Hi all,

I got into a bit of a scrape with Primark (don't laugh) yesterday (23rd October 2014) when I tried to shoplift a couple of shirts that came up to the cost of £26. I was escorted down to a detention room where I was spoken to and my provisional driving licence was photocopied and after a few words I was given a piece of paper stating what the costs of my anticipated 'fine' from this notorious company called RLP will cover. They saw other shirts that I had purchased from another branch along with the receipt which came to the total of £42.90, but that didn't stop them from telling me to expect a 'fine'. I was told that I should be getting this letter in three weeks.

I've been doing a frantic amount of research between yesterday and today and from what I've gathered, they have no legal right to scare me into paying anything and all they make is empty threats. However I'm afraid that they may actually contact Primark again and I was told that I would be taken to court if I don't pay up to this RLP company, not to mention they have me on CCTV. However the goods were recovered before I left the store and they were in perfectly resaleable condition. The police weren't called and I wasn't made to sign anything. No additional details like a telephone number or my parents' contact details or anything were taken and I was allowed to go afterwards. I'm anxious they may also turn up unexpectedly to my house when I'm not there, and I do not want my family to know under any circumstances. I was told by a sympathetic security staff member that if I don't pay this fine immigration officers and border control across the EU will be notified and I will be stopped in airports regarding this, and that this will last for 5 years. I know I'm very much in the wrong and I did something stupid but I seriously don't have the money to spare and I don't want to go to court and risk a criminal record. In addition, in principle alone I believe like many others on here it is wrong to extort money from someone by playing on guilt, particularly as it seems I'm going to pay £137.50 for items that came up to £26 that were recovered in a perfectly resaleable condition, which of course the store will make money from anyway regardless of whether I pay the fine or not. Not to mention it would supposedly be 'covering the costs of past shoplifters'.

As my parents are forever adamant on taking and opening my mail and get mad if I get a hold of it I have sent off my application for the Mail Collect service Royal Mail runs, so I can collect my mail from the sorting office without running the risk of them seeing it and getting myself into 100x more **** than I'm already in. I also wanted to know if this would show up on any kind of CRB/enhanced CRB check and do retailers regularly check RLP's so-called 'dishonesty register' when someone applies for a job? If so, how long would I be on there for? I'm 18 and I've never had one despite frantic applying. I definitely don't need this as a further setback.

Do I ignore the letter when it comes or do I reply? And if so, how? I'm afraid to leave it but I also don't want to be out of pocket because of greedy capitalism on the part of RLP as I believe there is no basis to do so as the goods were recovered, the police weren't called and RLP is a private company with no legitimate connections to the criminal justice system. This was completely out of character for me and I definitely won't be doing it again. I'd lose my friends if they knew as well which is why I'm here looking for advice on what to do when the letter from RLP comes. I just want this over and done with. Please help!!! Thank you xx

Hi & welcome to CAG.

Don't panic and you are right in that you can ignore the letters that RLP will send you.

Because the Police were not called, no criminal action has been recorded and therefore will not show on any CRB check or on any Police database.

Nothing will either show up on any Credit Report that you can obtain from one of the Credit Reference Agencies.

As regarding the "sympathetic staff" has you call him/her, whatever they have told you is total drivel, as above, no Police were called therefore you are clean on all systems.

No-one will come to your house collecting, you will receive approx. four letters, to be fair to RLP, unlike other DCA's they do insert your name into the sentences to give the letter a personal touch.

The letters from RLP are supposed to scare you when you read them, once again, just idle threats so please ignore.

Please let this be a wake up call, your young enough to see the error of your ways and change.

If you need professional help, please seek this, their are many organisations to help with no cost to you except your time and commitment.

Stigman

I was concerned that they would get back to Primark who might choose to prosecute if they don't get some sort of compensation from me through RLP. The male staff there seemed pretty greedy and would be very happy to get a Christmas bonus. Any info on the 'stages' of RLP's correspondence? And how long approximately would this go on for?

Hi and welcome to CAG.

I'm afraid you have fallen for the bovine excrement that these untrained security guards have spouted.

Firstly, if (and it is a big if) court action was teken, it would be a civil matter, not a criminal one so you would not get a criminal record. As for the all ports alert. What crap. They will do nothing of the sort. the immigration service here or elsewhere are not interested.

You will be contacted by RLP and the letters will say things that you may feel are true but in fact are misleading. Once you get the first one, upload it to CAG and we can rip it apart. Once the round of RLP letters stop, they use a pet Debt collector to chase you and then they will threaten court but be under no illusion, RLP cannot take court action, the debt collector cannot do so either. Primark could, if they wished do so but for some reason, they don't. Perhaps they know it will get laughed out of court.

As you are 18, RLP cannot write to your parents but they are bang out of order opening your mail and should be told as much.

Try not to stress over this and put it down to a stupid choice on your part.

So the longer they leave it, the less chance there would be of them trying to take me to court? And in the event that they did, would I have to be physically there or what? What would happen? I shall definitely do that as I need the letters to be dissected so I know what to do next.

If you were to visit the RLP website they have a list of cases taken by retailers. The last reported case was 2012. You have to ask, why have they not taken any more to court.

They know that they will not be able to justify the amounts claimed.

I can safely predict that no court case will come of this.

So how long will everything go on for, stage-wise and overall? Thanks for the advice, it's appreciated muchly Also I wanted to know if Primark and RLP will get rid of my image and details after a certain period of time?

You could be looking at about a year in total.(It could be less) RLP do like to spread this out. Probably in an attempt to weaken your resolve

Argh ffs, just an inconvenice! I just don't want to be made to feel on edge, that's all. Also I wanted to know if Primark and RLP will get rid of my image and details after a certain period of time?

I can't answer that as I don't know. Ignore RLP. they have as much power as a squashed grape. Primark could keep the images but for how long...???

Hmm fair enough, I just don't want there to be a risk of them passing it on to RLP or the image being held by security in other branches causing inconvenience if I enter another store that isn't in the same area, especially if I'm with a friend. Maybe the fact that I change up my hairstyle a lot might help lol. And my details too, what would Primark and RLP do with them if they don't hear from me? Would any of the store employees be made aware of specific people to look out for as well? There's a girl I used to go to school with that works at that particular store where it happened, and she has a loudmouth and will tell anyone anything. That's definitely someone I would not want to know!

or the image being held by security in other branches causing inconvenience if I enter another store that isn't in the same area, especially if I'm with a friend.

I would be careful about visiting branches in a nearby City/Town (if Primark has any branches their) for a couple of months just in-case they might swap security staff around, especially as the Christmas season is approaching.

Stigman

The ones I go to usually are about an hour/hour and a half away on the bus from the one I'm specifying but there's also another one down the road from there that I go to sometimes so I won't be going there for a while.

Thank you for your advice so far but I still have a quick couple of questions:

I was told that if I paid the fine then Primark would throw away the copy of my provisional driving licence that they have. I read on another post that they are apparently aren't even allowed by law to make a copy and keep hold of official documents like that. In addition they said that if I don't pay they will take me to court and my details will be passed on to immigration and border control across the EU and they could pursue me in order to pay this fine, but apparently by law they can't pass on any of my details without my permission in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

How long would Primark hold onto the copy of my licence for and how long would I be on RLP's 'dishonesty register' for if I don't pay? As the police weren't involved I don't have a criminal record but if I apply for jobs they could request to see this register and I don't want to take any chances.

Lastly, if I wanted to shop at Primark (obviously not the one where this happened or those in the same area), would that be advisable? And how long would I have to stay away from that particular store in relation to their security rotation? That is if I ever choose to go in there again which I won't be for a long while. I know I mentioned this before but I just wanted to double-check. To be kind of specific, are the West End and South London/Stratford a safe distance away from each other?

YOU ARE BEING LIED TO. It is as simple as that, Jackie (RLP) will say anything to get you to pay her money you do not owe. Ignore all off the huff and puff, the only person who will get into trouble is her

No, this is what the security staff said to me, in a VERY intimidating manner might I add. I haven't received a letter from RLP yet. They said I should expect it in three weeks. Is there a chance they won't even submit the report to RLP? And if they do would they dispose of the copy of my driving licence afterwards or hold on to it?

musiclove, they're making this stuff up.

Last time RLP persuaded a retailer to go to court over shoplifting, they lost very badly. Being picky, it isn't a fine, only a court can fine you. If RLP write, then come back here and tell us what they say.

HB

I will And the 'dishonesty register' guff too?

I will And the 'dishonesty register' guff too?

There's some doubt over whether it exists. And I believe we don't think someone like a prospective employer would be able to consult it. I can't remember the total story, hopefully someone can add a bit to that. Certainly I don't remember anyone coming back here and saying that this register had stopped them getting a job.

HB

It is apparent that you fell for the rubbish spouted by the security guards. I am beginning to wonder if they get a commission for everyone that pays up hence the lies. I can't call them mistruths because they're not. they are outright lies.

In addition they said that if I don't pay they will take me to court and my details will be passed on to immigration and border control across the EU and they could pursue me in order to pay this fine, but apparently by law they can't pass on any of my details without my permission in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

And the 'dishonesty register' guff too?

 

 

It has been mentioned that RLP set up a separate company called Cireco, a company set up to make them seem legitimate. This company holds as its assets a whole £1

This so called company say they hold a database of dishonesty which sounds OK in principle except for one large flaw. The majority of those on this database have not been convicted of any crime so the database itself is wrong. (assuming it actually exists.)

The disclosure of information from this database cannot go ahead without your express written permission. RLP also state that they pass on the details to law enforcement. NAH!

This so called company say they hold a database of dishonesty which sounds OK in principle except for one large flaw. The majority of those on this database have not been convicted of any crime so the database itself is wrong. (assuming it actually exists.)

 

The disclosure of information from this database cannot go ahead without your express written permission. RLP also state that they pass on the details to law enforcement. NAH!

So would that be in accordance with the Data Protection Act or anything? But can't retailers signed up with RLP see this database thing if they request to, regardless of convictions or anything?

no.

there is no actual evidence this database exists.

and, they wouldn't be able to share it even if it did.

there are, and will always be, local 'shopping centre' databases, however these are again not shared

and certainly not to RLP.

people need to realise the level of underhand innuendo's such companies will use is never ending

as long as they can spoof the next mug into paying for their next holiday or xmas party

they don't care what they write

IGNORE THEM.

dx