Some Collection Letters To Ex-State Employees Asking For Pennies

[The Straight Story]

Some Collection Letters To Ex-State Employees Asking For Pennies

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Some collection letters being sent to former Ohio state employees by the state cost more to mail than they amount of money they were seeking.

Franklin Caltrider, who retired from the state three years ago, received a letter on Friday, asking for some of his paycheck back.

The letter warned him that if he did not pay the listed amount, it would be sent to the Ohio Attorney General's office for collection.

"(The state) said it was the result of an audit," Caltrider said. "It was for the grand total of 96 cents."

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/08/16/story-columbus-ohio-collecting-money-from-employees.html?sid=102

[foxfeet]

1. As a former public service worker in three different states,

I've seen many occasions when the government was so anxious to avoid the appearance of impropriety, that similarly nonsensical and non-cost-effective measures were taken. Often the direction came from an elected official seeking to avoid "overpayment" to public employees as a campaign issue.

[mysuzuki2]

2. It's not only the government that does this

my ex-wife owed Knox college in Galesburg Illinois $.25 for a library fine or something. After we split I regulary got monthly bills for her at my address. They literally kept sending a bill every month for over 5 years. In postage alone they must have spent at least $20.00 to try to collect a %.25 bill.