[Michlib-l] Materials Recovery/Fine Collection Options

[goikea at libcoop.net]

We also use Unique and so do a number of libraries here in Macomb County 
(Suburban Library Coop). I only have good things to say about Unique.

I was recently contacted by a former patron we had sent to collections 
over a year ago and who had moved out-of-state.  Because we use Unique 
their account had been reported to the credit agencies and the patron 
needed their credit report cleaned up because they where applying for 
some type of government job. I suddenly received a check for lost items 
and fines that I thought I would never see.

Annette M. Goike
Assistant Director
MacDonald Public Library
36480 Main St
New Baltimore, MI 48047
586-725-0273

On 02/13/2014 1:03 pm, Christine Hage wrote:
> We, like many libraries, use Unique Management Systems (800) 879-5453.
> Unique is a collection agency that ONLY services libraries. They
> connect to your automation system so after you have gone through your
> standard notifications accounts over $25 automatically get turned over
> to Unique. You can pull an account at any time. We pay $9 for each
> account we turn over to the collection agency and we charge our
> delinquent customers $10 for the privilege of being turned over. Our
> increased return rates on long overdue materials is impressive and if
> we don't get the materials we get payment for those items more often
> than not. You can also turn over accounts where materials have been
> returned, but fines exceed $25. You set the levels at each step of the
> way and pull accounts out of collections at any point.
> 
> On Thu, Feb 13, 2014 at 12:26 PM, LTDL <lyonslib at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Hi all,
>> 
>> We're having a major issue at our library with unreturned materials
>> and collecting fines from patrons. At the moment, we're just making
>> phone calls and sending letters to patrons, which obviously aren't
>> the most effective options at getting our books or our money back.
>> Does anyone here recommend some relatively inexpensive solutions to
>> this problem?
>> 
>> Thank you for your time,
>> 
>> Allison Ferguson
>> 
>> Director
>> 
>> Lyons Township District Library
>> 
>> (989) 855-3414 [1]
>> 
>> lyonslib at hotmail.com
>> _______________________________________________
>> Michlib-l mailing list
>> Michlib-l at lists.mcls.org
>> http://lists.mlcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l [2]
> 
> --
> 
> Christine Lind Hage, Library Director
> Rochester Hills Public Library
> 500 Olde Towne Road
>  Rochester, MI 48307-2043
> 248/650-7122
> 
> Links:
> ------
> [1] tel:%28989%29%20855-3414
> [2] http://lists.mlcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l
> 
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