RLP - The Classic What To Do

[sillygirl95]

Hi all,

I’m new here and I’ve started this thread to get some advice. I’ve seen multiple threads about this but I wanyed to start my own, as a lot of them seem to end and I can never find out how it all finished.

I did a silly like many people do. I was caught stealing a couple of lipsticks from Boots. The security guard led me to the back room where I got a bollocking of a life time. I know I was in the wrong but the way I was treated was appauling. The guard threatened to call my work and get me fired (I work for the NHS) and he accused me of stealing the clothes I was wearing. It started to become a nasty habit when I got into debt, and as much as I hated it I am glad it happened, as it taught me a lesson and snapped me out of my awful silly behaviour. I feel very guilty and down about myself, but this seems to be a place of non-jusgement which is why I’ve decided to seek some advice.

I’ve been banned from my Boots for 2 years and was told I would receive a fine in the post. This all happened last week and I received my first letter yesterday. It’s from RLP and I’ve been told to pay a fine of £150, however after reading many threads it all seems to be a load of rybbish. But, like many, I’m terrified. I want this all behind me and to be done with it. So should I pay? Ignore? Boots recovered the goods and they were in sellable condition, and the police weren’t contacted.

I also had goods from TK Maxx and Primark but was never banned from there and have since been in those stores to buy goods and all has been fine. The threats the security guard threw at me seem to be empty regarding trying to get me banned from these stores. Nobody kicked me out and I purchased my items like anyone else.

Any help guys? What do I do? Sorry about the lengthy post, but I wanted to get everything out. It feels good to vomit it all out onto the internet.

I also apologise for poor spelling - it’s hard for me to type on this phone as the format is very peculiar.

Any help would be much appreciated! I may seem level headed typing but I am terrified!

[Kati]

RLP cannot take you to court and the 'fine' is basically just a speculative invoice. The store got the goods back in a saleable condition and the security staff were just doing the job they are paid to do anyway so there's no loss.

Just ignore the letters from RLP xx

[des8]

Hi there and welcome.

You already know what advice you will receive: IGNORE the letters
Don't go back to that Boots for a little while,

Nothing else will happen except you will get a series of letters demanding and threatening all sorts of things, and then they will cease.
Simple!

[sillygirl95]

Ah okay. Thank you guys! I know these posts are littered everywhere but the worry is insane!

Thank you again - I’ll keep y’all posted about the letters and how quick they come!

[MIKE770]

A Fine??? they cannot fine anybody in any way, only a court could, and them going to court, Nooooooooooooo they lost hands down tryng that one

[sillygirl95]

Ah okay! The letter itself made no sense. Talking about it’s compensation for the time I’ve used up and all this.

It then has one random line about how they understand people go through tough times - very odd.

Why do these retail companies use these people? Sorry, I’m very new to all of this and even though this will never happen again, I want to get all the info I can.

I was going to call the CAB but I’ve heard their advice isn’t exactly 10/10

[MIKE770]

CAB? pick me up off the floor

[Amethyst]

CAB did used to have strong feelings about the issue with RLP, and in fact produced a report ( Uncivil Recovery ) and assisted two girls defend against RLP ( well the retailer) in court, and won. But the ensuing nastiness and threats of defamation etc appear to have worried CAB and I've heard reports back of them advising people to just pay the speculative invoices. WHich is quite strange IMO... but if you do get an appt with them, it'd be interesting to see their current thoughts on the issue.

You mention debt issues - so it might be worth chatting through anything else with CAB too ... if you can get the debt sorted out so you're in control of things, you might feel less inclined to shoplift ( I know you have had a kick up the bum with the Boots incident, but there are underlying issues, so while you're in panic mode it is worth looking at your entire situation so you won't regress xxx )

This is CABs report
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ab...ivil-recovery/

Did you already read the Oxford Judgment ? Info here http://legalbeagles.info/forums/foru...h-and-the-lies

[sillygirl95]

Ooh thank you for that!

I’m actually undergoing CBT to work through problems and poor habits (this being one of them, but not a common ine).

My debt has also thankfully been sorted through a family member getting a huge tax rebate and giving me a share! - It’ not too much money but for someone my age it seems very daunting.

Things are looking up this end, so you can imagine how something like this rattled me.

Thank you so much for your advise!

[sillygirl95]

By common one I meant one I didn’t do a lot! But I recognise how bad it is, and I’m happy to working through things and getting my life sorted

Sorry I just wanted to clarify, hahaha!

[sillygirl95]

Hey guys!

2 days I got another letter from them saying Primark are now wanting £150 from me?! I didn’t even have any contact with them? (They also misspelled my name and gave me the wrong title)

And today I got my second letter from the Boots ‘claum.’ Just wanted to keep y’all updated

[sillygirl95]

Should I still ignore this? I’m starting to worry again! This is so stressful

[des8]

Oh yes.. definitely ignore.
They'll send you a whole series of letters: you can paper the walls of the smallest room with them.
But do ignore them

[redhipp]

hello a couple of days ago i stole something from primark and boots but was caught in primark. it was stupid to do i know but it’s happened. i got told i can’t go into any boots stores but wasn’t told if this was permanent or temporary. i don’t have a ban for primark because they didn’t say so but if i wanted to go back into boots for example where they say “i’m banned” does that mean i literally can’t walk in and would be approached to leave or after a few months i could actually go in and purchase items? i’m just a bit confused that’s all


another issue i have is that i gave my home address where i currently am away from but i’m worried my parents will open it. do the letters have obvious RLP logos on it or are they blank?*




thank you
*

[des8]

Just avoid the Boots branch for a few months.
Depending on its size (small town store or large store) will depend on the chances of you being recognised.
If Recognised all they can do is ask you to leave (as long as you are not doing anything illegal!)

RLP's letters sometimes carry a small logo.
Is there an address to which you can have your post redirected for say 6 months?