A vast majority of our library clients submit accounts based on a minimum balance amount. While a majority of the accounts we receive do include unreturned materials, most libraries send accounts that meet their minimum balance requirement regardless of the make-up of the balance.
Many patrons will never respond to internal notices sent by the library. Therefore, if the Library chooses not to submit fines-only accounts to Unique Management for collection, these accounts will simply stay on the patron's record and never be resolved.
Unique Management's gentle nudge approach is a great way to remind patrons that their accounts are still delinquent even after they have returned their materials. Often, patrons will respond and pay their account in full, thus clearing the Library's records and allowing patrons to continue using the Library.
If Unique Management can help the Library recover unpaid fines, the Library will generate increased revenue to cover the cost of pursuing delinquent patrons. These costs include internal expenses such as staff time and postage as well as the fees paid to Unique Management.
Most libraries who submit fines-only accounts and have a standard fine structure will qualify for our Budget Neutrality guarantee. With this guarantee, we promise to never charge more than the amount of cash we help recover, thus ensuring that there is no negative impact on the Library's budget due to the cost of collection.
Libraries are strong defendants of equity, yet it is difficult to be fair if the Library submits patrons to collection for owing $25 in materials while not submitting patrons for owing $25 in fines. Both patrons owe a debt to the library, and thus should be treated equally
The main goal of most Libraries is to recover their materials. Unique Management, however, has helped hundreds of libraries recover a significant amount of fine revenue with no loss in patron goodwill.
For the reasons mentioned above, most of our clients ask us to pursue fines even after patrons have returned their materials. Unique Management can provide contact names from numerous clients who successfully submit fines only accounts.
Fines often go unpaid because patrons return their materials to the night drop box and simply never think about the fines that have accrued. In many cases, a gentle reminder from Unique Management in the form of our Remaining Balance letter will prompt patrons to return to the Library and clear their account.
By choosing to submit and pursue fines-only accounts, the Library can maximize the benefits of the Collection Agency Module, allowing it to work as it was designed and keep the entire process automated.
SUMMARY: It is in the Library's best interest, from both a fiscal and a fairness standpoint, to submit fines-only accounts.
