Thank you Joey, This is something I never considered and it would have definately been a better idea. Once again what about the data they retain. How are they allowed to use them?

As I said in my previous posts, This was to somehow punish myself from not being concentrated enough and doing something that was wrong even though it was not my intention to do so. My question though was about any employment searches or my information being shared without any of my knowledge. After reading through the forum I came accross one of your pdf documents regarding the opinion of a legal person. He clearly states that what they are doing is not illegal and that in case you pay them the matter is comsidered closed at at no point do they have the right to initiate legal and criminal proceedings. As you understand I would hate to be dragged into anything like this no matter of the outcome. The humiliation I faced then was more than enough for a lifetime. Thank you

Hello all, As mentioned before the amount was not ss much as expected so I just decided to pay it and get dine with it. In the FAQ they mention that tha personal data will not be disclosed to anyone else and will be confidentially destroyed. After paying them I called them up and asked them to destroy my data as per their FAQ. However, they told me that they retain them for 6 years. Is that legal? Especially when they mention that they destroy them. They also informed me that they do not disclose any of this information to anyone else unless I say so. I responded that they do not have my pernission to disclose any information. What I am asking is could my record be tarnished or this coming up in any employment search etc? Thank you

Ok, received the letter. The amount requested is much less than what I have seen in the forum. It is £50. Does anyone know why it is so little compared to everything else I have read in here? Thank you

Hello all, Still waiting for the first letter. As I explaimed in my post above. Mine was a genuine mistake. Value of the item was less than £10. I had already paid closer to £100 in store. In this case I was plainly pressured into admitting I stole something with the threat of police humming over me the whole time. Anyway, I am just saying that dometimes there might be a mistake from their part. My suspicion is that if they detain you they way they did with me and then admit to having made a mistake, this could mean that I could probably press charges for the humiliation faced and the psychological break down. It is only my assumption then that they pressure people into admitamce in order to claim that they did their kob the way it was supposed to be. And as maxxer mentiomed policy line was to call the police every time there is an incident. In this case it never happened and I can only think it was because they thought they could not prove it to them. Sure, I took something that was not mine but the situation is clearly explained above and I am pretry sure that thats what they can see from the cameras as well. Can I ask to watch the footage as well? It can be clearly seen there that I never glanced around for shop security or cameras because it was mever my intention to steal anything.

Thank you again, I would like to send them a letter at least explaining the situation.

Hello, Thank you for your response. They DID mention the word fine. They said I should consider it as a fine. What does: You did wrong end of mean? As I said, money is not a problem. Problem was the way I was treated. I did not have any INTENTION of stealing anything and I immediately offered to pay for it. I think you are wrong doing when you are indeed steeling and in order to do that you need to remove property and have the INTENTION to remove property. How can the intention be proved in my case? Thank you

Hello, I would like to share my experience with you. I would not like to share exact products and figures with you however, as is mentioned here RPL are watching this site and may use this against me. I went to a TK Maxx store and actually bought and paid some clothes worth more that what we usually spend on TK maxx. On my way out my eye caught another article without any boxing, price tag or anything at all for that matter. I spent some time watching it and then moved on to watch something else while still holding the unmarked item. After this my mind wondered off and I simply put the item in my pocket. After a bit I left the store without ever having the intention of taking the item with me. Upon leaving the store I was apprehended, taken to the back room etc. As soon as I understood what was happening I felt extremely embarrassed and ashamed. I tried to explain what had happened. I had just forgotten the item in my pocket. I actually showed them what I had bought and the receipts and they told me that they only care about for something I had not paid . Then it hit me . I felt like my world was collapsing as fast as it could. I tried to say that this was a genuine mistake . I could see they just wanted me to admit guilt so I just said that there was no excuse for it so I offered to pay for the damage I had caused .I felt so ashamed that I just wanted to get it over with... They told me that I was a thief and that this was no longer an option. They threatened to call the police in if I didn't confess to what I did. Feeling extremely humiliated and afraid for my job after getting the police involved I just said that I did it . I now realise that I was under immense psychological pressure at the time and I was not thinking clearly. I should have asked for a lawyer straight away . They told me that RPL would be in touch to collect a fine and they gave me the flier that is mentioned in most of the threads. Under my distress I said that I don't mind paying the "Fine" there and then. They told me that this could not be done. No police came after all. I was made to sign the ban agreement and gave them my name and my address. I was told that if I pay nothing more will happen . They burned a disk as well and they brought it in front of me so I actually felt completely vulnerable .I didn't even ask to see the footagje . After settling down, having left the premises I read the last paragraph of the RPL flier. It mentions that they may decide to prosecute me, or may contact the police, or may share my information with potential employers . Surely this must be illegal. I haven't been in trial and have not been convicted of this or anything for that matter . I do not have a criminal record and I have never had anything to do with the police. Not even a parking ticket. I am not in desperate need for money and they actually mentioned that in there. I would not have any problem on spending a fraction more for the item they are claiming that I stole. I was never given the chance to explain, instead I was treated like a criminal and now I feel like I was manipulated into admitting guilt without ever having the chance to properly explain. Every time I was trying to explain or say something different, one of them was walking towards the door in order to go call the police. This put me under even more pressure and completely cluttered my judgement and my thinking. It was like an immense psychological blackmail. I just found my self saying whatever they wanted me to say . I mean, if they were so sure I was a shoplifter who went in the shop with the INTENTION of stealing, why didn't they just call the police straight away? and instead tried to make me admit on stealing an item? As mentioned above I had already paid for other items in the store that were worth considerably more that the unmarked and unpackaged item . In an attempt to gather my thoughts and settle down I asked for a glass of water but was denied it. I should guess that this might be a basic human right even though I am not a litigator. Again, since I felt completely intimidated and humiliated I just said that I felt awful for what had happened and that I would like to make it right anyway that I can. After that I was let go. Before leaving I was assured that this is nothing more than a fine and that as long as I pay it everything would be fine. They told me to think of it as a parking ticket. I am expecting the letter now. I do feel awful for what happened. I am completely shuttered and in the verge of a breakdown . I know that they were doing there job but I was never given the chance to even explain. Still, I dint think that this is an excuse and taking the item out of the shop could have caused them damage . Thats why I was more than happy to pay for the item as I mentioned to them. RUnder no circumstances, my INTENTION was to steal anything. I feel absolutely & completely embarrassed. I know what I did was wrong even if it was a mistake and that I understand should pay more attention to my actions from now on. I do feel very guilty and I would definitely like to take responsibility for my action which would seem completely shameful and my explanation may just come out as an excuse. I understand that paying no attention this time lead to this. Imagine if I was driving though? I could have injured somebody... I am expecting the letter. I am actually thinking I should pay as this would be a good punishment for myself and a good lesson. I am not trying to figure a way out of this. My question is if I pay, will tkmaxx ever decide to take any action against me? As soon as someone pays what happens to all the data they claim they keep on you? I would hate it if something popped up ever in any check for something like this. If I pay could they still decide to prosecute me? I would like to make sure that they do not keep any of these especially since it is just allegations and not a proven fact. I did not have any intention of stealing.... I do understand that this might be sound like an excuse but I am more than ready to take responsibility for it . I will definitely make sure that I will never put myself in this situation again. I would appreciate a chance to explain though and not be treated like an I haven't slept or eaten anything since this happened. I fell like I want to just sit in my room and never come out of it again. I feel so ashamed and so mistreated at the same time. Now my concern are the letters. I leave in a flat but the whole building shares a mailbox. If the envelope mentions their firm, that would be extremely embarrassing.I do not even see how they are allowed to do this, especially when it concerns alleged and unproven allegations. I have learned from what happened but I actually feel like a criminal now and this feeling is much worse than any fine. I would hate to see my life ruined because of this. Thanks for any help