Hi Everyone,

Today I got caught taking an item for under £10 from Primark.

( I know what I did was wrong and have been beating myself up about it,

do not have a criminal record and have never done anything like that before ).

When I got to the exit, I was stopped and taken into a back room with male and female security guards.

I said I was sorry and could pay for the item then but they would not let me,

they asked me to write my name, address and date of birth on a sheet, which I did.

I could not remember the last 2 letters of my postcode (probably from nerves) and told them I couldn't but the rest of the details were correct.

They asked for proof of address which I didn't have.

They searched all my other bags and asked me to check the clothes pockets I was wearing.

They asked me to give them a phone number of someone who could confirm my address,

I gave a friends number which the male called outside of the room,

he came back and said my friend could not remember my exact address but remembered the road.

None of us could get mobile signal in the room, as I tried to get my online banking up to prove my address and couldn't.

The male threatened to call the police a number of times but they were not called.

I was given a RLP headed letter saying I would receive a fine.

Then escorted out.

from reading past posts on similar things,

I know I shouldn't pay these people.

They definitely have no power?

Just ignore and say that one liner I have read about?

When should I send that after the first letter?

I am in a line of work which requires enhanced CRB checks so this would be SO bad for me if anything would show up.

Regards,

Misery

hi welcome

there is absolutely NOTHING they can do to.

it will NOT show on any CRB check

nor can it harm your CRA file

stay off the phone

do not reply to any letters

do not ever pay them.

it is NOT A FINE.

only the police or the courts can fine you.

these people have NO LEGAL POWERS

nor are backed by any.

dx

Thanks so much, wonder how it is even legal!?

Would you suggest that I send the one line to them when I get the first letter?

Misery

no the days of that advise are passed

RLP have been defeated so many times in court its incredible.

its the same as the speculative private parking invoices

dx

I forgot to mention the guards photocopied my photo oyster card and student card.

OK will just rip and bin them I guess!

Misery

Bin the cards and get replacements.

Dx is right with his advice. Our advice used to say to send them the one line letter, but RLP rarely do court now. They prefer to go to a DCA instead.

I would advise sending the letter, if only to cover your own back.

cant see a reason to bin the cards.

dx

The notice that Primark gave you? Did it actually say the word 'Fine'?

I threw it in the bin when I left the shop, but come to think of it, I don't think it did have that word. It said something about civil loss, being found doing a wrongful act then at the bottom a few bullet points telling me to get legal advise, and some others. The security guard said it will be a fine but he had no idea how much ( although he said less than £100 ) and he said if I don't pay my details will be passed to the police.

I definitely won't be going back anywhere near that shop so is it OK to keep my cards as the new cards will be exactly the same picture and info?

Does this make a difference to the advice I have been given?

No difference. The guard was wrong.

You can keep the cards if you want.

First letter received. Any new advice?

Misery

[ATTACH]47612[/ATTACH]

Can you convert it to a PDF please. Make sure to edit out persona info.

done it for you

that's a std garbage RLP letter

we've seen almost exactly the same one several times here

dx

I see she still hasnt given up with those reasonings that she claims constitute the amount she is trying to charge. None of them have any bearing on it at all as they are all factored into the wages of the security guards and the overheads of normal day to day business. Maybe we should let watchdog or the daily mail do an investiagtion...

Thanks guys and thanks dx for converting it.

Will keep updating.

Misery

I don't know how much they are asking for but it really does smell of blackmail...either pay x or face costs of between 300 and 500 . Can we please move their head office to Leeds so that when I drop a nuke on leeds we can take them out as well

It's under £100 - didn't put it up in case they can somehow trace this to me.

I'd love to have some antimatter!

Misery

Just for Yorkshire mind or in particular Leeds. All my favourite targets live or work in Leeds

£85 seems to be the going rate

Second letter received.

Just to update people. If/When I receive DCA letters what should I reply?

Misery

Standard RLP begging letter - full of fairly meaningless prose in an attempt to extract money.

Jackie is looking increasingly desperate in her attempts at quasi-judicial superiority. Why on earth does she believe that she is entitled to hear of your 'remorse' or to receive any mitigation or explanation for your actions? Those are matters for the Police and the Judiciary, however the store chose not to take that route and you are certainly under no obligation to discuss that with a third party BUSINESS whose sole purpose is to generate revenue for themselves!

If a DCA writes to you, and only if you feel compelled to tell them anything at all, simply say that they are attempting to chase a disputed speculative invoice, and not a 'debt' and that no further correspondence will be entered into. If they persist in harassing you over a debt that does not exist then you will be reporting them as appropriate.

I always look forward to reading letters from RLP, its good lunchtime entertainment "Our staff are professional" ..that made me snigger.

They waffle on and on and have now reached the realms of fantasy. All RLP need do is send a single NBA outlining the facts but instead Jackie and her chums have decided that they are now judge and jury and must dish out punishment to any accused of shoplifting, what makes it more amusing is that they are seriously weakening their case in the unlikely event it went anywhere near court, all one has to do is to refer to the wording of the letter and show that the store/RLP is NOT interested in recovering damages but has embarked on some bizarre crusade to punish or deter future shoplifters, once again Jackie, this is the job of the Police and the Criminal Courts, not you and has absolutely no standing in Civil law.

Personally I'd rather receive letters from a DCA as at least they know how to behave and will send letters simply asking for a sum and avoid the lengthy rants.

Thanks guys, made me feel better. Will keep posting as and when more letters are received!

Misery

I am also subscribing to this thread as I love a laugh at RLPs expense and it is their expense. they are sending these 'demands' and it costs them

Whilst not wanting to rub salt into their wounds, I would love someone who has been accused of shoplifting to engage in a serious letter tennis exercise, just to see how long it takes and how many letters it takes for them to do a 'Arkell-v-Pressdram'

Madness all of it.

Remorse, mitigation, to stop you doing it again or to recover the losses. I wish she would make up her flippin mind

Al great ammo if they ever decided to step near a court unless of course they are marked Without Prejudice.