Ok my girlfriend just called

[samplegirl]

me the library turned her over to a debt collector for 10.00

I told her to send it back and bill it to trump!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. What's the chance she could pay that debt?

I bet they'd arrange some kind of a payment deal if she asked nicely.

While it's somewhat dumb that so small an amount was turned over to a debt collector, I bet her ten bucks was bundled in among a lot of other amounts. And she should pay the library fine.

I have the remarkable good fortune to live in a city where the local library does not charge fines. If you do have something overdue for more than thirty days, your borrowing privileges are suspended. Plus I can renew books on line, which is wonderful.

[samplegirl]

3. She's going to pay it

she returned the book and was unaware.

[3catwoman3]

2. Years ago, when my husband was stationed a K.I.Sawyer AFB in the...

...upper peninsula of Michigan, I had a seriously overdue library book. Instead of notifying me, a report was sent to my husband's commanding officer that I was in possession of "stolen government proerty."

[Elmer1007]

14. library fines

I have seen city libraries file warrants for unpaid fines and book not returned. I was a police officer in the 70's and served several warrants for unpaid fines.

[Ohiogal]

4. Wow!

I thought there was a limit on what fines a public library could charge and that it was way under $10.

Seriously .... a debt collector???? Do they put this kind of thing on your credit report, I wonder?

[samplegirl]

5. She's said yes

And was upset!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

9. Each library system will have its own limits.

When I lived in cities that charged overdue fines, most typically ten cents per day, I frequently turned books in late and cheerfully paid the fine. Not long after I moved here (Santa Fe, NM) I got a card with the library, and it didn't take me very long to turn in a book late. When I pulled out my wallet, I was completely shocked when I was told they didn't charge fines.

I almost never have an overdue book anymore, even though it doesn't matter in terms of a fine. What really helps me is the ability to renew on line.

[safeinOhio]

6. I like to screw with them.

I’d send them $10.75. and send a letter at the end of the year demanding my 75 cents back or I’ll see you in court.
I always round up on doctor bills that I really don’t understand because I found out it screws up their books.

[Hortensis]

7. Sounds very trumpish, except of course he'd hold the

library system up for more.

[safeinOhio]

12. trump doesn't pay his bills, yet

Here I am catching hell for overpaying my bills. At least I don't under pay them by a dime. Now that would evil.

[moonscape]

8. Libraries are hurting and one of the

last folks it would occur to me to deliberately mess with.

We’ve had a couple of closings in my area and others with reduced hours. Makes me sad, but then I’m a sentimental oldster, came of age when I practically lived in them.

[safeinOhio]

13. Messing with them for overpaying my bill?

Just like humans, some libraries are better than others. I've never heard of any turning a small bill like this to a collection company.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

10. That's being a jerk.

It's one thing with doctor bills, but libraries are one of the very best things about this country, thanks in large part to Andrew Carnegie. Librarians are the heroes and heroines of this country. Just ask Michael Moore.

[safeinOhio]

11. I've only done with doctor bills.

But when libraries start turning $10 bills over to nasty bill collectors, I'd include them. But, I've always paid my fines anyway.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

15. Maybe they're turning them over because a whole lot of people aren't paying their fines.

And I'm guessing that this $10 one was simply bundled with a whole lot of library fines, and the whole lot of them turned over. I'm curious to know just how long that ten bucks hadn't been paid.

[safeinOhio]

16. My guess, it will end up costing them

$20 to collect the $10.

I got a new phone number years ago and got calls every day looking for the dead beat bill payer. The same numbers called every other day looking for a person I never heard of. I had to pay my lawyer to send them a nasty note to stop the calls or go to court.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

17. Probably not.

They probably sold the debt to a debt collector for fifty cents on the dollar, maybe more, maybe less.

I've had my current phone number for 11 years now, and every few years I get a phone call from someone trying to collect a debt for someone at this number. I don't think it's even a person who used to have this number, rather that every so often some slime ball simply puts down a random phone number, which happens to be this one, and then skips out on whatever. I've learned to always call back and explain that no Ricky Martinez (it's always a Hispanic male name, but then I live in Santa Fe) lives here and that I've had this number since 2008.