University Library stealing print credit

mark.h.91

Hi,

I am about to graduate from university and the university library has announced all remaining printing credit on my library account will be cleared and cannot be reclaimed. The library has also announced that all library fines must be paid otherwise they will not allow me to graduate.

My printing credit cannot be used to pay my library fines and so I am stuck in a situation that I will lose all my printing credit (which has to be paid for and is not given for free) and still have to pay my library fines on top of that.

I feel this is, in a way, is stealing my money as I have not used the service of printing as much as I thought I would, and therefore not received anything for my money. I also feel they should not be able to request additional money on top of this for my library fines which are less than the amount of spare print credit I have.

I am wondering if anyone knows a law against this which will stop my university from keeping my unspent credits.

Any responses will be appreciated.

Mark

Ps. the University is Leeds Met.

Errata

Use your print credits to print off a stack of CV's.

agrinnall

I can't comment on the legality but as my university also doesn't refund unused printing credit I wouldn't be surprised to find it's pretty common. The thing is, knowing that clause exists, why would you load up more than a few pounds at any one time anyway?

One thing you could do is hang around the library and offer to print things for other people and collect the money from them - I used up the last of my credit printing for a classmate, although I didn't charge them for it.

iclayt

This is common. It was the case when I graduated from uni ten years ago, and has been the case in the 3 universities I have worked at since.

A few options:
- As suggested, 'sell' your credit to anyone who needs to frantically print off their dissertations, etc
- Use it for CVs, application forms, and so on
- It's the rules, accept you've lost it

But what I really would recommend is telling your SU representatives - either the President or the VP for Education - they love getting outraged about things like this.

Mrs_Soup

I work in a uni too though I don't know if mine does this but yes I would
a) pay your fines- don't let something daft deprive you of graduation
b) get the SU on the case at least for future years - it doesn't sound like it would be rocket science to be able to pay it back to you.

atypical

mark.h.91 wrote: »

The library has also announced that all library fines must be paid otherwise they will not allow me to graduate.

The OFT has said not allowing students to graduate due to library fines may breach consumer laws.

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/feb/18/oft-warns-universities-higher-education-groups-student-sanctions

Taiko

Indeed. Given that universities do not have the power to fine you as is (reserved for the courts, councils etc), what they're actually doing is trying to charge you a contractual penalty. They can only claim liquidated damages, so whatever amount they would have lost for you not returning the book on time etc.

Universities these days, in some but not all cases, do appear to come across as anti-student. Obviously it's good practice to return things on time anyway, but still...

marywooyeah

just use the last of it up while you can - as another poster said a stack of cvs then you can use the cvs to apply for jobs!

my uni said noone could graduate whilst they had outstanding fines, but I think I owed them about £6 when I graduated and no problems arose!

whitewing

I actually agree with you that it should be offset against library fines.

amiehall

Taiko wrote: »

Indeed. Given that universities do not have the power to fine you as is (reserved for the courts, councils etc), what they're actually doing is trying to charge you a contractual penalty. They can only claim liquidated damages, so whatever amount they would have lost for you not returning the book on time etc.

Universities these days, in some but not all cases, do appear to come across as anti-student. Obviously it's good practice to return things on time anyway, but still...

Clearly though they do need to take some steps to ensure that resources are available for all students. My uni doesn't actually charge fines but if you're late returning books that other students have requested, your library card gets blocked for set periods once they're returned.

OP I guess it would seem fairer to offset your fines, however, the tiny amounts involved in print credit accounts probably means that the admin is far more hassle than it's worth to anyone. Seriously who has more than about £1 on their account?

Taiko

amiehall wrote: »

Clearly though they do need to take some steps to ensure that resources are available for all students. My uni doesn't actually charge fines but if you're late returning books that other students have requested, your library card gets blocked for set periods once they're returned.

OP I guess it would seem fairer to offset your fines, however, the tiny amounts involved in print credit accounts probably means that the admin is far more hassle than it's worth to anyone. Seriously who has more than about £1 on their account?

I agree, and think your own university has a better method. It's one that most should adopt.