RLP and Boots

[bowielove]

Hello, i'm new here.

I have recieved a letter from RLP for the sum of 140.49 which includes the loss of a Boots meal deal...i had eaten it.

When i was taken to the office by the security guards(these guys really love their job!) they detained me till the police arrived who interviewed me at the office and presented me with an £80 fine. The security guard made me sign something that declares that i'm banned from Boots-at no time did the guard mention he would be passing my details onto RLP.

Anyway i paid the police fine and am not considered a criminal as it was my first offence-never been in trouble with the police before.

Rlp sent me a letter demanding atleast 122.99 which is the discounted settlementand 21 days later sent me another letter saying i have another 14 days to pay the full, un-discounted amount of 140.49 that was last week...

i rang them yesterday (on a witheld number)and told them i may be prepared to pay the 112.99 At first 'oh no that is not possible,the 21 days to pay that is up....you must pay the full amount.' I continued to say i would only be prepared to pay 112.99...without much persuasion at all they agreed. I said i'd send it by cheque recorded delivery as i didnt trust given out information over the phone.i feel very uncomfortable them knowing any of my bank details.

Since i have been given the oppurtunity to pay the reduced amount ..should i? Even though its still ridiculous!

Also something else that concerned me in the letter which i'm sure is incorrect is them sharing personal information about me.

This is what it says..." You are advised that the personal inormation we hold may be used in accordance with Data Protection Act 1998, to make employment decisions , decisions regarding the provision of credit and for the purposes of crime prevention and detection."

Can they do that?

Is it worth sending them a letter to protest teh charges and sharing my personal information? this also with a list of random charges for lets say..phone calls, time spent at CAB perhaps? travel charges fro any correspondence i send..

Also a sort of unrelated topic i would like some info on...

In my town of Ipswich they run a street ranger scheme...these guys who assist security guards are aware of thieves, people with ASBO's and they patrol the streets in a red uniform.Very easy to see..they are called Ipswich Central.They have photos of shoplifters and people who have been banned from town and they give these photos to shops so the shopkeepers can be aware of these people if they come into there store.I know this becasue my boyfriend works in a shop in town.

My photo was taken when i was detained but never was i told it would be used for that! my boyfriend says he hasnt seen a photo of me come in but if they are doing this without people being aware is that legal??

Some advice and maybe a rough draft of a letter if i do decide to fight this would be great!

muchos love

bowiefan

[JonCris]

Yes they can unless your prepared to fight them they will keep your details for upto 6 years. To fight them means 1st having FPN overturned What do you want to do cos it won't be easy because you admit eating food before payment

[shanty]

The photraphs shown to retailers are only of people who have been convicted .Also they are prolific offenders,so you need not worry there.

[jackieandwayne]

Yes, Shanty is right about the prolific offenders. We have the Ring master scheme where I am - operates the same way as Ipswich by the sounds of it except they'd never wear red! (it would upset the Tories!)

 

Jon - this bit about the Data Protection and the info that RLP are holding - well that does concern me. As a HO I have access to an extremely high level of information on people, from a wide variety of statutory bodies, including criminal records. I know my responsibilities regarding this info, I have to apply for it formally, and justify my need to have it by quoting some Act or other, in most cases its serious crime and ASB issues. Because of the nature of the work I do, of course I have to have this info, its essential to enable me to work with all the other agencies. I also have to undertake to destroy it after 6 months. I'm a bit dim this morning but I know my right to this info is set down in some or other relatively recent law. Crime and Prevention something or other from the late 90's.

 

I'm just wondering now, I understand the need for Ringmaster and traders to have certain info, photo's most certainly, because here in my town we have a hell of a lot of addicts and such like and some of them are downright dangerous, but surely, this info should not then be passed to any third party including RLP? I am not allowed to pass any info I have to any third party, so what is the position with these companies doing this to RLP?

 

I would also say that the above is the official way of working things, I also know that I can get any info I need quite informally, because sometimes it is needed out of hours, in a hurry etc, but even then, I have to retrospectively apply for it, and just bloody well hope I can justify the need after the event!

 

I would imagine, in your campaign, you may already have thought of that, but if not, maybe this is another arrow to fire at them!

 

Stealing is out of order and should be punished, however, two wrongs don't make a right and RLP are thieves as well by the sound of it.

[JonCris]

jackie you may well bo correct in your thinking............ time will tell;)