Allow customization of close_paid_lost_loans parameter
When the closepaidlostloans parameter to false and lost loans are closed (either manually or through the Close Lost Loans job), refunds/credits are not automatically given to patrons if the item is subsequently found and returned. When setting the closepaidlostloans parameter to true and the lost loan is closed (automatically setting the Lost and Paid status), a refund/credit IS applied to the patron’s account if the item is subsequently found and returned, providing the Lost Loan Refund Ratio is greater than 0.
For libraries that wish to take advantage of this new Process Type, but do not wish to issue credits automatically for Lost and Paid items, this can cause some problems. Staff must monitor and waive these credits as they often negate other fines on the patron’s account. In addition, the credit can cause problems with automated financial processes (i.e. Bursar integration) as credits transmitted to the financial system can act on non-library fees owed, or create automatic refunds that may or may not be due depending on the refund policies in place.
Proposed solution: When setting the closepaidlost_loans parameter to true, we’d like an additional option to allow or block the automatic refund/credit when a lost and paid item is found and returned. In other words, we’d like the option to keep the new Lost and Paid Process type, but also the ability to actually close the loan completely as is done with regular Lost Loans.
Jamie Lamberti
shared this idea
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Jessie Donaghey commented
Hi Moshe, The key benefit of the close_paid_lost_loans parameter set to true is that it handles closing the lost loan automatically. The Close Lost Loans job is a manual process and at our institution, we have to run it daily to ensure consistent fee handling for our patrons (i.e. the same refund entitlement period for all). If we were able to configure the close_paid_lost_loans parameter to prevent refunds we would no longer have to run a manual job, saving staff time and providing an even higher level consistency of fee handling for patrons.
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Hi,
Running the Close Lost Loans job cleans up the loans for which you do not want refunds to take place. You can use this job to routinely remove 'lost and paid' loans. This will have the effect of not refunding their fees if the do get checked in.
Thanks,
Moshe
