RLP - Require Help

[dilz621]

Today I was accused of shop lifting in a major high street store. I was looking at sun glasses, worth £12 and when I picked them up I had a phone call which I took. Sub consciously I put the glasses in my pocket, and walked out the store. I was stopped outside by the security guards and taken to a holding cell where they took my details. I am under 18, but they didnt call my parents. I then paid the amount for the glasses and then given a Civil Recovery notice, and told that I would have to pay for the losses.

 

I was with two other friends who were caught aswell with items ranging £6-19. I am wondering when should I expect the notice to come to my house, and what prices I am looking at to pay, and any other details you can disclose.

 

Thanks. P.S No police were involved and I did not sign anything

[ForestChav]

Well, you have paid for the glasses so that's all they would have lost, and they haven't lost it because you paid for them. As an under 18 I don't think they can charge you for anything anyway... although that may depend how much under 18 you are.

 

And it will probably be the seemingly standard RLP £137.50 thing which is going to be OTT for a few minutes' security guard time, which is presumably all they can otherwise tenuously claim; even though the security guards were presumably at work and would have been anyway, had you walked out with them or not.

 

Also, you didn't steal anything because you accidentally walked out, not intentionally, and also you didn't permanently deprive them of anything since you paid for the goods.

[boswell]

I was with two other friends who were caught aswell with items ranging £6-19.

 

does that mean that your friends accidently walked out as well?

[dilz621]

My friends were in a seperate holding cell, I assume they did steal it and owned up.

[boswell]

My friends were in a seperate holding cell, I assume they did steal it and owned up.

 

Did the store link you all together in the end?

On the face of it the store involved probably think you were all an organised shoplifting gang.

I dont think there is much defence to fight against seeing as all three of you got caught, although as you say yours was accidental.

[kiptower]

just who put holding cell . are you saying the store had a holding cell or the police put you in a holding cell @ a police station ?????

 

private companys CANNOT HAVE A HOLDING CELL

[dilz621]

They said it's just 3 teens who acted stupidly and tried shoplifting. I'm just asking when to expect the letter from the RLP, and how much it is, and if possible is there anything to do about it.

[dilz621]

just who put holding cell . are you saying the store had a holding cell or the police put you in a holding cell @ a police station ?????

 

private companys CANNOT HAVE A HOLDING CELL

 

In the store, at the back they had rooms to search us.

[dilz621]

Also, they didn't take our parents names and numbers, and a friend of mine recently was caught shop lifting and he said he didn't recieve the notice or any fine.

[dilz621]

Is it possible to not recieve an RPL letter even though you got a notice? If the items taken were under £20, and then later on paid for is it possible to not get fined at all. And also, if we do get fined, how will the procedure take place, and do we have to sign anything?

[boswell]

There are a lot of ongoing debates regarding RLP both on CAG (here) and on this Link you could do with researching both for more information.

 

RLP Civil Recovery - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums

[sneaksms]

Ok, so you were with two mates, all of you pocketed stuff and walked out, and it just happens that your two mates were actually shoplifting and you weren't? Then you have another friend who was caught shop lifting?

 

Goodness.

[Button1]

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Edited March 29, 2010 by Button1

[Button1]

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Edited March 29, 2010 by Button1

[boswell]

I think there are 2 threads on the go here

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/retail-loss-prevention/243057-rpl-new-post.html

 

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/retail-loss-prevention/243057-rpl.html#post2712155

[maroondevo52]

Two threads merged, thanks for the 'heads up', boswell.

 

dilz621, please continue to post on this thread.

[dilz621]

Maroon, no threads are specified, and I the police werent involved. Does this mean I can still get a Criminal conviction? If I pay the fine, and leave it at that, is that the end of it? When should I be expecting the letter to arrive?

[kiptower]

you cannot get a criminal conviction if the police and criminal courts are not involved

 

it is not a fine its the typical RLP [problem] with threats to take you to a civil court, which there is no loss they can prove, they wont even try to take you to court

 

its a civil matter, they cannot demand you pay anything, unless they are stupid enough to take it to a civil court , and then they have to win ( you have already paid for the item, I hope you have the item because after paying for it , if they took it back its theft by them )

 

take a litle time to read other posts on RLP and you will see what they are really doing , there are investigation and MP's involved looking into RLP and others like them , to what they are doing including their so called register of "dishonest people" which their right under the DPA is being challenged to even have one,

 

some months back the building industry who had a similar secret database about workers, and got into a lot of hot water over it and it had to be destroyed, which is probably the same way RLP's register will go shortly

[dilz621]

I've had a look around, people are saying they'd rather pay the fine and some people have challenged it, but I would also like to find the info for my friends aswell. When should the letter arrive? The security guard in the shop said that because its minor items it wont be a lot of money, and secondly he said it will be about 6-7 months to arrive because I am 16, and they are 17. Just turned 17 this month. And my bday is not for another long time

[kiptower]

read everything I put above, and regarding the payment you made

 

if there was no police involved then they are not going to involve them now

 

ignore the waffle from the security staff , they live in fairytale land

[dilz621]

I have read it, ok it may not be a fine, but even if I do get the letter, and dont pay, they have to take me to civil court to get the money right? And because I reimbursed the money for the items(all of us did) then they cant demand we pay anything. If however, they do send a letter, what should I do? Thanks

[kiptower]

who has the item you paid for ? if they kept it they stole £18 from you thats theft, and you can take action against them

 

and yes your getting the idea now

 

and come back here if you get any toilet paper from RLP,

[dilz621]

I have the item now, they made sure they gave it to me before they let me go. If they do send a letter, ill be on here. Thanks a lot kip, you've given me some piece of mind

 

Just a final question, if I do get a letter, when should I expect it? And of course I dont have to pay, whats the chances of them taking action in civil court?

[kiptower]

civil action for what ? all the items were paid for by everyone ,

 

right final note , DONT do it again and tell your mates the same, next time the police may be involved and you all could land up with criminal records that will follow you for the rest of your lives,

 

all in all lets hope its a lesson learnt,

[Button1]

I have the item now, they made sure they gave it to me before they let me go. If they do send a letter, ill be on here. Thanks a lot kip, you've given me some piece of mind

 

Just a final question, if I do get a letter, when should I expect it? And of course I dont have to pay, whats the chances of them taking action in civil court?

 

diltz621, from my experience, RLP are pretty quick at sending out their letters, so if you are to receive one, it will be within a couple of days. Their 'normal' amount of money they request is usually anywhere between £70 - £135 (sorry to scare you with that, but just so you can know what to expect).

 

The chances of them taking you to court are absolutely zero, zilch, none!! You are under 18 so there is no way! And even if you were over 18, it's still slim to none! Are you able to confide in your parents about this?