Ferndale library hires collection agency to go after those with overdue bills

Targets will be those with bills more than $20

FERNDALE, Mich. – The Ferndale library has hired a collection agency to go after those who have big overdue bills.

"In the last five years, we've lost about $40,000 worth of items," said Kelly Bennett, head of circulation at the library.

Bennett said the targets are those who have a bill that's more than $20.

The collection agency can alert credit card agencies if the item isn't returned or paid for.

But Bennett said she hopes it doesn't come to that. She said the library sends out notices for overdue items well before it hits the point of collection.

"You have a lot of chances," she said. "It's important to us, we don't want to lose those patrons."

The collection company only works with libraries and only goes after items missing for three years.

"The company that we're using has an approach designed to get them to come back in contact with us, rather than hassling them all the time," Bennett said.

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