Use cases to support to further define the desired behavior for the conditional negative balance code at https://bugs.launchpad.net/evergreen/+bug/1198465.

The original requirements for this work are available at http://masslnc.cwmars.org/node/2762#BILL-01_Support_for_No_Negative_Balances_and_Conditional_Negative_Balances and resulting software specs are available at http://www.sigio.com/evergreen/billing2013.html#negativebalances.

The goal of these use cases is to identify desired behavior for a variety of turns that a billing transaction can take when a library has enabled the setting to prohibit negative balances. For each use case, we outline a set of desired behaviors based on what other billing settings might be in use at a given library. If a library uses conditional negative balance settings, then we expect the behavior to be the same as identified below once the designated interval has passed.

The following libraries are included in these use cases:

• Library A:
  • Does not void overdue fines when an item is marked lost;
  • Does not charge processing fees for lost items;
  • Does not generate new overdues on a lost checkin.
• Library B:
  • Does not void overdue fines when an item is marked lost;
  • Does not charge processing fees for lost items;
  • Generates new overdues on a lost checkin.
• Library C:
  • Voids overdue fines when an item is marked lost;
  • Does not charge processing fees for lost items;
  • Reinstates overdue fines on a lost item return;
  • Generates new overdues on a lost checkin.
• Library D:
  • Voids overdue fines when an item is marked lost;
  • Does not charge processing fees for lost items;
  • Reinstates overdue fines on a lost item return;
  • Does not generate new overdues on a lost checkin.
• Library E:
  • Voids overdue fines when an item is marked lost;
  • Does not charge processing fees for lost items;
  • Does not reinstate overdue fines on a lost item return;
  • Does not generate new overdues on a lost checkin.
• Library F:
  • Does not void overdue fines when an item is marked lost;
  • Charges a $5 processing fee;
  • Does not generate new overdues on lost checkin;
  • Does not void processing fee on lost checkin.
• Library G:
  • Voids overdue fines when an item is marked lost;
  • Charges a $5 processing fee;
  • Reinstates fines on a lost checkin;
  • Generates new overdues on a lost checkin;
  • Voids processing fee on lost checkin.

• The library has enabled the Prohibit Negative Balances (default) setting or the Prohibit negative balance on bills for lost materials setting.
• No overdue fines accrue before it is marked lost.
• A lost item fee of $20.00 is assessed for the lost item.
• The patron pays the entire $20.00 in cash for the lost item.
• The patron returns the lost item five days after it was marked lost.

What the patron owes: $0.00. The $20 paid towards the book is not refunded due to the prohibit negative balance setting.

What the UI shows:

• $20 lost materials bill
• $20 cash payment
• $0 adjustment

What the patron owes: $0.00. Although the patron did not pay the $5 processing fee, the cost is covered by the lost materials bill when the lost item is returned.

What the UI shows:

• $20 lost materials bill
• $5 processing fee bill
• $20 cash payment
• $5 adjustment for lost item return.

What the patron owes: $0.00

What the UI shows:

• $20 lost materials bill
• $5 processing feel bill
• $20 cash payment
• $5 adjustment for lost item return

Question: Should we clearly identify the $5 adjustment as being an adjustment to the processing fee? In the current negative balance code, the adjustment is identical to ones made to the lost billing fee because they use the same note. This isn't an issue in the pre-negative balance work because the void is applied to the specific bill, so it's easy to see which bill is being adjusted.

• The library has enabled the Prohibit Negative Balances (default) setting or the Prohibit negative balance on bills for lost materials setting.
• No overdue fines accrue before it is marked lost.
• A lost item fee of $20.00 is assessed for the lost item.
• The patron pays $4.00 in cash for the lost item.
• The patron returns the lost item five days after it was marked lost.

What the patron owes: $0.00. The $4 paid towards the book is not refunded due to the prohibit negative balance setting.

What the UI shows:

• $20 lost materials bill
• $4 cash payment
• $16 adjustment for lost item return

What the patron owes: $1.00. The $4 paid goes towards the processing fee, leaving just $1.

What the UI shows:

• $20 lost materials bill
• $5 processing fee bill
• $4 cash payment
• $20 adjustment for lost item return

What the patron owes: $0.00. The processing fee has been voided, so the transaction is similar to those we see in Libraries A-E

What the UI shows:

• $20 lost materials bill
• $5 processing fee bill
• $4 cash payment
• $5 adjustment payment for lost item return (voiding of processing fee)
• $16 adjustment for lost item return (remainder of lost bill)

• The library has enabled the Prohibit Negative Balances (default) setting or the Prohibit negative balance on bills for lost materials setting.
• $2 have accrued in fines ($.05 per day) before item is marked lost.
• A lost item fee of $20.00 is assessed for the lost item.
• The patron pays $10.00 in cash for the lost item.
• The patron returns the lost item five days after it was marked lost.

What the patron owes: $0.00 The $2 in overdue fines is covered by the $10 payment for the lost item.

What the UI shows:

• $2 in overdue fine bills
• $20 lost materials bill
• $10 cash payment
• $12 adjustment for lost item return

What the patron owes: $0.00 The $2.25 in overdue fines is covered by the $10 payment for the lost item.

What the UI shows:

• $2.25 in overdue fines ($2 initial accrual, $.25 in new fines that accrued between lost and checkin)
• $20 lost materials bill
• $10 cash payment
• $12.25 adjustment for lost item return

What the patron owes: $0.00 The $2.25 in overdue fines is covered by the $10 payment for the lost item.

What the UI shows:

• $2.00 in overdue fines
• $2.00 adjustment for voided overdue fines
• $20 lost materials bill
• $10 cash payment
• $2 reinstated overdues bill
• $.25 in new overdues bill
• $12.25 adjustment for lost item return

Question: The above is an accurate reflection of what happens with the bill and is similar to what I saw in the negative balance branch under earlier testing. However, it gives the impression that the total charges were $2 more than they really were because the $2 in fines are being shown twice. Would it be better to show the $2.00 adjustment for voided overdue fines after they are voided, but then to simply remove that adjustment when the fines are reinstated?

What the patron owes: $0.00 The $2.00 in overdue fines is covered by the $10 payment for the lost item.

What the UI shows:

• $2.00 in overdue fines
• $2.00 adjustment for voided overdue fines
• $20 lost materials bill
• $10 cash payment
• $2 reinstated overdues bill
• $12 adjustment for lost item return

Question: Same question as Library C above.

What the patron owes: $0.00 The $2.00 in overdue fines are voided when the item is marked lost.

What the UI shows:

• $2.00 in overdue fines
• $2.00 adjustment for voided overdue fines
• $20 lost materials bill
• $10 cash payment
• $10 adjustment for lost item return

What the patron owes: $0.00 The $5.00 processing fee and $2.00 fine are covered by the $10 cash payment

What the UI shows:

• $2.00 in overdue fines
• $20 lost materials bill
• $5 processing fee
• $10 cash payment
• $17 adjustment for lost item return

What the patron owes: $0.00

What the UI shows:

• $2.00 in overdue fines
• $2.00 adjustment for voided overdue fines
• $20 lost materials bill
• $5 processing fee
• $10 cash payment
• $2.00 reinstated overdues bill
• $.25 new overdues bill
• $5 adjustment for processing fee
• $12.25 adjustment for lost item return

Question: Same question as Library C above

• The library has enabled the Prohibit Negative Balances (default) setting or the Prohibit negative balance on bills for lost materials setting.
• $2 have accrued in fines ($.05 per day) before item is marked lost.
• The patron pays $2 in cash for the fines.
• A lost item fee of $20.00 is assessed for the lost item.
• The patron returns the lost item five days after it was marked lost.

What the patron owes: $0.00 The $2 in overdue fines is covered by the earlier $2 payment

What the UI shows:

• $2 in overdue fine bills
• $2 cash payment
• $20 lost materials bill
• $20 adjustment for lost item return

What the patron owes: $0.25 for the new overdues that accrued between lost and checkin.

What the UI shows:

• $2.00 in overdue fines
• $2.00 cash payment
• $20 lost materials bill
• $.25 in new overdues
• $20 adjustment for lost item return

What the patron owes: $0.25 for the new overdues that accrued between lost and checkin

What the UI shows:

• $2.00 in overdue fines
• $2.00 cash payment
• $2.00 adjustment for voided overdue fines
• $20 lost materials bill
• $2 reinstated overdues bill
• $.25 in new overdues bill
• $20 adjustment for lost item return

Question: Same Question as Use Case 3, Library C

What the patron owes: $0.00 The $2.00 in overdue fines is covered by the previous $2 payment

What the UI shows:

• $2.00 in overdue fines
• $2.00 cash payment
• $2.00 adjustment for voided overdue fines
• $20 lost materials bill
• $2 reinstated overdues bill
• $20 adjustment for lost item return

Question: Same question as Use Case 3, Library C

What the patron owes: $0.00 The $2.00 in overdue fines is covered by the previous $2 payment.

What the UI shows:

• $2.00 in overdue fines
• $2.00 cash payment
• $2.00 adjustment for voided overdue fines
• $20 lost materials bill
• $18 adjustment for lost item return

What the patron owes: $5.00 for the processing fee

What the UI shows:

• $2.00 in overdue fines
• $2.00 cash payment
• $20 lost materials bill
• $5 processing fee
• $20 adjustment for lost item return

What the patron owes: $.25 for new overdues

What the UI shows:

• $2.00 in overdue fines
• $2.00 payment
• $2.00 adjustment for voided overdue fines
• $20 lost materials bill
• $5 processing fee
• $2.00 reinstated overdues bill
• $.25 new overdues bill
• $5 adjustment for processing fee
• $20 adjustment for lost item return

Question: Same question as Use Case 3, Library C