The Rebirth of Late Fees at Blockbuster - Yay!

I think the point most people are missing is that we don’t have to watch those horrible commercials anymore.

“LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Blockbuster Inc. stores in several states are quietly resuming late fees for customers who keep movies too long, rejecting the video-rental chain’s national advertising of “No Late Fees!” because they can no longer keep popular movies on their shelves. Many Arkansas stores resumed the late fees Nov. 21 and charges will apply again soon at various stores in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. The Arkansas attorney general’s office has heard complaints that the fees restarted without any notice.

Blockbuster last winter said it would drop late fees, but its fine print said the company would charge consumers if they kept the movies too long, then charge a $1.25 restocking fee if the movies were returned. In March, the Dallas-based company settled complaints heard in 47 states and authorized refunds for offended customers.

“At this point we are contacting the other states who we worked with before when we had the settlement with Blockbuster,” said Matt DeCample, a spokesman for Arkansas Attorney General Mike Beebe. “The first questions you’d ask in a situation like this is, ‘What does this mean under the settlement we already have?’ and ‘Was this something that was publicized on their (Blockbuster’s) part?’"- Associated Press