Library overdue fees and your credit score

Overdue fees on your library card could show on your credit score

A library account seems so benign, it’s easy to shrug off or forget an overdue fine. If you aren’t diligent to keep a clear account, it could show up on your next credit report.

How bad can it be? Notations of late fees may not lower your credit score, but any negative information is bad for your credit image.

However, some cities hire collection agencies to recover overdue library fees, and anytime a collection agency is involved, your score could suffer. Parking tickets, toll bills and other overdue municipality fees may also be noted on your report.

According to the Wall Street Journal, only one of the three credit reporting bureaus, Equifax Inc., does not include small fines like these because all cities do not follow these practices, making it unfair to those who live in cities who do.