Court threats from Civil Recovery Solutions (after several exchanges)

[slimsloane]

Hello and good evening all, precursor... I've read most threads here and understand the general consensus to IGNORE.

I'd appreciate guidance on my final action here. Do I respond by rejecting their response (with why?) and assume they won't progress to court, do I counter? Or perhaps just ignore?

Surely given precedent, and for such low cost it makes no sense whatsoever to take this to court. Unless they were to win and have me pay their fees?

Headlines are:

• Incident: On 24th July 2024, I accidentally failed to scan an item an orange DIY store. Civil Recovery Solutions, accused me of theft and sent a letter demanding compensation under the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977.
• My Initial Response: I explained that the incident was a genuine mistake and highlighted that I am a frequent shopper at said store. I questioned the claim's validity since the item was recovered without damage and requested a detailed “schedule of loss,” as there seemed to be no real financial loss.
• Their Claim Details: Civil Recovery Solutions claimed £118.94, broken down into £25.58 for security, £70.17 for management, and £23.19 for administration. They offered to settle for a reduced amount of £95.15.
• My Counter-Offer: I proposed settling by paying only the £23.19 administration fee, arguing that the other charges were excessive. I referenced court precedents suggesting that claims for staff time are not recoverable unless staff were significantly diverted from their usual duties, which did not appear to be the case here.
• Their Rejection: They rejected my offer and maintained their full claim, stating that they would provide full documentation if the matter went further. They cited the Civil Procedure Rules 1998, emphasising the importance of resolving the issue without court action but warned that they might pursue legal proceedings if necessary.

Happy to upload this letter.

Advice appreciated