I'm 25 from the UK.

Just before Christmas I got really drunk and went out to do some last minute Christmas shopping. Whilst out, I decided to try my hand at shoplifting in Debenhams. I was caught.

The police were called, but they took me home instead of to the police station (which was fortunate) after I told them that I live in supported living (kinda like a care home dealio) due to my Autism. They took me home and confirmed my story and said I will need to come for an interview.

Long story short: the police cancelled the interview & dropped the charges after I signed up for an alcohol help/counselling service (I have a long, long history of doing idiotic things while drunk). I've been going to that every week since then. I think it also helped that this was my first time shoplifting (or being charged with anything)

Now, almost a month later, I receive a letter from "RLP - The Civil Recovery Specialists since 1998" saying that Debenhams are threatening me with a civil lawsuit for my heinous crimes against humanity.

I was instantly suspicious of this letter, however, as I haven't actually been charged or cautioned for anything yet, and the letter did say the shoplifting was 'alleged' -- so how can they threaten me with legal action for a crime that is only alleged?

• How can they take me to court if I've not been charged with any crime?
  
• Would this actually go to court if I ignored the letters?
  
• What should my response be?
  

Thanks guys

Hi and welcome to CAG.

Your last point first. DO NOT respond.

Your first point. RLP can never take anyone to court. They don't have that privilege.

Your second point is an unknown but it is highly unlikely. We don't get too many cases where Debenhams are involved.

Retail Loss prevention were set up as a money making scheme from the gullible.

Civil recovery is a method that Debenhams can use to get to get their losses back. RLP will rely on ignorance in their claims. The store got the goods back so no loss there. The security staff were already paid whether or not they apprehended anyone so no possible loss there either.

RLP will mention security, CCTV, admin and lots of other rubbish which they cannot claim for.

You will get quite a few letters from RLP and then a couple from their tame debt collector. Then.....not a lot!

 

• How can they take me to court if I've not been charged with any crime?
  
• Would this actually go to court if I ignored the letters?
  
• What should my response be?
  

• RLP can not take you to court, only Debenhams could do that and they washed their hands of the matter when they involved RLP.
  
• Highly unlikely, and even if it did, they could only pursue you for actual losses which would only be a few pounds at most.
  

• Your choice. You can either: 1) Bin the letter. 2) Light a fire with it. 3) Line a kitty litter tray or bird cage. 4) Use it as toilet paper (but only if you are really, really desperate ).
  

Do not get involved in any letter tennis, it only serves to encourage the deluded fantasies of Ms Lambert and her cohorts.

Ah. So it's just some intimidation bull****... big surprise there!

I contacted the Citizens Advice Bureau and am awaiting their response, but I expect it will be the same as yours since they have some pretty damning opinions of "civil recovery" in their 'Unreasonable Demands' report

Thanks for taking the time to respond, guys

saying that Debenhams are threatening me with a civil lawsuit for my heinous crimes against humanity

Chances are debenhams know absolutely nothing about it. RLP and the person who owns it are well known for lying. They are a private company with no legal basis for a claim and exist to make a pure profit. As already mentioned, they cant do anything either way, and as you stated quite correctly, it is pure intimidation.

What will happen is you will get ever increasing letters from JAckie and co (RLP) that seem to be designed to threaten you, but in reality are laughable as each contradicts the next. After a couple months ( youllg et 1-2 letters a month if that), she will cry herself to sleep in a corner and say shes getting a DCA involved.

This DCA cannot do anything because 1) they have no legal rights, and 2) There is no debt. You can bat these muppets away with 1 letter or just ignore them. Then she'll run after someone else to scare into paying.

Read the sticky 'the case RLP dropped' (the title says it all), which involved Debenhams and a vulnerable person (by age) who was targeted by RLP.

I'm not aware of Debenhams taking a single case to court. In any case, you have been dealt with by the appropriate statutory authorities; RLP aren't a substitute or alternative to these.

RLP will send various silly letters - but that's all they can do - and you can safely ignore them.

One thing to add, the standard letter used to demand £147 so all of these people who follow the advice here of ignoring RLP are causing Jackie a considerable loss of income so you are honoured to be asked for £200. Leave it a year and I bet the amount demanded will double.

Great news, guys!! Thanks for the replies!

Obviously I won't be doing this again, but I'm really glad that this isn't going to cost me £200 because I really can't afford that! (I have been told by the DWP that i'm "unfit for work" ._.)

Thanks again, guys

One thing to add, the standard letter used to demand £147 so all of these people who follow the advice here of ignoring RLP are causing Jackie a considerable loss of income so you are honoured to be asked for £200. Leave it a year and I bet the amount demanded will double.

Actually, they asked for £197.50...

Do I win an award?

Now, almost a month later, I receive a letter from "RLP - The Civil Recovery Specialists since 1998" saying that Debenhams are threatening me with a civil lawsuit for my heinous crimes against humanity.

 

Do they actually say this in their letter ?

Hey, thanks for the replies everyone

Just to be sure that I was doing the right thing by following your advice, I got some free legal advice from a random solicitors in my town

I read the letter word for word over the phone, and she advised me to contact RLP and see if I can pay it back over instalments

Now I'm confused because you guys are telling me just to ignore it, but the solicitor is saying not to :/

I really don't know what to do...

Why would the solicitor tell me to pay?

Do they actually say this in their letter ?

Nope, I was paraphrasing

The solicitor is wholly wrong and probably doesn't deal with this type of problem.

Hi.

I agree with the Imp. We deal with type of stuff all the time. We may not be lawyers, but what does the one you spoke to normally deal with?

If you look around the forum, we always recommend not paying. I can't think of a single cagger who has had a bad outcome from this.

HB

I'm sure the solicitor will tell you that they can offer all sorts of advice based upon RLP's letter but it completely misses the point. The letter isnt stating the truth and the advice from the solicitor relies upon statements of truth.

I agree with all the other comments. What you really needed was a solicitor who deals with civil claims and one that knows how RLP behave.

RLP love to crow about the cases 'they' have won. In fact RLP have won NO cases as they are not able to. What they used to crow about was the wins made by the retailer but since July 2012 there has been no cases where RLP are able to crow about anything as this case:

http://www.farrarsbuilding.co.uk/cms/uploads/A-Retailer-v-B-K_001.pdf

stuffed them solid. RLP sent lots of people to sit on this case but in the end, the retailer lost.

the link above is the short version. If you really want to read 150+ pages of the full judgement, that can be supplied too.

Ignore this silly solicitor who should have known better.