Hey, the person that rec'd something about/from Unique Collections, please write back so we can share notes. I just started phase 1 of validation. Wondering if it can really be classed as debt instead of fines. I am writing the library that sent it over tomorrow. K
Hey that was me. Yes it was a library fine in my case also and I can't find an address for them to send the validation letter. I am certain they cannot validate this so I am really eager to send the letter. Any help would be great.
First off I will say that I called them this morning to try and work out something. Basically they are stating I owe about 100.00. They would NOT budge on deleting credit or changing paid info to Satistactorily Paid. So I said, look, I don't agree that I owe this, but to make my credit clean I will cut a deal rather than fight a battle. No go. They have signed something with the CRA so that they won't delete after a settlement. Nice, huh? Unique National Collections 515 Michigan Avenue Jeffersonville, IN 47130 I am going to call the library tomorrow and see what they can do for me. My only worry is that since it is considered fines or lost books or whatever they are trying to get that it won't be considered debt.
Have you used debt validation before? I haven't. It looks like you just have to be lucky. And I never received anything from Unique Collections previous to this. The CSR I spoke to said they had sent out numerous mails (three years ago) to an old address I had moved from. I stated I never got them. She asked, "did you put in a forwarding address?" and I said, yes, and it's odd I never received ANY of these letters. Plus, I would never have known about this had it not shown up on my CREDIT REPORT!! So, now they contacted me the only way I guess they thought they could, but they refuse to delete the item. It's really not fair which is why I am contesting this. I am glad boards like this exist.
Based on what you are saying I think you could call into question wether it was even credit. You never signed a contract stating you would pay in the event etc...In fact I never filled out anything at all. I simply showed the woman my school ID and a piece of mail and she handed me the card. If it's not a debt and you have no contract then the accountshould not be on your credit report. I would advise that you tread very carefully. I for one never communicate anything over the phone because if you don't have it in writing essentially you have nothing. Be Careful. I wish you luck and thanks for the info.
Oh - PLUS I have looked high and low and could not find anything at ALL about Unique Collections on boards like these - or other library related debts. Weird.
I am new. So I quote stupidity, but I really thought I could work something out. I stressed I had not received anything. That's an interesting thought. Can a non-debt go on a credit report? I did sign for my library card. But I certainly did not sign for a loan for cash... but fines can show up on a credit report - can't they? And they aren't really debt. But after I discussed the account with her - at least I got my account number, and she would not budge, I said thank you politely and hung up. Then I went and fiendishly typed out a debt validation letter and ran to Mailboxes, etc and sent it off Certified, RR. k
Good for you never ever communicate with the CA's over the phone that's my personal policy anyway. They are not in the business of helping you. I should no I used to be a CA with dare I say it.....Creditrust. They will say anything to get you to pay because they know the vast majority of consumers do not know their rights. Further by talking to them you may unwittingly give them more information that they did not already have. It is best to do everything in writing. And trust me don't bother being nice to the CA's it will get you nowhere. Go straight in for the kill with them. It's the only language they understand. Good Luck.
They CAN delete if it is not owing. Hubby just got a letter from a CA that he never owed for and they sent a letter to the CRA's (and me) saying "please delete, reason for deletion: NOT OWING" If you pay it you OBVIOUSLY dont owe it . I had made a deal with a CC I owed, I told them I don't remember having a card with them, but I will pay you if you delete it, sure enough they did. it CAN be done!
http://www.unique-mgmt.com Their web site list the who, why and how they collect the library fines. According to UCM the only way they will remove is if the library asks them too. I haven't been to a library in a while, how can they prove you were late returning the material and not human error on the library's part.
I used to work as a circulation supervisor at a public library in CA and we used Unique Collections. Now granted this is how I did things at OUR library. Your library may have a completely different set a rules. When a customer received a library card, they were given a brochure with the library's rules and policies. Per my orders, fines were carefully explained and customers were informed that if they had fines over $25 they would be send to a collection agency. Our system was designed that if an item was four days overdue, the system would telephone the customer and inform them they had an overdue item and to please call the library. If the system was unable to reach the person by phone, it would generate a letter to be sent to the customer. If the item was still overdue after ten days, the system would try to contact the customer by phone or by mail. If the item was still overdue after 30 days, the system would send a final notice indicating the item was now considered lost and the replacement cost had been placed on the customer's account. A customer had two weeks to come by the library to pay the fines or make arrangements with me to make payments. Once the item is six weeks overdue and there has been no contact from the customer, the account is turned over to Unique Collections. Our contract with Unique Collections stipulated that they would contact the customer by mail and/or phone over an additional six weeks, encouraging them to contact the library to resolve the issue. If they customer failed to do so, Unique Collection would use stronger measures and place the debt on credit reports. As for damaged items, the procedures was pretty much the same except I personally took the time to call or write the customer to come and talk to me to resolve the problem. Trying to personally call or write 100s of people every day for overdue items was too much for me to handle; I made time to contact customers with damaged items esp. since their charges were much higher (an unabridged audiobook left out in the sun to warp could easily cost close to $100). As I said this was how I did things at my library. The library director was very PRO customer service as was I and we felt it more more important to get items back on our shelves than to collect money. I frequently waived half of the fines and/or offered repayment plans. I wanted customers to have a good impression of the library and I know it's very easy to make mistakes or forget to return library materials on time. If you know where you incurred your fines, talk to the circulation supervisor or library branch manager. I had the authority to email Unique to place a hold on collection activity while working with customers to resolve their fines. Also...remember to use honey rather than vinegar when approaching the circulation supervisor or branch manager. I have found in most cases they are more than willing to work with you if you are calm and sincere. Yelling and screaming will only give you high blood pressure and an unhelpful library staffperson. Just a few thoughts from a former library pixie
When I worked as a circulation supervisor, customers were notified several times over a 12 week period that they had an overdue item. They were strongly encouraged to contact the library to resolve the problem. If a customer called and said they had already returned the item, the library shelves would be searched every day for two weeks. Sometimes the book would be returned in person by the customer after they found it "tucked" behind the sofa (and pay the fine). Sometimes the book would come in the mail from a library outside of our area (we would check it in and not charge any fines). And sometimes we would find the book on the shelves, check it in on the correct date and call and apologize profusely to the customer. If after two weeks we couldn't locate the book, we would call the customer and try to resolve the problem. As for proving fines...it depended on the situation. I gave my library clerks authority to waive fines up to $10 if they believed the fines were wrong due to human error. Over $10...I'd be called in and discuss the matter with the customer. Most times if a fine was that high, the item had been several days overdue and the customer would have been notified at least twice that they had an overdue book and to contact the library ASAP. Depending on the circumstances and customer's attitude (I will be the first to admit I"m more than willing to work with someone who is nice than nasty), I would do a one time waive of all of the fines and remind the customer about the library's fine policy. I would say 90% of our customers were honest, hardworking people who were responsible and returned their books on time and/or paid their fines. 5% were a little difficult, but once I used my charm on them, things usually went pretty smoothly. The final 5% were pain in the a@@ demon spawns who insisted they could keep books and videos out as long as they wanted or return them wet, moldy, badly stained, chewed by dogs and filled with sand and not pay one cent. They were usually the ones who were the most demanding and threatened to call the mayor. All I have to say is God help St. Peter when those folks get to the Pearly Gates and he doesn't let them in...Oy Vey
Well, To be quite honest, I truly do feel that the library is at fault with this - I *did* return the items in question - I know this because it was one of the final things on my to-do list as I was moving, (across town), and these items were placed in the book slot by me. I had a pretty much spotless history with the library and quite possibly the reason they didn't get in touch with me was because I was no longer at my address or phone - but I did leave a forwarding address and picked up my mail for a couple of weeks after that from my old roommates. I want to say that the address Unique gave me was the old address, but also on their website it says they do skip tracing. Well, no offense to them but all they had to do was pick up the phone and ask for me through directory assistance and they would have gotten me! The new phone was in my name - the number at the new house was probably changed as the other roommate I had moved out shortly after me. Are you basically stating that these items are going to remain on my account? And there is nothing I can do? I haven't paid them yet, but I am torn between doing what I am reading here on the site, or calling the library.. .
Oh and one more thing. I really am a nice person. Do you think the library really could help me get my almost pristine credit back? Should I contact them? I want to - I don't think they are like a real creditor - I mean they are a library! I would think they want to reach me! Just a big misunderstanding....? I actually at this point just want things to work out between me and my credit report. Once it goes to Unique Management and then onto credit reports (3+) years now - will they really work with me - or do they sign with Unique to not do anything?
Personally I say fight it. Do not be reposnsible for a debt you did not incur. If the library allowed it to get to a collection agency with instructions that it be put on your credit report after a specified time, then they are no better than any other crooked collector and should be treated as such. Unfortunately, the library is a publicly funded institution and therefore needs to be concerned more so than a for profit corporation about it's public image. I would fire off a very stern twist on the validation letter to the highest ranking manager at the branch as well as anyone else I can find in the organization that is even higher ranking and let's not forget to send one to Unique Collections as well. The library will probably decide that whatever you owe is not worth a lawsuit or any possible damage to it's public image. This is my take anyways.. Good Luck on your decision.
Don't matter what they sign it can't get either of them off the hook for breaking the laws that protect your rights.
Enter lizardking and validation or marie and validation or psychdoc and validation or validation into the search engine and spend a few weeks reading all the posts, printing reams of paper, making notes... validation isn't about luck!
As I stated, my library director as well as myself was very PRO customer service and I did work frequently with folks who had moved out of the area. IMHO...call or write the library and discuss the situation with them. Chances are you may run into a very nice and understanding person. If that doesn't work...then start using validation letters. I wish you luck!
