Comment 11 for bug 1593815

These automated voids still seem to be functioning in addition to the account adjustment feature, which means that patrons are credited too much when fines are voided in addition to the account adjustments for a double credit, causing an incorrect reduced amount owed or a negative balance on the patron account. The account adjustments have the addition drawback of being mischaracterized as payments.

Here is a recent patron transaction that demonstrates the problem automated behavior:

8/12/17 – Patron checks out a book
9/2/17 – Item is due, but not returned
9/3/17 – Overdue fines of $ .25/day begin to accrue up to a total of $8.75
10/15/17 – item is marked LOST, $16 billed to patron (cost of book) and $8.75 in fines voided
11/13/17 – Item is returned by patron - $16 lost billing voided and $8.75 in fines reinstated
11/14/17 – Item marked damaged, patron billed $16 for cost of item; overdue charges voided again because replaced by damage billing

At some point in this process, the account adjustments also occurred, meaning that the patron received an unwarranted additional offset of $8.75, leaving an outstanding balance of $7.25 instead of the correct amount of $16. Therefore, patron only paid $7.25, when she should have paid $16. Because the account adjustments show as a payment, the patron’s Bill History inaccurately shows a $16 total payment.

I don't know if the negative balance settings would have made a difference in this case, since no negative balance was created due to the amount owed. The billing and account adjustments occurred before our recent upgrade from 2.9.4 to 2.12.7, so I am unsure if the behavior would be the same in 2.12.