Hi! In need of help!

I got caught taking £2.50 worth of rings from primark (pathetic I know)!

They took me in to a room and took down my details from my driving licence and I gave them my uni adddress to send all letters to because I don't want my parents finding out!

After reading numerous threads,

I understand that they can't/won't send this case to the police etc,

but I have some remaining questions:

My questions are:

- how, and will they get my phone number?

I saw someone on here that had their parents home called by a 'debt collector' ;

can they do this if I gave only my address details? I

can't risk ignoring all letters and then my parents finding out over the phone

- will this affect checks on CRB's etc/ affect my future career within the police force (I read that sometimes they check EVERYTHING), particularly if you want to work with 'vulnerable people'- which I do

-can I guarantee that they will send the letters to my uni address rather than my home address, and

what happens in July when I have to move out and i have no access to the letters at all

Thanks!

Hi and welcome to CAG

I have taken the liberty of moving your post from the end of an existing thread to one of its own. This way you won't get missed. Carry on posting as normal.

On to your specific points. I would assume that you are over 18 and as such, the Data Protection Act comes into play for you. Anyone aged 18 and over is assumed to be fully aware of their actions and as such RLP cannot contact anybody else without your express permission.

As no police involvement was made, there will be nothing on a CRB check. RLP state that they use a database of offenders. They can only release this data with your express permission. This is a scare tactic used by by them to 'encourage' payment. This database is filled with 'alleged' offenders not those actually convicted of a crime therefore any release of data is fraught with danger for RLP if they have any wrong data there.

I have no idea what the requirements are for the entry to the police but they will ask if you have been convicted of any offence. the truthful answer is 'NO' They will have no records from RLP as far as I am aware. Any DBS check will show no convictions or cautions as they were not involved.

RLP have one address to write to. The one you gave. They cannot write to anyone else at a different address. To do so and disclose any data will again fall foul of the Data Protection Act.

I hope that helps but for pities sake. A £2.50 ring!!! Don't do it again

I'd LOVE to see if RLP do get invloved and jackie and co try to charge their usual amount for this.

Op, rest easy. Primark have washed their hands with you. There wont be anything on your record and neither will there ne on your credit file . They rely on lack of knowledge to get money from people, but fortunatly youve come to the right place and got the correct advice. They cannot do ANYTHING. Especially for a couple of £2.50 rings. Even if they called the police, the police would likely berate the security guards for pretty much wasting theirtime.

Thanks so much!

I was told at the time that I will be sent a letter with a fine,

so am I to ignore this as I don't owe anyone anything

(other than primark if they so desire to charge me for anything.)

I was just curious as to how the person I read about previously had received a phone call to their parents house

- this can't happen unless I have given a phone number, is that correct?

Thanks!

-- went into a major panic as I'm dreaming of a police-based career and don't want this stupid mistake to affect it!

It's not a fine. Its a speculative invoice that has absolutely NO bearing on anything in reality. Just a silly number plucked out of thin air by a very shady company.

They also cannot call ANYWHERE else apart fromt he number you have given, as it would be a breach of DPA and privacy laws.

Sit, back, relax, ignore them, and please stop shoplifting.

Thank you !

You are correct and incorrect in the same sentence, Yes you will receive the letters but it won't be a fine. Only the criminal courts can impose fines and this is a civil issue, not a criminal one.

RLP will say that each 'claim' is worth between £300-500. Total bowlarks and they know it.

IF (and it is a big if) Primark chose to chase you, the law ONLY allows them to claim actual losses plus admin fees which must be accurate. As it costs far more for them to take action than the amount they would get, they don't bother.

Civil recovery in America is a big thing and they can claim any amount they want. In the UK it is totally different but companies such as RLP rely on ignorance to get their pocket money from people.

RLP state that it is their aim to prevent and detect crime however, if crime vanished overnight, they would be out of business so you can see their claims are nothing of the sort. They are leeches in an unregulated sector.

While we on CAG believe that shoplifting is wrong and should be deterred, Two wrongs do not a right make and RLP are certainly wrong. Rant over

I absolutely know what I have done is wrong,

but don't want to be charged anything crazy for such a stupid mistake, particularly when it's some £2.50 rings!

How long can I expect it to be before the letters come through?

This all happened on Saturday

I've heard they can come through within a couple of weeks. Do not respond but if you can, redact all personal info including codes and post it up here. The website has been updated and I would like to see if the letters have too. If they have, I can guarantee they will still be full of bovine excrement.

I will do!

like you read on that other thread

if scotcall DCA now fidelite get involved

then they have a consumer credit licence

so thus can access your credit file

from there

they get your true address

and they'll use any tactic they can to embarrass you out of money

just remember

a DCA is NOT A BAILIFF

they are as powerless as RLP

whatever the 'debt'

dx

The actionable loss would be the value of the goods lost if not saleable, in your case £2.50 it would be laughed out of court. As per thee others ignore RLP.