EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County Circuit Clerk Matt Melucci has some advice for people who owe court fines and fees: Pay now or pay more.

Melucci announced this week that the county had hired a law firm that specializes in debt collections to turn up the pressure on delinquent debts. Most of the debt is related to traffic and misdemeanor convictions.

People who owe fines will be sent 30-day notices to pay up or have the debt referred for collection, which will add a 28.5 percent processing charge. Those that remain unpaid will be reported to credit rating agencies and may be taken to small claims court. To check on unpaid obligations, call the circuit clerk's office at 618-296-4370, go to www.co.madison.il.us and click on "Circuit Clerk," or use a public-access terminal at one of the five circuit clerk's offices.