any Tony Abbott led government (I could have lived with either Zed or Katy myself). I’m using the term government as in any government, because in case you haven’t noticed they rarely differ once in power. The point is, would it be too hard for the ACT government to bundle all its charges up into one bill? Then allow installments. It would help some people and as I said it provides an avenue to get fines paid back as well. Note this could be traffic infringements or parking fines as well.

I guess the real clincher would be, how many jobs would be lost in actually improving efficiency. In that case it will never happen.

ThisIsAName said :

Reminds me of this: http://27bslash6.com/blockbuster.html

One of my favourite sites.

watto23 said :

What amazes me though is places like the unis etc can withold grades etc for unreturned books and unpaid fines, but this government can’t collect fines etc.

I think the fines being as high as they are, would stop people from eveer returning the book. What they really need to do is issue a Residents bill, which has everything on it, ie car rego, rates and any other fees paid to the ACT government. On that they could also collect unpaid fines etc. They can then allow monthly or fortnightly payment on the lot. simpler easy and effective.

Geebus calm down. We are talking about Library fines and you go all “this Government” like your Tony Abutts love child.

Its easy to say some idea you havent thought through is simple when its not you that has to make it work.No doubt You’d also be the one bleating if “this Government” announced that it would cost X thousands of dollars to implement.

What amazes me though is places like the unis etc can withold grades etc for unreturned books and unpaid fines, but this government can’t collect fines etc.

I think the fines being as high as they are, would stop people from eveer returning the book. What they really need to do is issue a Residents bill, which has everything on it, ie car rego, rates and any other fees paid to the ACT government. On that they could also collect unpaid fines etc. They can then allow monthly or fortnightly payment on the lot. simpler easy and effective.

miz said :

I do think the new fees are a bit steep though – surely it must create an unintended consequence of *never go back* (or alternatively, just use your kids’ library card from then on?). I wonder how they actually enforce the fines? I’ve heard that some private video shops have been resorting to lawyers to recoup debts from overdues (which must cost a bomb) but I can’t see the govt doing this over library books . . .

The fines may as well be a thousand dollars. It is one thing to impose fines and another to collect them. The ACT Government’s record on debt collection is abysmal.

Outta my way – I’m a borrower!

RiotFrog said :

Why doesn’t your tight-ar*e ‘friend’ just pay the fine, and next time return the books on time?

+2

According to this site – http://www.tams.act.gov.au/live/fees_and_charges/administrative_fees#libraries – the fees are:

Replacement of item(s) not returned after 4 weeks**
Note: The replacement cost is the actual cost of the item or the current average cost, whichever is the greater.

Replacement cost of item

Administration fee for overdue item(s) which have not been returned or paid for after 4 weeks**

$25.00 per borrowing event

Administration fee for overdue item(s) which have not been returned or paid for after 12 weeks (This fee is in addition to the fee payable at 4 weeks, for a total administration fee of $200.00)**

$175.00 per borrowing event

A bit steep, maybe, but the whole idea is to get borrowers to return items on time. The failure to return borrowed items by the due date inconveniences other library users – especially high demand items.

Tell you friend to cop it on the chin and pay the fines.

I do think the new fees are a bit steep though – surely it must create an unintended consequence of *never go back* (or alternatively, just use your kids’ library card from then on?). I wonder how they actually enforce the fines? I’ve heard that some private video shops have been resorting to lawyers to recoup debts from overdues (which must cost a bomb) but I can’t see the govt doing this over library books . . .

Jethro said :

sepi said :

the fines are huge now – 200.00 a book if you are 3 months late.

Or 75 cans of baked beans.

Wow… you’d think I’d be able to divide 200 by 2…..
100 cans of beans 🙂

Tell your friend to turn over a new leaf, it’s time for him to start a new chapter in his life before they throw the book at him.

sepi said :

the fines are huge now – 200.00 a book if you are 3 months late.

Or 75 cans of baked beans.

the fines are huge now – 200.00 a book if you are 3 months late.

best option is to say you’ve lost it altogether and pay for the replacement cost of the book – sometimes only 15.00 or so.

Just wait a few – or many – years until you are a “senior” then you go fee-free. WooHoo. Worth waiting for:-D

Muttsybignuts7:47 pm 05 Dec 12

They may send the library cop, Mr Bookman after you…

You are suffocated by the Giant Bookmark. Or the patchwork anaconda, as it’s known by the enforcers who knitted it.

If I were you, I would apply for a waiver under section 131 of the Financial Management Act 1996:

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ACT 1996 – SECT 131
Waiver of debts etc
(1) The Treasurer may, in writing, on behalf of the Territory—

(a) waive the Territory’s right to payment of an amount payable to the Territory; or

(b) postpone any right of the Territory to be paid a debt in priority to another debt; or

(c) allow the payment by instalments of an amount payable to the Territory; or

(d) defer the time for payment of an amount payable to the Territory.

(2) A waiver relating to an amount payable to the Territory by a person may be expressed to be subject to a condition that the person agrees to pay an amount to the Territory in circumstances specified in the waiver.

(3) A waiver relating to an amount payable to the Territory must be reported in the notes to the financial statements of the relevant directorate that relate to the year in which the right to payment was waived.

It will cost them about $10,000 time and effort just to process it.

RiotFrog said :

Why doesn’t your tight-ar*e ‘friend’ just pay the fine, and next time return the books on time?

Asked and answered. +1

You dont want no library policeman after you.

Why doesn’t your tight-ar*e ‘friend’ just pay the fine, and next time return the books on time?

Don’t they cancel your licence and rego and repossess your house (if you have one)? No? Geez this government’s soft.

Here_and_Now3:16 pm 05 Dec 12

My experience has been that they don’t let you borrow any more until the fine is paid.

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