Library Fines

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 :

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One of my favourite sites.

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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 🙂