Caught shoplifting in Sainsbury's, DWF letters - now Scott & Mears

[azzot]

I know, I'm awful for doing so and have now realised the extent of my actions. I got caught; they took me to a room where I gave my photo, name, address. They said to expect a letter for a fine in the next few days.

 

I am 18, in college currently with A-Levels coming up in the next month, and live with my mum who struggles with mental health. If she found out about this, it would break her and I could guarantee she would disassociate with me for a while. I am also autistic and didn't comprehend the extent of my actions until that moment.

 

I need to know: for anyone that has received the fine letter, once you pay the fine do they still take you to court? If I do get taken to court, how could I do so without my mum knowing? And is there any way to postpone the court date due to my A-Levels?

[honeybee13]

Hello, welcome to CAG.

 

Let's slow this down a bit as you're rushing ahead. It's almost guaranteed not to go to court and if you read around this forum you won't see anyone who's posted here has been to court.

 

The police weren't involved so there can't be any kind of penalty from them.

 

What you may get is a letter from a civil firm like Retail Loss Prevention or as it's Sainsbury's, it could be some lawyers called DWF, I think it is.

 

They can't do anything to do apart from write begging letters because only their client can take you to court. We don't know of a retailer who's done this over minor shoplifting since the Oxford case which is on here and it was a while ago.

 

There's only so much we can say to alleviate your concerns, you need have a read of plenty of threads here to see how this happens. You'll see there have been no court cases and if the OP hasn't come back to update their thread, you can only assume that no news is good news.

 

I suggest you book to see your GP to see if there's an underlying medical or mental reason for you doing this. They've heard it all and should be able to either prescribe something or tell you where you might get help.

 

Best, HB

 

 

[azzot]

Thanks for your reply

 

Thing is, I've done this about twice in the past month from the same store. They keep CCTV for 30 days. One of the people that helped detain me said he could tell I had done it before, and I stupidly said yeah I had out of shock in the moment.

 

I will definitely contact my GP now though, thanks. In the worst case scenario, should I use this consultation with my GP to make me less guilty in court? I'm seeing people that have taken little in value getting weeks or months in prison. And I know I wouldn't survive in there.

[honeybee13]

Well I wouldn't go back to that branch of Sainsbury's for a while. But you have to find a way to stop shoplifting because if you carry on things will get worse and someone might call the police in the end.

 

If you read my other reply, I've covered court already and said it's highly, highly unlikely. But you aren't going to see your GP for an alibi if you ever need one, it's to look after yourself and hopefully get to the bottom of why this happened.

 

HB

[FTMDave]

I see from your reported post that you wanted to contact someone in a similar situation - sadly that person has disappeared from CAG and hasn't reported back.

 

However, you can be sure they would have reported back if anything bad had happened.  The stores don't take people to court.  Simply avoid that Sainsbury's from now on.

[dx100uk]

wont ever goto court...can't!!

forget about it 

go see your GP.

just keep out of that store for a few months.

your worries are all false and based on old wives tales you gotten from somewhere.

 

On 04/05/2023 at 10:52, oncenor said:

I need to know: for anyone that has received the fine letter,

its not a fine and NO-ONE can FINE you.

as HB explained you'll get silly scam letters from either RLP or DWF.

totally ignore them

in fact its better you simply burn or shred them without reading them.

[azzot]

But just because people don't follow up doesn't mean its always good news. If it hasn't happened to you, why are you telling me to do this? How are you so confident in recommending this?

[dx100uk]

16yrs exp here

162k posts.

not one has gone to court nor anything else ever happened to anyone..

time to address the real reason for you doing it....its a cry for help.

go see your gp.....please.

dx

[Parks123]

Hi oncenor. I can hear the worry in your posts but please be assured by the advice on here. The likelihood of past cctv being trawled over is very slim as its not a good use of securitys time - well not for low level theft anyway. Different for large scale crime involving organised gangs. 
 

People who go to prison for shoplifting (seemingly minor amounts) are usually on licence for another more serious conviction and will usually have a large amount of offences to their name. It would not be financially viable to imprison someone for  a petty theft. The police weren't called when you were apprehended therefore the letters (if you get them) are not a fine as only a court can issue fines. Companies such as RLP etc are not the police, they are trying to use civil action to obtain money. They apparently take about 40% of the monies received and at the end of the day are a profit making business. 

 

I empathise with you but you are letting their scare tactics take over your logical thought. If you find the Liverpool case finding link on here (case from 10 years ago where a retailer took 2 shoplifters to court and retailer lost) and the Citizens Advice Bureau report "Uncivil Recovery" where they studied over 300 alleged shoplifting cases you will see a common thread. These are lengthy reads but well worth it for reassurance and im sure as an A level student you are used to lots of reading!

 

I have had 4 letters so far from RLP demanding money. The latest has reduced the amount demanded but I am determined not to pay or correspond due to their bully boy tactics and misleading legal speak. The letters do have their name printed clearly on the back of the envelope (not sure if other companies do the same) so anyone getting to the post first might easily google the company and see what it might be in connection with. As you are worried about your mum finding out can you have an excuse ready in case she gets the post? Maybe someone else has used your name and address, maybe it was a genuine mistake and security got heavy handed. 

 

The threats of court action are to scare you into paying. As others above have said its exceedingly unlikely it would go to court. 

 

Please try to read the docs I referred to above they are really useful.

 

Keep us updated and look after yourself.

 

 

[honeybee13]

The case was in Oxford by the way. 

 

HB

[Parks123]

honeybee - my apologies - not sure where I got Liverpool from! Thanks for the correction.

[azzot]

Does anyone know what a letter from DWF looks like, specifically whether or not it has their logo on the envelope? 
Would really help, so thanks in advance 

What does it look like on the outside?

Is the logo on the envelope?

[Parks123]

On back of envelope is clearly marked "If undelivered return to: Retail Loss Prevention Limited, PO Box 5413, Nottingham NG7 2 BJ"

No logo just Company name and address. Nothing on front to indicate company. 

[azzot]

Ah I see, you got the RLP letter but I’m waiting on the DWF letter to hide from others in the house aha, thanks anyway

[dx100uk]

threads merged. posts moved from another thread to here

please keep to your thread.

you would of heard by now if the scammers wanted to try and scam you.

 

dx

 

[azzot]

I swear i’ve heard some people have had to wait a month or over. I definitely think it’s coming

 

[dx100uk]

just type, no need to keep hitting quote.

 

and so what if a letter does come...bin it or give it to your hamster.

 

dx

 

[azzot]

Can I change my username to ‘azzot’ please

[AndyOrch]

done

[dx100uk]

open

 

[Parks123]

After 4 months of silence from RLP I get letter last week from a Scott & Mears debt recovery specialist.

Says client is "making one last effort in order to close this matter before deciding on whether to issue legal proceedings."

They give 3 options of payment (2 at a 75% reduction).

Said if i dont reply in 14 days the full amount is due and the "client reserves the right to issue legal proceedings for the full amount outstanding". 

This has got me a bit panicky so your advice would be much appreciated. Thank you. 

[dx100uk]

reserves the right to poss advise their client to go legal.

utter twaddle

ignore

there is nothing anyone to do.

dx

[Cheeky cheeky]

Any updates on this guys ?