¶ Lost item fee policies
Lost item fee policies determine how much a patron should be billed for lost items and at what interval. When creating a new policy the following options are available:
¶ General information
- Lost item fee policy name: A clear name identifying the policy's function and target audience (e.g., 25-Dollar-Books).
- Description: An optional free-text description of the policy.
¶ Lost item fee
- Items aged to lost after overdue: Set the time when an item is considered Lost. (It is not billed at this stage, this is used by some libraries to search for the item or for contacting the patron)
- Patron billed after aged to lost: The interval when an item goes from Lost to billing the patron. (Libraries not using a Lost status can make this very short, it's recommend at least an hour for FOLIO to update).
- Recalled items aged to lost after overdue: Sets when a recalled item is aged to lost, same considerations as an item not recalled
- Patron billed for recall after aged to lost: Sets when a recalled item is billed, same considerations as an item not recalled
- Charge amount for item: The amount to charge for an item
- Set cost: A set costs that generates a bill automatically
- Actual cost: The actual replacement cost for the item. (This is not automatic, a report is generated under the actions menu in Users and requires creating a bill)
- Lost item processing fee: Sets if a fee is created for an aged to lost item typically intended for staff time/materials to replace the item. This can be in addition to the replacement cost.
- Charge lost item processing fee if item declared lost by patron?: Sets if the fee is charged if a patron says the item was lost, the distinction from “aged to lost” is the patron is reporting the item can't be found.
- Charge lost item processing fee if item aged to lost by system?:
- For lost items not charged a fee/fine, close the loan after
- If lost item returned or renewed, remove lost item processing fee
- If lost item returned or renewed: This works in concert with overdue fines, if they are not used then this section does not apply
- Charge overdues based on returned date up to maximum (if applicable)
- Do not charge overdues
- Replacement allowed: Sets if a patron is allowed to replace a copy rather than pay a fine,
- If lost item replaced, remove lost item processing fee
- Replacement processing fee: Similar to the lost item fee, intended for staff time/materials to add the item to the collection.
- No fees/fines shall be refunded if a lost item is returned more than/late: Sets an interval where if an item is returned after it then refunds are not allowed. (Refunds are a report in the Users app under the Actions menu)
