Hi, I've been reading a lot of threads here similar to mine so didn't know if there was any point in me posting but in the end thought it was best to because I don't know what to do.

Last month I did a really stupid thing and tried to shoplift groceries from Tesco. It was nearly £200 worth. I was caught, arrested, held in a cell overnight and the next day I was cautioned. I'd never done anything like that before and I'll never do it again, I don't know what I was thinking. I just want to forget about it because I'm ashamed it ever happened but about a week afterwards I got a letter from RLP saying I owe Tesco £197.50. I don't have that kind of money so at the time I was terrified but since then I discovered CAG and after reading up on RLP I've decided to ignore the letter, and any more letters they decide to send.

Only thing is, today I got an e-mail from a solicitor company called Buchanan Clark and Wells saying they've been trying to contact me and I need to speak to them urgently. They've given me a reference number to quote but I'm scared of what they're going to say. If I do phone them I'll have to do it outside as I'm 19 and still live at home so I'm trying to hide all this from my Mum and her partner. I know it's completely my own fault but Tesco banned me from the entire retail center the Tesco's store was part of as well, apparently indefinitely, which is really stressing me out as it's practically next door and it's getting harder and harder to make up excuses not to go there... and it's only been a few weeks, let alone however long the ban is for.

Buchanan Clark and Wells (BCW) are just standard debt collectors and not Solicitors.

Do you have other debts which BCW might be chasing ?

BCW would not be chasing this for Tesco or RLP.

Whatever they are chasing, they are phishing. Ignore them.

Regarding the shopping centre, you need to give it a few months and then go back there. The amount of people security deal with as well as each shop, they will have forgotten you.

Ohhh right, thanks. Someone I know said they were solicitors but just realized the e-mail didn't actually specify who they were. I'm not and never have been in debt though so unless it's about this I have no idea what they want.

And yeah I'd have thought so but then again I don't want to risk being escorted out of there.

If you want a few months, they wont even remember you. Guaranteed. However, you need to resolve the reason you shoplifted in the first place ( you cant accidentally shoplift 200+ worth of goods), and then sit tight for a bit.

As has been said, with this DCA, theyre phishing for info. Just ignore them for now. I had debts years ago, and companies like capquest/restons/cabot still send me random letters. I just send them back in a big envelope with no postage on, so they have to pay

Hi and welcome to CAG

I think it is fair to say the police treated you with a caution as they may have seen the state you were in and showed leniency.

As bad as this may sound, it is better to speak to your parents about this rather than shouldering the issue. If you do so, you can then show them some threads on CAG where others have been in the same situation and how they dealt with it.

As you are over 18 RLP cannot write to your parents so any and all letters should come to you. RLP threaten all sorts but all they can do is send the letters then pass it on to a debt collector who can be safely ignored as they have no power over you. RLP have no authority to take court action in their own right. All they can do is recommend to Tesco that they take action and Tesco don't bother as they would lose more than they gained if they took any action.

So, basically, as advised, this will go away.......eventually!

As you were dealt with by the police there will be no further action from Tesco, other than the ban which itself should be taken at face value but they have no powers to ban you from the rest of the retail centre and if you do go there the best they can hope to do is to ask you to leave.

In practical terms they will have forgotten all about you by now as they will have dozens of committed shoplifters to worry about but should you be worried then tell your mum why you want to avoid the place and I'm sure that when she comes down from the ceiling she will realise that you are contrite and want an end to the matter.

paying RLP will not help in any of the above because they have nothing to bring to the party. you owe them nothing and they do not tell the truth in their threatening letters and can be ignored as all wind and water. harder to do than just say but just file away their letters for a year to remind yourself that nothing has happened since and that they are just meaningless words.