Collection Agency - Unique Management Services

The Westerville Public Library currently uses a collection agency, Unique Management Services, to collect outstanding overdue items on the library's behalf. Customer accounts are sent to the collection agency when

1. overdue material is 55 days overdue
2. cost of replacing the overdue material plus any outstanding fines for the material totals $25.00 or more

Customers are notified by the library regarding overdue items via telephone or email when the items are 10, 20 and 30 days overdue. On the 40th day overdue, a bill for replacement of the overdue material is mailed to the address listed in the customer's library account. At 55 days overdue, the customer account is sent to Unique Management, and an additional non-refundable fee of $10 is added to the customer account to pay for the services of the collection agency.

Unique Management contacts customers with delinquent accounts until the account balances are at zero, or until arrangements are made for repayment of amounts owed and return of overdue materials.

Unique Management follows this schedule when corresponding with customers:

1. Material 55 days overdue -- Letter 1 mailed
2. 76 days overdue -- Letter 2 mailed
3. 90–113 days overdue -- Initial Placement Phone Call
4. 120 days overdue -- Letter 3 mailed
5. 134-146 days overdue -- Secondary Placement Phone Call
6. 175-206 days overdue -- Credit Reported

A customer's account will be reported to the national credit reporting agencies if no payment arrangements are made within 175-206 days from the date the items were due.

The Westerville Public Library offers its customers several ways to manage accounts so that materials do not become overdue and turned over to Unique Management:

1. Customers may renew library materials in person unless the item is on hold for someone else.
2. Customers can call the Renewal and Self Service phone line (614-839-2070) 24 hours a day seven days a week.
3. Customers can access the MY ACCOUNT feature on the Library Website at http://catalog.westervillelibrary.org/patroninfo to renew items 24 hours a day seven days a week.
4. Customers can return materials to the book drops outside the library 24 hours a day seven days a week.