Yay Library
 

In short, I owe money for books I returned a month ago. I turned them in the day that they were due.

I got a letter in the mail today. I owe the library over $300 because they are claiming I didn't turn in the books. But...I turned in the books. (One book, and two books on tape.)

They already sent my info to collections---which is where the the letter came from.

I don't have proof I returned the books, unless that information is stored on my library card.

Plus. I'm broke. As in, I'm completely broke.

Check if the information is stored on your library card. Does the library normally give receipts to people when they return their books? If the library doesn't offer a paper trail out of their protocol, then they can't be expected to pin their borrowers like that.

If it is customary that they leave a paper trail (meaning a receipt for you and a receipt for them and a computer transaction being logged as such), I'm not sure how they can say you owe them the $300. Unless -they- have proof that you -did NOT- return your books, then they probably can't get away with this.

Check into low-income free legal assistance in your state. Please, do. They typically handle a lot of small claims and can give you background advice over what is best to do.

Do some research on their protocol. If they don't offer receipts to the people who borrow their books, then they have no way of proving or disproving anything. o.O

I have had this problem with putting my books into the night drop at the library. Before contacting the legal aid. I would go to the library and try to find the books by yourself. Don't ask the librarian just go and look for it. Sometimes librarians get lazy and forget to scan the books and just send them on. If you can't find them then go and talk to the librarians about the fine and how you know you turned them in. If that doesn't work then contact legal aid. I Don't see how two books on tap and one book comes to 300 dollars. I also don't think that it can go against your credit history cause there is no proof either on your end or theirs also it seems that if you can remember what day that you turned in the book you can ask to see the security taps. I know my library has them maybe yours does too? also did they send you a notice that they weren't turned in? my library does that as well. If you didn't know I can't see how they can expect you to pay.

Thats so messed up...
But Poppy and Chi have the right ideas.
Try to find the books, ask for security tapes, talk to the library about your problem and then if they are still being bitches, go to that financial aid thingy.

And if all else fails, have a garage sale.