How are Lost item charges calculated? MASTER RECORD

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Article Type: General
Product: Aleph
Product Version: 20, 21, 22, 23

Description:
How are Lost item charges calculated?

Resolution:
Lost items are defined as ones which whose Loan status (Z36-STATUS) is "L".

Items can be declared Lost either online (when the operator clicks on "Lost") or by the p_cir_50 or p_cir_51 batch overdue processing programs.

Lost item fees are calculated as follows:

1. tab18.eng includes three kinds of charges associated with Lost items:
0040 Processing fee
0041 Replacement charge
0042 Billing fee

Each entry has a column 4 ("Activate") parameter which must be set to "Y" in order for any amounts to be assessed. The amounts are *not* specified in tab18 but rather in tab34.

2. tab34 allows you to specify for each item-borrower combination what charges will be assessed for each tab18 type (0040, 0041, and 0042).

In the case of the replacement charge (0041) this is a default which comes up on the screen ("Enter replacement cost") and can be overridden by the operator at that time. If the z30_price is not blank, then that is used as the replacement value.

The 0040 and 0042 values are not alterable by the operator.

3. In regard to batch:

Tab32 defines the interval at which each overdue notice will be sent and includes an "Action" parameter (column 7). If this is set to "L", then a "Lost" letter is printed and a Z31 Cash bill record created. Tab32, column 8, specifies the transaction line# from tab18 for the replacement charge.
The tab32, column 7, header says:
! lost item letter, can incur lost charges, using
! lines 0040,0041,0042,0054 and 0055 in tab18, and tab34. The
! lines referring to tab18 do not have to be defined in column
! 8, they are automatically assumed.

In addition, these batch programs multiply the tab34 0042 amount by the "Recall lost letter (ratio)" (tab18.eng, type 0054) --letting you assess an extra penalty in the case of lost items which have been recalled.

Note1: For details on tab18, tab32, or tab34, consult the System Librarian Guide -- Circulation.

Note2: For a discussion of overdue fine calculation (as opposed to Lost charges) see the article " How are regular overdue fines calculated? **MASTER RECORD** " (KB 8192-4555). For the handling of overdue fines for Lost items (LATE-RET-FINE-WHEN-LOST), see the article " Overdue fines assessed after items declared lost; LATE-RET-FINE-WHEN-LOST " (KB 16384-45169).

Article last edited: 10/8/2013