RETAIL LOSS PREVENTION demand £750 civil recovery fees for alleged false timekeeping

[shabs100]

Hello Ladies and Gents,

 

I'm in a bit of a predicament with RLP.

 

I am 23 years old and was previously an employee at Boots T5 and have been fired (among other employees) due to arriving late (5-10 mins) and leaving early (under the authority of the supervisor/ team leader).

 

A couple of months later, I recieved a letter from RLP requesting over £700 in charges!

 

The cost breakbown of charges was as follows:

- £150 in recovery of time

- about £500 in recovery of staff time wasted, and

- about £100 in admin charges.

 

I am currently unemployed and in no way can I afford to pay for this. I am suffering from depression and am stumped at what my next course of action will be. After seeing this forum, I thought there may be a ray of hope.

 

Can someone please help.

[dx100uk]

load of cobbrers like the private parking invoices

there's nowt they can do to you ignore

 

read a few threads in this forum and you'll get the idea....

 

dx

[shabs100]

Thanks for your reply mate.

 

Thing is... I am currently a student and once graduated will hopefully be looking to apply for jobs.

 

If I ignore the letters which RLP send, firstly can they not take me to court and secondly, will this not affect me in trying to obtain a job in future.

 

Furthermore, if I were to write a letter to RLP to explain my situation, how would you suggest I structure it?

 

Looking forward to your reply.

[dx100uk]

no and no.

 

they are NOT the police

they have NO LEGAL POWERS

 

its just a fleecing [problem] .

 

do some reading in this forum

 

dx

[caledfwlch]

I would consider going to the Media. If I understand you right, RLP are trying to force you and others into paying nearly £1000 because their client Boots sacked you for being late with a managers approval.

 

I would have thought this would be a HUGE no no, where employment law etc is concerned.

[shabs100]

many thanks for your reply guys.

 

Believe it or not, in the interview prior to sacking, the interviewer said "if the team leader told you to start nicking money from the tills or stock from the shelves, would you begin to do so?"

 

On the topic of RLP, I think that i'll take your advice(s) and ignore RLP. However, what do I do if they continue to send letters with added interest?

 

Regards.

[ashmk]

Well just when you thought you had heard it all from the RLP muppets, this one comes along.

 

Shabs100, Keep the letters (and there will be more, each one getting scarier than the last) but simply put, ignor them all.

[caledfwlch]

many thanks for your reply guys.

 

Believe it or not, in the interview prior to sacking, the interviewer said "if the team leader told you to start nicking money from the tills or stock from the shelves, would you begin to do so?"

 

On the topic of RLP, I think that i'll take your advice(s) and ignore RLP. However, what do I do if they continue to send letters with added interest?

 

Regards.

 

Basically, ignore the letters.

 

Out of interest, was the manager dismissed too?

 

I really don't think this is something they will have much luck with, you cannot charge former staff for being late - if anything shouldnt such a payment have been deducted with your permission from final wage?

 

It might be interesting to fnd out whether RLP have added you to their "fraud" database, since you are not accused of such. It could be the straw to finally break them and their borderline illegal databases back.

 

What this suggests to me is so many people are ignoring RLP that they are getting desperate to bring in income by whatever means.

 

I suggest making a thread or asking a Mod to move this thread over to the employment section, to see what the employment experts think of this new tact.

[Zamzara]

Agree with all the above, especially about the database.

 

How long did you work there, and did they give proper notice and final pay etc?

[shabs100]

Basically, ignore the letters.

 

Out of interest, was the manager dismissed too?

 

I really don't think this is something they will have much luck with, you cannot charge former staff for being late - if anything shouldnt such a payment have been deducted with your permission from final wage?

 

It might be interesting to fnd out whether RLP have added you to their "fraud" database, since you are not accused of such. It could be the straw to finally break them and their borderline illegal databases back.

 

What this suggests to me is so many people are ignoring RLP that they are getting desperate to bring in income by whatever means.

 

I suggest making a thread or asking a Mod to move this thread over to the employment section, to see what the employment experts think of this new tact.

 

im not sure for certain, but I hear that he was.

 

If you don't mind me asking, how do I check if RLP have added me to their fraud database?

[shabs100]

Agree with all the above, especially about the database.

 

How long did you work there, and did they give proper notice and final pay etc?

 

I having been working the night shift there for about 4 years whilst a student (hence the reason I was late sometimes - when comnig to work from uni).. As mentioned earlier, I had an interview prior to dismissal but no warnings before that and no final pay.

[JonCris]

As this is an employment matter please explain why RLP think they can demand payment AND why should you go on their dishonest persons data base simply for being late?

 

PS make NO outright admissions on an open thread prefix your remarks with the term 'alleged' as in "it's been alleged that I" etc

[shabs100]

As this is an employment matter please explain why RLP think they can demand payment AND why should you go on their dishonest persons data base simply for being late?

 

PS make NO outright admissions on an open thread prefix your remarks with the term 'alleged' as in "it's been alleged that I" etc

 

many thanks and duly noted.

[JonCris]

Great but you still need to answer the question Why are RLP asking you for money?

[shabs100]

As mentioned earlier, the letter states that they are requesting money for the time which I was paid to but did not work; due to arriving late and leaving early. Boots equated this cost to be £150. To be honest, I don't see any reason reason that RLP can put me on their database of dishonesty. Please let me know if you need anything else.

 

Regards.

[Huff&Puff]

From the sound of it, I would have thought that you would have a very good chance of getting some money from them, if you were to take them to an employment tribunal

 

The idiots will be sending out invoices to customers for wearing out their floor next

[2Grumpy]

Unless you were working for RLP rather than Boots, I don't understand why RLP were asking you for money rather than Boots.

 

I don't believe that Boots would be able to recover money that they paid you just because you got there a bit late or left early, any more than they could for taking a cigarette or tea break, going to the lav or having a chat

 

You also say that there was no final pay - they should have paid you for work up to and including your final day (and possibly more such as notice period and holiday entitlement).

 

You might be entitled to your reason for dismissal in writing, along with any appeals procedure.

 

I think that you need to get things sorted with Boots, then look at RLP - probably by making a SAR

[shabs100]

Unless you were working for RLP rather than Boots, I don't understand why RLP were asking you for money rather than Boots.

 

I don't believe that Boots would be able to recover money that they paid you just because you got there a bit late or left early, any more than they could for taking a cigarette or tea break, going to the lav or having a chat

 

You also say that there was no final pay - they should have paid you for work up to and including your final day (and possibly more such as notice period and holiday entitlement).

 

You might be entitled to your reason for dismissal in writing, along with any appeals procedure.

 

I think that you need to get things sorted with Boots, then look at RLP - probably by making a SAR

 

Prior to dismissal, boots did give me an interview to defend my case (as mentioned in post #6) and to which I have a printed and signed transcript. In this interview boots alleged that arriving late and leaving early was like stealing from the company, hence the reason for dismissing me. During the course of this interview, as I did not want to lose the job (since it was part-time) I offered to pay back the money to boots which I allegedly "stole" (£150) to which they replied "this is a matter which can be dealt with at a later date".

 

- I guess giving the case to RLP was the way they supposedly dealt with it.

 

I have no problem paying back the £150 as I can somehow manage to scrounge that amount, but £700 is ridiculous. Being unemployed and having a student loan to yet pay off makes it hurt that much more!

[JonCris]

Prior to dismissal, boots did give me an interview to defend my case (as mentioned in post #6) and to which I have a printed and signed transcript. In this interview boots alleged that arriving late and leaving early was like stealing from the company, hence the reason for dismissing me. During the course of this interview, as I did not want to lose the job (since it was part-time) I offered to pay back the money to boots which I allegedly "stole" (£150) to which they replied "this is a matter which can be dealt with at a later date".

 

- I guess giving the case to RLP was the way they supposedly dealt with it.

 

I have no problem paying back the £150 as I can somehow manage to scrounge that amount, but £700 is ridiculous. Being unemployed and having a student loan to yet pay off makes it hurt that much more!

 

Coming to work late or leaving early IS NOT a criminal offence its an employment matter. "Its like stealing" I've never heard such nonsense which idiot said that? ............. AND don't pay anything.

 

The offer still stands

[shabs100]

Dear All,

 

I have now recieved my second letter from RLP. It states that the matter is now ready for proceedings being issued. "without Prejudice Save as to Costs, Offer to Settle Claim Pursuant to Part 36 Civil Procedure Rules 1998 (CPR)". They have now revised the sum of fine to £545. I now have 14 days to respond.

 

What do you guys think I should do? Any advice would be of great help and much appreciated.

[dx100uk]

it is not a FINE, it is a INVOICE.

 

Up to you-our advice on here has always been not to pay them and not to contact them

 

.....as you will have read in many many threads.

 

not ONE of these cases have ever gone to court.

 

your call, but i know what i would do!!

[2Grumpy]

It would be a very interesting case if they took you to court

 

This is an employment dispute. I don't think that you have done anything that they can sue you for.

 

On the other hand, if you did pay, they will presumably add your name to their nasty little database for admitting guilt.

 

Although normal advice is ignore them, I would consider writing back with a statement that you owe them nothing and a CPR request since they are threatening litigation... (or just a CPR request)

[MARTIN3030]

Does the letter actually state "fine" ?

[MARTIN3030]

 

The offer still stands

 

 

??????????

[rebel11]

Hi Shabs100

 

The logical thing would be to take this matter to an Employment Tribunal. This is down to a stupid HR person, who thinks this is a bright idea. If there are quite a few of you, then you can take group action.