RLP doesn't have any standing when it comes to credit rating either, does it? Don't want it to bite me in the ass in 10years time

I didn't think you were, I understand exactly what you are saying. They just have a very good way of wording their letters to scare people like me!

Yeah I know. I understand that they must love people like me :/

Hmm. I'm at least gonna leave it for now. But honestly, I'm too much of a scaredy cat and will probably end up paying. Might go and ask my CAB for advice, it'd be nice to speak to someone in person.

Oh sorry, didn't specify I meant each. It was 3 foundation testers. And one of the workers said that they only had a value of 0.01p each.

So I got my letter. £147.50. Now I understand that what I did was wrong, and I deserve some punishment etc. But £147.50 for taking something with the value of 0.01p?

Well I've spent about 3/4 hours trawling these forums, and have seen the same advice time and time again. Still nervous, as no one seems to post when their ordeal has stopped! (their threads just become inactive) - I worry I'll be part of the small percentage that end up with debt collectors at their door or something!

I just don't really want constant letters through my door, and the whole situation has really freaked me out (I can safely say I will NEVER be attempting anything like this again!). I live with Uni friends, and don't want the shame of them googling the name on the letter (although I probably deserve it for shoplifting in the first place :/) But yes, I'll come back when I get a letter.

I'll also be moving house in a 2/3 months - so if it takes a while to send them/by the time I've ignored a couple, I won't even be living here. Does that just mean a lucky escape from the letters? Or is it something I should have let the store know?

Right, I see your point. Well I will post back when I start receiving the letters - I may need a little more reassurance/advice.

Due to be being very nervous about this situation - how about contacting the store perhaps and saying I'm happy to pay them but not RLP? Or will they have cut ties now?

Yeah I've had a read of quite a few other posts and keep seeing people saying to leave it. But I'm just scared and really don't want to end up in even more trouble. I'm sure you can understand the reluctance to just leave something like this.

Okay. When you say that I don't need to pay it - is that not just going to get me into more trouble? I just figured I'd pay it straight away so I can move on.

The other day , I stupidly tried to shoplift from a store. I was caught, and taken into a back room, surrendered the products, apologised profusely etc. The police were called, but took too long to arrive, so the security guard said they were calling them off and that I could leave. He said I was banned from store, and would receive a fine from them. A few questions: -Does them calling off the police mean that there is now no police action? -How long will it take for the letter with the fine to come through (Waiting is horrible) -How much could I be looking at being charged? (If this is even possible to predict?)