RLP Letter Received

[TommyX]

Hi all, firstly thanks for a great forum.

I recently made an error when self - scanning at my local supermarket, whereby I followed my usual practice of placing a multiple purchase (in this case 8 bottles of beer) in my bag (which was on view in my trolley alongside all my other shopping), with the intention of scanning the last item x the number of items I was buying. This time, I got distracted & forgot to scan the beers, the total value of which was £10.

I paid for my shopping at the self - scanning till,& then left the store. You can, of course, easily guess what happened next.

The security staff called the duty manager (who I never saw in person), & told me that he told them to tell me that I was banned from using the self - scanning facility in the future. The beer was taken, presumably to be put back on the shelf. I explained that this was an honest mistake but the security staff, whilst polite, explained that this was 'fraud' & that I'd be liable for compensation to be paid by me for staff time etc. I again asked to see the duty manager but was told that he was 'about to have his lunch' & wouldn't see me.

I asked if I was banned from the store & was told no.

The dreaded letter from RLP has now arrived (redacted copy attached). I'm self - employed, & worried that RLP can name me in court etc or that I can damage my credit rating if I don't pay up. What are my options? I've never stolen anything in my life, & was a regular customer at this store. I did my main weekly family shop there for years, & for the sake of this they have lost my business forever, whatever happens re the RLP business.

Thanks in advance for your help, folks.

[Kati]

Re: RLP Letter Received

Hi Tommy ... welcome to LB

Have a look round the other threads in the RLP section of the forum to find out what to expect over the coming months, but the advice from the Beagles is to always ignore letters from RLP you actually get a county court claim form (highly unlikely).
You didn't take the goods, they were returned to the shelf in all probability. There was (as far as I understand) no police involvement, you were not charged with anything. RLP have a habit of sending these 'prospecting letters' and get stroppy if they do not get replies/payment but in all honesty they do not have a leg to stand on

K xx

[TommyX]

Re: RLP Letter Received

Hi Kati, thanks for your response

The other threads are reassuring, I think I might just need to fasten my safety belt for a bumpy ride, & also buy a bigger filing cabinet / waste paper basket.

The police weren't called...I asked if they were going to be & was told no.

I will keep you all posted re my experiences...it's awful that in this day & age companies like RLP can try to scare people into paying money, & even worse that household name companies can use them the way they do.

Thanks for the support, it's appreciated.

Tommy

[Kati]

Re: RLP Letter Received

Exactly :sad: I just wish that more people found their way onto forums like this when faced with companies such as RLP. I hate to think how many panic and pay up without finding out if there is even a claim to be made.

It would be better if the well known stores didn't advocate their charges tho' ... I mean, how can they charge for diverting the staff from their duties?? Aren't they PAID for doing it anyway?! And with no stock damaged or stolen they shouldn't be able to charge for that either!

[lozza]

Re: RLP Letter Received

Hi all, firstly thanks for a great forum.

I recently made an error when self - scanning at my local supermarket, whereby I followed my usual practice of placing a multiple purchase (in this case 8 bottles of beer) in my bag (which was on view in my trolley alongside all my other shopping), with the intention of scanning the last item x the number of items I was buying. This time, I got distracted & forgot to scan the beers, the total value of which was £10.

I paid for my shopping at the self - scanning till,& then left the store. You can, of course, easily guess what happened next.

The security staff called the duty manager (who I never saw in person), & told me that he told them to tell me that I was banned from using the self - scanning facility in the future. The beer was taken, presumably to be put back on the shelf. I explained that this was an honest mistake but the security staff, whilst polite, explained that this was 'fraud' & that I'd be liable for compensation to be paid by me for staff time etc. I again asked to see the duty manager but was told that he was 'about to have his lunch' & wouldn't see me.

I asked if I was banned from the store & was told no.

The dreaded letter from RLP has now arrived (redacted copy attached). I'm self - employed, & worried that RLP can name me in court etc or that I can damage my credit rating if I don't pay up. What are my options? I've never stolen anything in my life, & was a regular customer at this store. I did my main weekly family shop there for years, & for the sake of this they have lost my business forever, whatever happens re the RLP business.

Thanks in advance for your help, folks.

hi there
we had dealings with RLP too. THey are just a bunch of losers. Ignore them completely but if your really worried there is a template somewhere on here that you can send to them asking for full breakdowns of how they reached there "losses" that they want you to pay etc. We did it and they ignored it but carried on with demands for cash ...... bless em ! The amount went down each time until eventually they must have given up and thought I know lets give it to a debt collector to scare them into paying it. That did not work either. They must have moved on to the next poor soul in the hope that they will cave in. Just a bunch of bullys. Hope this helps settle your mind x

[wales01man]

Re: RLP Letter Received

Best way to deal with them surprised that any company uses them

[TommyX]

Re: RLP Letter Received

Hi Iozza, thanks for your reply, it was really helpful.

Based on what I've read on here, I've no intention of dignifying their letter with a response. Frankly, the more I read it the more it looks like bluster done up to look like something meant to look 'legal'. I'm not surprised people get frightened in to paying up.

A couple of questions I have are:

• the debt collector - is this just letters, or do they turn up in person? (looking at the other threads, it looks like a couple of scary letters & then they too go away)
• does the fact that RLP refer the 'debt' to debt collectors affect a person's credit rating?

These people really are as you say bullies. I hope this thread & website helps a few people to avoid their vile demands.

Regards,

Tommy

[des8]

Re: RLP Letter Received

1) I know of no cases where DCAs appointed by RLP turn up on doorstep.
If they should chance their luck. tell them politely to b****r off, and if they don't leave, phone plod and warn boys in blue a breach of the peace is likely to occur.
Debt collectors have no more power than you or I
2) no affect on your credit record, despite what RLP might huff & puff

[TommyX]

Re: RLP Letter Received

UPDATE - 2ND LETTER RECEIVED

Hi everyone

As expected, I received my second letter today (copy attached). As before, it's poorly worded & seemingly designed to frighten people into paying up to RLP's unsubstantiated demands for money.

Are there any changes to RLP's tactics on this one, or am I safe to ignore it as per the first attempt?

I hope this thread's of help to those being squeezed by RLP or others like them.

Thanks for any advice,

Tommy

[des8]

Re: RLP Letter Received

I do love RLP's drivel.
Just two examples: their client is "a victim of crime" and the options open to you at the end of the letter omit the most important: "IGNORE, IGNORE and IGNORE SOME MORE!

[Kati]

Re: RLP Letter Received

definitely agree with [MENTION=39710]des8[/MENTION]'s advice

[Amethyst]

Re: RLP Letter Received

Thought they weren't allowed to use the ACPO stuff any more?

[des8]

Re: RLP Letter Received

Their wording is somewhat prevaricating

Edit: From Hansard. 22nd March 2011:

The company has also clearly misrepresented the position. Until last November, RLP’s website stated that “we have established operating procedures for Civil Recovery and agreed guidelines with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland (ACPOS)”.
However, in October last year, the assistant chief constable who leads on retail crime for ACPO wrote to Jackie Lambert at RLP stating:
“Whilst there may have been agreements in the past about exchanging data and operating civil recovery with ACPO…there are no such agreements in place now and indeed on several occasions over the last few years I and my colleagues have asked that such references be deleted. Please remove from your website any and all references which state or imply that RLP operates its civil recovery in agreement or cooperation with the Police Service. Clearly if you have an agreement with an individual force you could make reference to that, but I know of none.”
In November 2013, ACPOS are reported as saying:
“At no time have ACPOS entered into any formal agreement with RLP or assisted them in any civil recovery”.

[wales01man]

Re: RLP Letter Received

alleged Crime? innocent till found guilty in a court of law not by a moron security guard and a company demanding money

[TommyX]

Re: RLP Letter Received

Thanks all for your replies.

I particularly smiled at the part which says our staff are professional and non judgmental. Even with my (clearly) very limited experience of this, it's obvious that the worst thing to do would be to speak to RLP - that will simply encourage them to apply verbal as well as written pressure to pay. The ACPO element of the letter is designed, without saying anything substantial, to scare people into assuming that some kind of police action may result from non - payment.

14 days or thereabouts to go until the next letter. I'll keep you all informed.

Cheers,

Tommy.