Video store fines

[cordelia]

hello,
I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience and is aware of the legalities associated with the payment of video fines.

I returned some videos over a month ago on time and last week received a letter of demand from a debt collection agency acting on behalf of the video store stating I should pay the outstanding amount of $137 or face further action...

As i returned the videos on time I was surprised to recieve such a letter. When I contacted the video store they pretty much said pay up or else!


Clearly they have made a mistake. Surely they can't just demand money from people based on their records which could easily be wrong or even fabricated...

Any comments?

 

[springhill]

hello,
I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience and is aware of the legalities associated with the payment of video fines.

I returned some videos over a month ago on time and last week received a letter of demand from a debt collection agency acting on behalf of the video store stating I should pay the outstanding amount of $137 or face further action...

As i returned the videos on time I was surprised to recieve such a letter. When I contacted the video store they pretty much said pay up or else!


Clearly they have made a mistake. Surely they can't just demand money from people based on their records which could easily be wrong or even fabricated...

Any comments?

Was that you discussing this issue on the 6PR legal segment 2day????

 

[cordelia]

Was that you discussing this issue on the 6PR legal segment 2day????

no....was it on the radio? sorry i missed it!

 

[Nyden]

hello,
I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience and is aware of the legalities associated with the payment of video fines.

I returned some videos over a month ago on time and last week received a letter of demand from a debt collection agency acting on behalf of the video store stating I should pay the outstanding amount of $137 or face further action...

As i returned the videos on time I was surprised to recieve such a letter. When I contacted the video store they pretty much said pay up or else!


Clearly they have made a mistake. Surely they can't just demand money from people based on their records which could easily be wrong or even fabricated...

Any comments?

I don't know the legalities, but this is the reason I always return the movies personally. By personally - I refer to actually walking inside the store, and physically handing them to the attendant. That way, there's (hopefully) video footage, as well as the possibility of the attendant remembering me!

 

[doctorj]

As far as I understand it, you have a right to view all information they hold concerning you personally.

Ask for a date/time list of your hire and returns from the video store. If it's not on the list, case closed. If it is, then look for a material change in the frequency of your hiring pattern. Then you have a clear arguement that the video store has been defrauded (THEIR RISK, not yours) and given the material change in your hiring pattern, they should have noticed. Also ask to receive any other information they hold about you on record - a copy of your original application, any documentation for changes in account details (address, name etc) and any notes to the account.

Complain to Consumer Protection once you've compiled your evidence if the proprieter continues to be unhelpful.

 

[cordelia]

I don't know the legalities, but this is the reason I always return the movies personally. By personally - I refer to actually walking inside the store, and physically handing them to the attendant. That way, there's (hopefully) video footage, as well as the possibility of the attendant remembering me!

Nyden: that's good advice! Unfortunately I just dropped the videos in the slot! In future I will ensure I stand there and make sure they are noted as returned!

There's really no way or prooving I returned the videos on time, however, there's also no way of prooving I didn't apart from their records. It's easy to see how this type of loose management can lead to fraudulent practices...

Thanks for the comments everyone;-)

 

[chode84]

just another reason to download torrent files instead!

 

[treeman]

$137 in fines? thats alot of fines for a video store! nearly the same as speed fine for under 10km/h lol. Surely you should get some warnings before they dump a sum of $137 on you and usually debt collectors are called in after the client (video store) has had no luck negotiating the issue with you. Perhaps you can also inquire why nobody has contacted you prior.

I found an old video tape the other day but I couldn't find a video player to watch it on

 

[Krusty the Klown]

Maybe see if they have external surveillance cameras, or around the shopping centre that could have captured you on it and chase it from there...

 

[Prospector]

When I take out a new dvd they always check to see if there are any outstanding ones, or late fines. Usually this might mean a couple of dollars or so if the kidlets have been busy with my store account. I would check out all the details about the apparent fines; if you were not told there were outstanding fines when you hired another dvd then they have no case.