‘It costs them double what I paid’: Library refuses to accept card payment for man's late fine, he comes up with a clever plan to play the long game

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Apr 15, 2024 2:00 PM EDT

This is a safe space for people to air out some of their petty revenge and malicious compliences, especially when it comes to the little guy refusing to surrender to big institutes that try to take advantage of them. We usually show our support to stories like these and give big virtual high-fives to people who succeed in harmlessly getting their rightful way. But occasionally we read stories of people taking pride in actions that are… not that great, and we think it is important to draw a certain line.

You might agree with us when it comes to this Reddit story, but you also may not. This guy had a $40 fine from the public library, and he waited until the very last day to pay it. When he got to the library, they could not accept his credit card, and he didn't have any cash. That resulted in his fines being doubled, which really made him angry. So he proceeded to pay for the fine in the prettiest of ways, just because of his own inability to pay in time. Now, although we understand the annoying situation, we don't think revenge on a public library is something one should be proud of.

We are curious to know what you would think, so scroll down to read the full story and the comments that followed. When you are done, click here for funny Friends memes.

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  • 01
    Library won't take card payment and fines will double without immediate payment.
    via u/tahota
  • 02
    This happened about 10 years ago, and yes this is petty but I was really frustrated. I got mailed a notice from our local public library that I had a $40 in library fines and that if they weren't paid by a certain
    via u/tahota
  • 03
    deadline they would double. The library was downtown next to my work, but a long ways from my home. At the time I was taking public transit.
    via u/tahota
  • 04
    Of course I procrastinated to the last day and go in after work to pay the fine before it doubles. I only carry my drivers license, my credit card, and bus pass in my phone case. No
    via u/tahota
  • 05
    wallet. Come to find out, the library doesn't take cards, only cash or checks. It's after 5. The bank is closed. I don't carry checks. There is no way I can make it home and back using the bus. I ask for mercy and promise to bring in cash or a
    via u/tahota
  • 06
    check the next morning. They won't make an exception and they doubled my fine even though I tried to pay it on time. I'm really frustrated.
    via u/tahota
  • 07
    Cue malicious compliance. I've already had my fine doubled so there is no rush to pay it at this point. I calculate that it is $1.56 per week if I pay it over 52 weeks. I set up my bank's automatic bill pay for a weekly
    via u/tahota
  • 08
    reoccurring payment. For an entire year, they snail-mailed me the receipt for my weekly check payments (I think it is there policy). The envelopes
    via u/tahota
  • 09
    were all hand-written. It probably cost them double or more in man-hours to process their doubled fine.
    via u/tahota
  • 10
    Edit Wow, I sure got a lot of hate from this post. I own that I was frustrated and that my my malicious compliance was petty. I rightfully owed the fine and I procrastinated paying it until I
    via u/tahota
  • 11
    had no room for error. I do not imply any moral high ground in my petty retaliation. I'm no hero. I'm just sharing my unjust malicious compliance experience towards a beneficial institution (albeit with an archaic payment process).
    via u/tahota
  • 12
    • 99999999977prime 18 hr. ago The envelopes were all hand-written. By a volunteer or a docent. They're called docents because they docent get paid.
    via u/99999999977prime
  • 13
    Jim-has-a-username 15 hr. ago First and foremost, how in the hol did you accrue $40 in library late fees? Did you keep that copy of Clifford the Big Red Dog you took out as an 8-year-old?
    via u/Jim-has-a-username
  • 14
    nnedd7526 18 hr. ago Way to stick it to the notoriously evil ....<checks notes> public library
    via u/nnedd7526
  • 15
    kaycollins27.5 hr. ago Retired librarian here. They should have extended you grace. You showed up, which is more than many readers do.
    via u/kaycollins27
  • 16
    voidtreemc 12 hr. ago Libraries can't afford to take credit cards because of the processing fees. State and local governments (libraries usually being part of local government) are
    via u/voidtreemc
  • 17
    often blocked from taking credit cards because they're not allowed to charge interest on the money you owe them.
    via u/voidtreemc
  • 18
    Blame the banking system and, if you are in the US, tell your congresscritters to vote for making the Post Office a credit union for people to bank without inflating profits for rich people.
    via u/voidtreemc
  • 19
    Enoonmai21 12 hr. ago I remember the old public library where I used to live would wave late fines if you brought in stuff for the local shelter like non perishable food, soap, diapers, baby formula, or feminine hygiene products.
    via u/Enoonmai21
  • 20
    Jarroach 18 hr. ago Admits to a lack of compliance until the last moment, assumes information without research then gets upset when it's wrong, so decided to be malicious whilst still not being very compliant. I'm sorry but that's just an move bro
    via u/Jarroach
  • 21
    Suitable_Tomorrow_71. 18 hr. ago Yeah... you're not the good guy in this one, bud.
    via u/Suitable_Tomorrow_71
  • 22
    tahota OP 19 hr. ago • I wasn't the good guy, but I did show up to make the payment on time had no idea they would not take a card. It was an honest mistake on my part.
    via u/tahota
  • 23
    Quick-Possession-245 17 hr. ago You do realize that your public library is PUBLIC - so paid for by all of your municipality's citizens? So you are wasting taxpayer dollars - not just library dollars. Keep those kind of actions for evil big business.
    via u/Quick-Possession-245
  • 24
    • compman007 12 hr. ago Yeah if the letter didn't warn you of the payment method options then they could have had some mercy even though you were dumb for waiting.
    via u/compman007
  • 25
    BestReadAtWork . 12 hr. ago Sadness for the victim of the MC, a library. But it's definitely fitting of the sub. Just not an all star move we can get behind like the other top stories.
    via u/BestReadAtWork
  • 26
    Johannason 15 hr. ago • "Of course I procrastinated to the last day" How dare that library do exactly what they said would happen if you ignored the fine. That'll teach 'em.
    via u/Johannason
  • 27
    Sewere 2 hr. ago My brother got a warning from library saying "if you don't soon pay us the 20 euros you owe us, the debt goes old and is no longer valid"
    via u/Sewere

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Tags

malicious compliance fine customers malicious-compliance-reddit reddit story petty revenge petty books library Reddit funny money entitled people
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