Lets get together & mount a concerted campaign against RLP

[MARTIN3030]

Sure JC its no problem-we cant continue to complain amongst ourselves here-yet do nothing positive.

During Cags existence there has been a growing number of Journos who have seized the chance to grab a story because theres never been a shortage.

The Bank claims and associated business has had lots of exposure-heres something which I have no doubt would interest Journos.

Certainly if we had some idea about whether we would get users to speak out,then thats a starting point.

 

The obvious benefits are that a good Journo would undoubtably be able to fit some missing pieces into the jigsaw.

I dont think we have by any means got full facts -theres much more to come yet.

I would particularly love to know just who is benefitting and how far up the ladder this goes.

We are talking of some big money.

Another thing I was thinking of was insurance.Are they fully briefed about individual cases ?

Edited March 14, 2009 by MARTIN3030

[JonCris]

Zam can you PM me with details no matter how sketchy

 

Martin I'm hoping that a victim or victims will come forward & allow their situation to be used in the media. Also I would like to see one of their clients dragged off to court for defamation. That would get a few sphincters twitching

[Zamzara]

Zam can you PM me with details no matter how sketchy

 

I don't really know any more than that. It is on Richmond CAB's website however. I heard in the past that it was specifically aimed at forcing them to justify the disproportionate sums demanded and to stop them targetting people who have not been proved to be guilty. There was also an issue over recovery from former employees, as it could be an unlawful forced payment to the employer, which counts as a deduction from wages. I don't have a cite for that though.

[Sugar Plum Fairy]

B & Q security staff receive a store bonus depending on the stores losses.

 

T K Maxx and Boots have these web based loss prevention systems in place that also monitor security staff performance.

 

I wondered why the security guard in my daughter's case went a bit over the top, yes she did wrong in spraying a bit of hair mousse but she did spend £15 in the store just after. They probably had no shoplifters in the store that day!

 

Also the incident happened on the 25th Feb and I received the RLP letter on the 28th, they didn't waste much time!

[JonCris]

Sugar is she prepared to have her story appear in the media??

[rousin red]

Thanks Joncris.

 

Can this company affect my credit rating then on credit agencies details, with Experian and such like?

- Or where would they blacklist me? I am concerned!

 

I have today received another letter stating that they've noted my comments in relation to a Consumer credit Licence but ''since we are not a debt collection company, this has no relevance to us whatsoever".

 

I was advised by Trading Standards that you need a licence to collect any monies (civil recovery or whatever) and not just a debt collection company. I understood that as they did not have the licence, their demand to me was void.

 

RLP ltd are saying the a claim for compensation for investigatory costs is still valid and their client will seek to issue proceedings if the claim cannot be settled within 21 days.

 

I am fed up with this - Boots are one nasty company (one of the reasons why I didnt want to work there any longer) and RLP are bullying in their tone. Does anyone know if they can make a claim 1 year on?

[JonCris]

The answer is yes they could.

 

However I'm preparing a letter for you to send to them + a CAG letter to send to the ICO & your previous employer.

 

Would you be prepared to speak to the media if so please PM Martin as we will need to know your 'complete' story if we are to help

[rousin red]

Thanks again JonCris.

 

I dont know if I would really want to speak to the media. I would want to highlight the manner in which RLP deal with people and the way in which Boots instigate claims when investigations have not been concluded, but I'm not comfortable with it being in the media.

 

I appreciate your help/advice.

[JonCris]

OK you know what they say "all it takes for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing"

[rousin red]

Im not doing nothing in relation to my problem with them but it is a different matter dealing with it all in the press. I've just been trying to clarify where I stand and deal with it appropriately so I dont keep having a problem. Again, I appreciate your advice etc.

[labrat]

anyone noticed that they say if you dont understand as you dont speak english that they make it your problem to resolve, odd really most places have things avaliable in multiple languages so not to discriminate

[ScarletPimpernel]

Disappointingly, neither ACPO nor the British Retail Consortium have yet replied to my email about RLP. I will remind them.

 

It seems to me that this company's practices need to be raised with politicians. RLP seem to have set themselves up as a parallel justice system, not complying with the consumer credit licencing laws, deciding for themselves who is an offender or dishonest (and being exempt from disclosure under DPA), and extorting money from, in many cases, vulnerable people.

[JonCris]

I'm preparing a letter for the ICO because I don't think that with the best Will in the world the ICO thought for one minute this company would start this appalling practice when they granted their licence

[MARTIN3030]

JC is wanting to nail these ppl the same as most here.

Theres no pressure to go public we are just looking for openings-and it is going to mean some people making a tough stand,fair enough if you dont want to be one of them.

[MARTIN3030]

Disappointingly, neither ACPO nor the British Retail Consortium have yet replied to my email about RLP. I will remind them.

 

It seems to me that this company's practices need to be raised with politicians. RLP seem to have set themselves up as a parallel justice system, not complying with the consumer credit licencing laws, deciding for themselves who is an offender or dishonest (and being exempt from disclosure under DPA), and extorting money from, in many cases, vulnerable people.

 

Its extremely dissapointing SP

 

But we have to chase down the avenues that we can.

[kiptower]

Martin maybe a strong letter to Justice Minister Bridget Prentice may start things rolling

[rousin red]

I don't think that I mentioned previously, that before getting a 2nd letter from RLP Ltd, I wrote to Boots, basically asking why they were claiming 1 year later, and that I would not enter into any discussion until I receive evidence that the company they have given me personal details to, have the required license.

They just replied, acknowledging my letter & referring me back to RLP ltd for a breakdown of the claim.

 

Further to what Martin has said previously, when I was based in a Boots store, I had a Code Of Conduct booklet. Whilst I wouldnt have known all of it 'inside-out', I dont recall any mention of the possibility of an employee being faced with the cost of any investigation (should their be one). I have asked Boots for a copy of the Code of Conduct.

I have also asked Boots to provide me with all the details/information on me that they gave to RLP Ltd, and an explanation as to why they did not discuss this with me (or my company with whom I had a contract), rather than making a claim one year later.

 

In response to RLP's comments that a Credit Consumer license is nothing to with them whatsoever, I have asked them why they held one, which lapsed in nov 2008. I have asked for proof of the amounts claimed; staff hourly rate and time sheets ,admin cost breakdown etc.

 

When I get my own case sorted out, I will do what I can to help in fighting this co.

[JonCris]

Great rousin but if you come forward NOW we can help YOU to fight your case

[MARTIN3030]

Martin maybe a strong letter to Justice Minister Bridget Prentice may start things rolling

 

 

Absolutely.We are working on just that.

[tank-fink]

It seems this is going to be a difficult one to fight...

 

Because anyone whos been targeted by RLP is going to be reluctant to be associated with anything that is going to make them look like a criminal. (or the parent of said criminal)

I am willing to have my own daughters story mentioned in the press-but only anonymously.

I have read back through earlier RLP postings-and several posters' reactions to people being fined by RLP for nicking a few sweets or whatever were: 'be glad you didn't get locked up' or take it as a lesson to be learned' etcetera etcetera...

I suspect there will be a lot of people out there who would actually back the actions of a firm like RLP. If pushed into a corner they may admit that RLP are a bit over the top- but the basic premise of 'potential petty criminals' being fined privately would not cause this large chunk of society any loss of sleep.

 

In Fact (As the devils advocate)-one could easily argue that 'a small revenue stream from wrongdoers to help pay for all the millions spent on security/store insurance each year is a 21st century good idea that won't go away'

 

So I doubt a campaign that simply claims RLP is bad for society will succeed-

 

My point here is that for your campaign to work- you need to be very smart in your approach-

 

-You need to be ultra clear in your message to the media and politicians- That these shysters are excessive with thier charges and intimidating in thier manner. They are now actively 'making money' out of those who are probably living close to the bread-line to start with - or are too young to realise that those tempting sweets may end up costing thier parents £150 per pound (weight)...

 

So how would I activate a concerted campaign?

 

I personally would like to see an on-line petition to RLP closed down and the stores they work for blacklisted (for those of us who think RLP obviously is bad for society)

 

A standard draft letter which we could all post to our MP on-line

via this link WriteToThem - Email or fax your Councillor, MP, MEP, MSP or Welsh, NI, London Assembly Member for free

 

This draft letter could be posted on this site-and we could all copy and paste it on the aforementioned link to our own individual MPS.

 

This letter needs to contain at least extracts from some of the RLP stories posted on here. And I'm sure that if anonymity could be maintained via name changes then people would be willing to put thier stories forward?

 

I personally think the letter needs to be simple- and with effective soundbites that an MP can latch on to.

 

Does this make sense?

Edited March 23, 2009 by tank-fink
being polite

[JonCris]

What rot I'm a Daily Mail reader & don't agree with the actions of this company one bit In fact I'd like to see them rot in hell. Also I know many other DM readers who think the same

 

Those who slag of the DM readership should remember that most of the great journo's like Keith Waterhouse left the Daily Mirror to join the Mail & that the DM has the biggest circulation

 

The politicians slag off the DM because it's presently the only effective opposition that we have. The rest, with a few honorable exceptions such as Baker, are now't but a bunch of wossers

[tank-fink]

ooh dear- i guess that was a bit rude...

I have now amended my post

....

 

erm...sorry

[tank-fink]

Anyway- now we have the daily mail readership confirmed as being firmly on board- can we focus on the job in hand....

[JonCris]

Thanks TF:)

[JonCris]

Anyway- now we have the daily mail readership confirmed as being firmly on board- can we focus on the job in hand....

 

 

Bleeding right mate don't bugger with a DM reader:mad:

 

In those immortal words "don't make me angry, you won't like me when I'm angry"