Banned from M&S

[des8]

Well each to their own, but in the UK we have systems of law administered by the courts.
If you think self appointed jury and judges (in other words vigilantes) who can levy punishments without any checks is ok, I for one will disagree with you.
You did something which was wrong.
You have repented of it, the victim (M&S) suffered no loss, but you have suffered stress.
If M&S feel they have a case to take to the courts, let them.
The fact they don't does not give a third party the right to intimidate the offender into paying dreamt up excessive charges.
I regard their actions as more reprehensible than yours, as they prey on the vulnerable

[Lucy1289]

des8 Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions, I just want to put an end to this, and paying this so called ‘charge’ seemed like the way to do it. I don’t want to steer anything now, of course not. Drydensfair are debt collectors though aren’t they, and I had just finished watching ‘can’t pay, well take it away’ when I came back on here to write to you as I was really scared that they will escalate my case if the charge isn’t paid. Of course I’ve not even been sent a letter yet but I didn’t want an admin mistake or overweight on their part to turn into something bigger than it should be

[des8]

Yes, Drydens are a firm of solicitors, who also act as debt collectors.
This makes their actions operating as "civil recovery agents" even more distasteful, as those apprehended whilst shoplifting are not debtors.
If goods have been recovered in a saleable condition there has been no loss for them to recover.
Drydens cannot "escalate" the matter,
All that they can do is to send threatening letters and if that doesn't work recommend their client (M&S) take court action.
However because these sorts of claims have been successfully disputed in court, they no longer do this, besides which they can never recover the true cost of processing their claims

[ostell]

They have lost nothing, they recovered all the goods from you. Why should they profit from your misdeeds? What authority have a firm of solicitors to fine you?

There is nothing that they can do now, apart from write letters and they haven't even bothered to do that.

[2222]

des8 Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions, I just want to put an end to this, and paying this so called ‘charge’ seemed like the way to do it. I don’t want to steer anything now, of course not. Drydensfair are debt collectors though aren’t they, and I had just finished watching ‘can’t pay, well take it away’ when I came back on here to write to you as I was really scared that they will escalate my case if the charge isn’t paid. Of course I’ve not even been sent a letter yet but I didn’t want an admin mistake or overweight on their part to turn into something bigger than it should be

Lucy, if you feel you must make amends, which is very good of you, send a donation to charity. Dryden is not a charity!

[Lucy1289]

hi and welcome.

as already advised, it is not a fine.
You will be sent a speculative invoice for probably something in the region of £150.
Please don't pay it 'cos all it does is to fund their vigilante style of injustice.

Really your parents should not be opening your mail, so why not tell them to cease that practice and respect your privacy

On the other hand why not confide in your parents.
You are an adult, admit an error.... embarrassing for a short while, but it is a tiny offence.
Then you can ignore the letters.

Regarding going back into M&S:
If you do go back and they spot you, all they can do is ask you to leave.
If however whilst there you are tempted to remove some goods without paying, you could be charged with burglary (so don't do it)
Fill your car at other petrol stations.
I believe some if not all M&S stores use facial recognition software, so you are quite likely to be noticed

Undoubtedly Drydens will eventually get round to sending their begging letter, but not possible to say when.
I would not think it worthwhile writing to M&S to lift their ban just yet

thank you des8 and everyone else who posted on this thread, I am so grateful for this website.
Previously you said you believe M&S use facial recognition software ... where did you hear this? I walked into one today as my friend dragged me (as scared as I was, I went in and nothing happened thank god). Not sure if this would prove that they aren't using facial recognition or whether I was just lucky. How would it work anyway, would a security person need to stay at the back to watch all the cameras in the store, do they beep or flash red when it identifies someone? Have they got a picture of my face on their wall?

once again I am so so grateful that this website exists and I can post stuff on here and that so many people are willing to help me find the answers I am looking for. Many thanks

[Amethyst]

I'd expect your picture is in a database and the facial recognition software alerts when it gets a match. They'd need a bloody big wall to stick all the minor shoplifting 'suspects' on otherwise. They're bringing in facial recognition to help self serve tills verify age etc without needing human intervention so it really wouldn't surprise me if it was in use on general CCTV in stores. M&S seem to have been involved in funding research and Facial Recognition projects so it'd be more suprising if they didn't have it in some form tbh.

You could always send a Subject Access Request to M&S to find out exactly what info they are holding about you.... you never know, the security bloke might just have binned everything as you left the room.

Start point for a SAR letter -> Subject Access Request Letter

[des8]

I think it was a comment in a survey report by an IT services company, which I can't now locate.
Not all stores operate the system.
Basically CCTV cameras scan peoples faces as they enter the store, and automatically check them against their data base.
In less than a second security staff could be alerted (but only if the system is being monitored)
.

[Amethyst]

Someone who has been receiving letters from another Civil Recovery Company has posted this morning as reassurance - https://legalbeagles.info/forums/for...-rlpfine/page2

You don't actually have any letters/demands I know, but might help you see you're not on your own being stressed to heck with this kind of situation - and it does get better !

[Worried 55]

Hi Lucy I also did something stupid and reckless .Amethyst copied you into my post.I like you will never do it again but was also worried that the police would be in touch.My husband was in Morrison's this week when a man was caught stealing two bottles of Jack Daniels.The manager took them back and let him go .My husband asked why they didn't call the police. The assistant said that the police simply don't have the resource and wouldn't get involved unless stolen items were over the value of £100.I had been worrying myself sick that I'd been summoned to the station for £10.I think that the mental suffering we have endured is punishment and lining these companies pockets is a different issue. If Superdrug had fined me on the spot I would have paid but won't pay RLP as a matter of principal

[MIKE770]

no store can Fine anybody, they are not in a position to = end of.

[Lucy1289]

I'd expect your picture is in a database and the facial recognition software alerts when it gets a match. They'd need a bloody big wall to stick all the minor shoplifting 'suspects' on otherwise. They're bringing in facial recognition to help self serve tills verify age etc without needing human intervention so it really wouldn't surprise me if it was in use on general CCTV in stores. M&S seem to have been involved in funding research and Facial Recognition projects so it'd be more suprising if they didn't have it in some form tbh.

You could always send a Subject Access Request to M&S to find out exactly what info they are holding about you.... you never know, the security bloke might just have binned everything as you left the room.

Start point for a SAR letter -> Subject Access Request Letter

that's actually really scary what you said about facial recognition ... I know that they'll be introducing facial recognition on tills but just like the facial recognition we have in airports ..you have to look closely into the camera so that the camera can scan your eyes and face before the system matches your face to a picture. The CCTV cameras they have in store are not able to scan people's eyes unless you look up at them which no one ever does right?... if I walk into the store wearing a fluffy hat, make up, or big sunglasses how will the CCTV camera be able to detect my face ... I can't imagine a team of security sitting at the back checking every single face in the store. They might do if they see someone acting suspicious or about to steal something, or someone they know very well (i.e a person who has been caught time after time) and I will never be that person as I have no intention of ever doing anything stupid like that and this was the first time I was caught.

[MIKE770]

lesson learned move on and put it in the past:-

[Lucy1289]

lesson learned move on and put it in the past:-

Yes definitely learned a lot from this, thank you Mike.

Just one more thing ... could I ask for your opinion on why I haven't been sent a letter yet 9 weeks after it happened though as I am still a bit confused by that. Do you think they will send one a bit later on, or why haven't they taken the same course of action they do with cases like mine?

[MIKE770]

unusual if not anyway, if they let us know on here, doubt after this length of time.