tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post7669408268451836364..comments2023-11-13T20:39:23.254-05:00Comments on Fighting Collection Agency Debt: Unique National CollectionsLeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06679853829876345700noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-79903297633371359862014-09-06T17:38:45.626-04:002014-09-06T17:38:45.626-04:00I don't know what the exact situation was and ...I don't know what the exact situation was and I haven't read the TIME article (I did search for it without success), but I have trouble believing that the parent wouldn't be legally responsible for the debts of their minor child. If your child threw a rock through your neighbor's window and you refused to replace it, the neighbor could take you to court for your child's actions. The same logic should apply here. <br /><br />However...and this is a big "however," laws don't always make sense but they do almost always vary from state to state, so its entirely possible that some states would prohibit collectors from reporting a minor child's debt to the parent's credit bureau. If you could post the URL of the TIME article, I'd like to read that and see exactly what angle they're coming from, because that just don't click with me.<br /><br />The good news is that the most recent version of FICO doesn't take debts under $100 into consideration. The bad news is that lenders can use any version of FICO that they please. It doesn't have to be the latest one. <br /><br />Your biggest problem isn't UNC. Your problem is that somewhere along the line the library made a grievous error. What did the librarian say? You may also consider asking for the exact book listing numbers for the books that were supposedly unreturned--then go look for them on the shelves. If they're there, photograph them and inform the librarian that the books are where they should be and they have no choice but to call off the dogs. <br /><br />Don't let the library tell you that once the debt has been sold to UNC there is nothing they can do. That's their default claim, and its a complete and utter lie. Anytime a creditor sends a debt to collections they retrain the right to pull the account back in the event of an error. <br /><br />If you read this TIME article online and you get a chance, please come back and post the URL. I'm very curious to review these claims that parent's aren't responsible for their kids' library fines. Perhaps it has something to do with the actual name on the library card that the book was checked out under....<br /><br />Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06679853829876345700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-73174163047172049512014-08-16T22:10:27.856-04:002014-08-16T22:10:27.856-04:00I am panicking. I just received a letter from Uniq...I am panicking. I just received a letter from Unique telling me I owe $82 for three unreturned lubrary books taken out by my 4 year old son. I returned the books IMMEDIATELY, and plan on calling the librarian Monday morning to discuss it. Will my credit be hit for children's books? I found a Time article that stated Unique cannot send a debt to collections for a child's or parent of the child, with overdue fees. Is this true??Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05895136829228338197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-57318608579873199802014-07-07T21:17:32.249-04:002014-07-07T21:17:32.249-04:00Ha, actually something like this occurred to me as...Ha, actually something like this occurred to me as well. It is important for me to protect my credit score and I really did return the book, so I just might try this. Thanks for the advice. I'll write back with the results if I do end up going the "threaten the librarian" route, haha.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-81413153426381682802014-07-05T19:59:08.397-04:002014-07-05T19:59:08.397-04:00I'm willing to bet they'd find the book wi...I'm willing to bet they'd find the book with a quickness if they were to receive an "intent to sue" letter based on sending you to collections for a book you already returned. I'm pretty sure you could argue fraud for that. But, of course, its just an empty threat....but libraries just don't get intent to sue letters very often, and it could just make the problem go away. Another idea....contact the news media for a local interest story on the abusive library. The squeaky wheel gets the oil. Make enough of a nuisance of yourself and they're liable to clear your account just to make you go away. This is one of those times that I regret not living closer to one of my readers...we could have some real fun with those people. Stuffy librarians are some of my favorite people to shake up. :)Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06679853829876345700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-6731617598301143802014-07-02T11:40:32.879-04:002014-07-02T11:40:32.879-04:00Hahaha... yes, I'm very interested in hearing ...Hahaha... yes, I'm very interested in hearing about this!Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-27816448467748926692014-06-25T19:29:04.619-04:002014-06-25T19:29:04.619-04:00If you've got any lawyer friends I have enough...If you've got any lawyer friends I have enough Xanax in my system to have just come up with an absolutely insidious idea....so do you?Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06679853829876345700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-69483008017689953532014-06-25T11:58:08.349-04:002014-06-25T11:58:08.349-04:00I did have the library do a search for the book, w...I did have the library do a search for the book, which they didn't find, but I haven't actually tried to speak to the head librarian or anything. I'm honestly pretty discouraged about those prospects when they simply claim they don't have the book, and I should mention that I'm dealing with the LA public library and I have some strong doubts about how far out of their way they'll go to help me. If it were a smaller institution where I thought they'd be likely to believe my story, I probably would have done exactly that right off...Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-37546501231822550632014-06-24T15:04:29.564-04:002014-06-24T15:04:29.564-04:00A lot of lenders are still using FICO classic whic...A lot of lenders are still using FICO classic which, unfortunately, does take collections under $100 into account. Have you tried discussing this with the library? And I don't mean the peon at the desk, but the person actually in charge of collecting fines and outsourcing accounts? Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06679853829876345700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-83586631983290374652014-06-23T12:23:36.909-04:002014-06-23T12:23:36.909-04:00So UNC was reporting to both Experian and TransUni...So UNC was reporting to both Experian and TransUnion, and thus far Experian has responded that they're refusing to remove the mark on my credit. Ugh. We'll see what TU does. There's one other thing I've noticed regarding this whole situation, and it's kind of important. I was thinking that this account would not affect my credit score because it's under $100, but I just applied for a HELOC and in the process received my credit score, which was lower than I was expecting (and no longer high enough to get the best interest rates). The only possible reason is this collection account. While it does seem that the latest scoring model, FICO 08, ignores accounts like this, I can pretty much guarantee you that at least my lender is not using that model. Something for people to be aware of if they think a small collections account for an unreturned (or lost-by-the-library) book won't affect their credit.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-79475040334205677242014-06-17T16:19:42.290-04:002014-06-17T16:19:42.290-04:00Mike, let us know the results when you try this. I...Mike, let us know the results when you try this. I've heard through the grapevine that UNC claims they aren't bound by the FDCPA (something about being a non-traditional collection agency) and thus are not required to respond to validation requests. That's just what I heard. It would be nice to have some proof one way or the other. Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06679853829876345700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-53566480276208857292014-06-17T14:37:52.169-04:002014-06-17T14:37:52.169-04:00I have an account in collections with UNC and this...I have an account in collections with UNC and this a useful post. Thanks. I returned the book but the library can't find it, and I really don't want to pay it, so here I am looking for other strategies. You've suggested that there may be cases where the library cannot or will not validate the debt, and these may be the cases in which UNC hides behind a loophole and refuses to validate for the person whose credit is taking a hit. So then the following occurs to me: if the library won't validate the debt and UNC won't validate the debt with you, they probably won't validate it for the credit reporting agency either when you submit a dispute. I think it's probably worth disputing all debts from UNC if you really did return the item to the library. The dispute could simply state, "This is a debt from a public library and I have returned all books I borrowed. The collection agency refuses to verify this debt, as required by the FDCPA." Such a statement would be both completely true (if you really did return the book, and hopefully you did) and have the advantage of mentioning a potential legal issue with the way UNC collects debts which perhaps the credit rating agency would recognize. I haven't tried this yet, but I'm about to. I bet it has about a 50% chance of working. The whole point is that if UNC won't validate the debt with you and attempts to hide behind a loophole, it's probably because they probably can't validate the debt, and the info will probably be taken off your credit report if you dispute... I'm about to test this theory out. Hoping for the best!Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-80163903419080757512013-11-23T08:11:21.644-05:002013-11-23T08:11:21.644-05:00You are awesome for this comment! I have a library...You are awesome for this comment! I have a library fine I just found out about and I am scared of what I just read. I just want to pay it off and be done with it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-63633694986601360652013-11-04T12:05:01.201-05:002013-11-04T12:05:01.201-05:00I am sort of confused about the second way to disp...I am sort of confused about the second way to dispute. Why the *lightning fast8 is so important. Why wont it work to just get the library to say no debt exists, then dispute it? So that when Experian tries to authenticate, if UNC cant find a debt why wont this work?Lylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00865438368343461220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-67569905900249099682013-10-19T00:51:49.756-04:002013-10-19T00:51:49.756-04:00Hi Lee,
I just found out about some library fines...Hi Lee,<br /><br />I just found out about some library fines thanks to checking my credit for the first time. UNC says I owe $60, but the library statement says I owe $55.50. What should I do about this discrepancy? I intend to pay the fine and then have the library "expunge" the record as others have described, but I want to be sure that the amount is correct.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />-SGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-27106828162776055612013-10-04T08:27:44.610-04:002013-10-04T08:27:44.610-04:00Thank you so much for sharing that. I will update ...Thank you so much for sharing that. I will update my original blog post to reflect your strategy. Hopefully this will help others in the same situation.Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06679853829876345700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-88775038138557906912013-09-17T01:57:03.167-04:002013-09-17T01:57:03.167-04:00We had just moved to a new city a year ago and wit...We had just moved to a new city a year ago and with our four children have been excited at the prospect of purchasing our first home these last few months. While in the temporary housing my wife had checked out books for the kids from the local library, which were misplaced during the move to an apartment. A few months later she received a notice from UNC for $150 in fines. She was able to finally find and return the books and they reduced some of the lost book fines down to $101. After returning the lost books she had made arrangements with the library to pay off the remaining fines, and she made monthly payments of $20. Even though a repayment plan was agreed upon, the library never closed the UNC account. She received UNC notices and was confused since they said make payment arrangements with the library. The library told her to just keep making payments. Even though she had made arrangements to pay the library, her fines were reported to the credit bureaus by UNC in Feb listing the original $150 (the remaining balance at that time was $40 which was later paid off in March). Unfortunately, when we had her credit pulled for pre-approval in June for a home loan we were surprised and frustrated to receive news that her credit score had been significantly lowered due to the library's collection report to the credit bureaus for the library fines. We have spent the last few months trying to resolve this issue of her credit score and haven't gotten anywhere and this will impact the our home loan. Both UNC and the library say it's not their problem and won't do anything else. All this over library fines, which we were happy and had made arrangements to pay. Only thoughts now are to let some of the local media know the process the library is using to collect fines. Maybe it'll bring some attention to the issue and hopefully prevents someone else from having to go through a similar experience.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-26613535477045169512013-09-01T23:58:47.783-04:002013-09-01T23:58:47.783-04:00Hi There - Thank you for your great write up about...Hi There - Thank you for your great write up about Unique, I know this post is very old but is a great source of information for most people. I just wanted to share my experience (last week) and possibly you could update the main post to add this strategy as well.<br /><br />I had a Library debt (library in Long Island, NY) that was showing up on credit report for Experian and Transunion. I decided to just dispute with bureaus and see what would happen. With Experian Unique validated the debt but oddly enough Transunion actually deleted it. However I wanted it off completely so I had more work to do.<br /><br />I first called Unique and asked them their policy to find out if their is any way to work out "pay to remove" and they said their policy is that if you pay the debt they will mark it as paid for 1 year and then it will come off, but they refused to remove earlier. I said thats not good enough, and asked how can I get it removed now? They answered of course that the only way to get it removed is if the library specifically requests to have it removed from collections.<br /><br />I then called the library branch and asked to speak to whomever deals with their collection accounts. I spoke to this lady and asked her if she could remove it. Of course at first she answers the classic "dumb answer" that as soon as I pay it she will update unique that the debt was paid and they will remove. I then nicely explained to her that I just spoke to Unique and explained to her that their policy is to keep on for a full year and that I really want to remove NOW. I then kissed up a lot explaining how we moved and never got notices blah blah blah and that I would be more than happy to pay the money owed but only if she can get it removed from my report for me. She then took down my phone # and said she would have to call Unique and see "what they advise". At this point I wasn't very hopeful...<br /><br />However she called me back like half hour later with GREAT NEWS!! She said she spoke to Unique and they said that the only way to remove it was for her to get it removed from my report was for her to fax them an EXPUNGE request form. This lady happened to be nice and was like "if you pay then it is only right for it to be removed now from your report". So I worked out with her that I would pay the library fines in full online and then she agreed as soon as that showed in her system she would fax this EXPUNGE REQUEST to Unique and fax me a copy as well. At this point I developed some trust with her, so I went ahead and paid it and she followed through and sent me a copy of the fax to Unique.<br /><br />I called Unique to verify and they said that they did receive it and that they update the credit bureau's twice a month and that it should be coming off the credit report as of September 9th. Obviously if they don't remove it now, I have perfect proof to send to the bureau to remove it, but I assume that Unique will follow through at this point because they have to.<br /><br />So now if anyone needs to get it off and the people at the library are incompetent you can just tell the library to ask for an expunge request form from Unique and that as soon as you pay it see if they will fill that out saying that there is no debt owed (by me the librarian wrote "books found on shelf" which is true because I did return them eventually they were just late :)) and have them send to Unique and ask them to send you a copy as well for your records.<br /><br />I was lucky that this was a library out on Long Island where the staff is generally mellow and helpful, I honestly am not so confident I would have had such positive results had this been a library in NYC...<br /><br />Hope this helps others out!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-56644093534383050032013-08-21T08:51:26.488-04:002013-08-21T08:51:26.488-04:00That would depend on the library's policy but ...That would depend on the library's policy but returning items doesn't generally result in the fee being waived. You still owe your late fee, regardless of whether or not you give the books back. If the library charges you a fee for replacing the book and you then return it, they will sometimes waive that particular charge. Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06679853829876345700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-12983599149749570132013-08-16T17:35:29.726-04:002013-08-16T17:35:29.726-04:00Hey lee, its Lizbeth here.. you probably already a...Hey lee, its Lizbeth here.. you probably already answered this question somewhere around here but I just wanted to know if the materials from the library were returned, will any fees still apply coming fromUNC or library or however its suppose to work? Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-45602583348975570402013-07-13T10:14:31.999-04:002013-07-13T10:14:31.999-04:00UNC will generally delete paid in full debts from ...UNC will generally delete paid in full debts from your credit report after one year. I would call them, get that in writing and pay it off. Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06679853829876345700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-28630834226777321332013-07-13T10:13:46.549-04:002013-07-13T10:13:46.549-04:00My guess is your original fine was $123 and you pa...My guess is your original fine was $123 and you paid a portion of it, thus bringing it down to $99. Its the $99 that is used to calculate your FICO. Keep in mind that there are different versions of the FICO formula. Only the newest version ignores collections under $100. If a bank pulls an older version it will still ding your scores. I'm not telling you this to upset you. I'm telling you this so that, if it happens, you don't get infuriated with me for not giving you ample warning. Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06679853829876345700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-42291594200346419552013-06-06T18:28:33.432-04:002013-06-06T18:28:33.432-04:00UNC just showed up on my credit report for $58 and...UNC just showed up on my credit report for $58 and my credit score now dropped 26 pts! How can I fix this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-17116088611674544852013-06-06T05:22:17.868-04:002013-06-06T05:22:17.868-04:00I am hoping you can answer a question about my cre...I am hoping you can answer a question about my credit report. For my UNC collection, the High Credit is listed as $123, but the Balance and Past Due Amount are both listed as $99. Why would these numbers be different? And which one is used by FICO to determine my score? The $99 is below the magic $100 cut-off but the other is above it.Susannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-5395800744208989072013-05-20T19:50:53.757-04:002013-05-20T19:50:53.757-04:00I am being dunned for a lost item. I _KNOW_ I put...I am being dunned for a lost item. I _KNOW_ I put it in the slot at a particular branch, but "just in case," I searched the house and it is not there. I intend to send UNC and the library a letter repeating this fact (third time?) and and demanding that they not report otherwise to anyone.<br /> -- WWGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2743584805397481900.post-76578889758813512382013-03-07T22:08:40.356-05:002013-03-07T22:08:40.356-05:00I have heard from multiple debtors that Unique has...I have heard from multiple debtors that Unique has a policy that other collection agencies don't – they'll delete their trade line one year after you pay in full. Of course, once you've paid they don't have to do anything for you. So, if it were me, I'd call, speak with a supervisor, explain the situation and ask about the removal policy. Unique, for some bizarre reason that I don't understand, doesn't consider itself a "collection agency." This means they have somewhat decent customer service. Remember, if you get a rude person who won't work with you, keep calling back. You should get a different rep each time. <br /><br />If it turns out to be true, the worst case scenario is that you have to wait until the trade line comes off to buy your house. Believe me, no matter how badly you want to do it now, its NOT worth the higher interest rate or having to pay closing costs on a refinance a few years down the road. If its less than a year, it makes much more financial sense to just wait it out. <br /><br />Whether the account is listed as "open" or "closed" makes no difference. What is disconcerting is if the account is listed as "paid" with one credit bureau and unpaid with another.<br /><br />If Unique plans to let its negative trade line sit on your credit report for the next seven years, you can always dispute it with the credit bureaus. Sometimes collection agencies don't bother validating disputes for paid-off accounts. Keep in mind as well that the older the debt is, the less it impacts your scores. So your credit score should improve as time passes, even if Unique won't remove its black mark. <br /><br />Best of luck,<br />Lee Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06679853829876345700noreply@blogger.com