RLP civil recovery notice: Unsure what to do??

[TG2004]

I've felt very ashamed to post on here but I'm really starting to worry about this whole ordeal I need some advice. I'm a college student and was caught trying to steal an item from the range worth £2. I seriously don't know why I did it, the entire time I was considering paying. Outside the store I got stopped by a security guy who took my name, address, date of birth and asked to take a photo of me and said that I wouldn't ever be allowed back in the store else it will be trespassing. He recovered the item and I was told nothing more was going to come of it, just to stay out of the store. Two weeks on I revieved a civil revoery letter from RLP demanding a payment of £99.50. I've been reading up on threads where people say don't pay vs do pay. I don't want a criminal record, the guy said no police will be notified and it won't go on my record as long as I pay. It was a stupid mistake and I feel so upset with myself from now on. I probably will pay the fine but if they're just scared tactics I'd rather not pay upwards £100 just for a stupid mistake. I'm just so scared and any advice would be really great.

[echat11]

Hi TG2004

First thing calm down,if you get anxious about this, distract yourself, listen to music etc.

Don't pay a penny, it's a speculative invoice with no breakdown. If you receive anymore letters from RLP, spend 30 seconds reading them or 15 seconds if you can speed read, then file it, make some tea and continue with your day. Nothing is going to happen to you. Just update the thread, when or if they send you any further letters.

[MIKE770]

they lost a big court case so that tells you all, they have not lost monies due to this as people get paid salary not incentives. no criminal record whoever put that on a site has very little knowledge.

[TG2004]

Thanks to both of you, your advice is really appreciated x.
Ill try to calm down about the situation, but it's difficult as I have anxiety issues in the day to day basis...
If anything new comes in the mail ill be sure to let the thread know.

[TG2004]

Hi TG2004

First thing calm down,if you get anxious about this, distract yourself, listen to music etc.

Don't pay a penny, it's a speculative invoice with no breakdown. If you receive any more letters from RLP, spend 30 seconds reading them or 15 seconds if you can speed read, then file it, make some tea and continue with your day. Nothing is going to happen to you. Just update the thread, when or if they send you any further letters.

I've received another letter in the post regarding the previously mentioned case and am again rather anxious about the whole situation.

It states that I 'haven't disputed the claim or provided any information that contradicts the facts that we have been given and that if I don't settle the payment within 14 days of today, then 'regrettably we must advise our client that it is now in a position to issue proceedings against you if it chooses'.

Does this mean after 14 days the police or court will be brought into the issue? Will i face a criminal record or an even bigger fine than the initial £100? I'm in the middle of my exams at the moment and can't risk anything like that. Any advice would be really appreciated. Looking through other threads of RLP letters, it seems they skipped over the second standardised letter right to the third, does that mean anything?

I'm also worried about them sharing my information? I work in customer service and am worried that RLP will share my information either getting me fired or preventing me from getting a job in customer service again. I received a banning order from the shop last week.

[des8]

Calm down

The police will not be involved. There will be no criminal record
They will not share your information with anyone (if they do it will probably be a breach of GDPR)

The "fine" is not a fine.
It is an invoice for some dreamt up costs.

I find it funny thay RLP who are supposed to be the leading (un)civil recovery company have to resort to threatening to return the case to the retailer BECAUSE THEY CAN'T COLLECT..
Last time a company took admitted shoplifters to court to recover their "costs" they lost and have never been back. You can read the judgment here:
https://legalbeagles.info/forums/for...gment-09-05-12

Just ignore the letters (which you can read here before you receive them :https://legalbeagles.info/forums/for...rs-rlp-and-dwf

[echat11]

100% as DES8 has stated, concentrate on your exams, nothing else. Good luck with them.

[MIKE770]

the silly billies lying letter, they still cry when court threw out their claims,

[TG2004]

Hello again,

I just received my third letter in the post from RLP, and while I’m not freaking out over it like the last two occasions I thought to keep the post up to date anyway.

the third letter essentially repeats the last two, but offers a settlement offer of around 20 pounds less. It gives me three weeks before they take the case back to the retailer, I still don’t think that paying the settlement offer is in my best interest so will not be doing so.

I’ll attach pictures of the letters too since I didn’t know you could do that before and they may be helpful for someone in my situation. Many thanks again to everyone involved in my post, you are all very helpful

[des8]

Thanks for the update and the copy letters

[Jess789]

Hi, I have also recently received a letter from the RLP around a month ago now and I’m currently waiting for my second, my plan is to just ignore the letters but I was just wondering have you heard anything else regarding RLP or have they sent anymore letters or have they gave up? Thanks in advance

[MIKE770]

Correct ignore bless them maybe worry for them they lose outright in court

[TG2004]

Good morning,

I know this thread has been quiet for the past months as I haven’t received any more letters regarding the matter, however I today have received another letter.

this time it’s from a debt collection agency, Scott and Mears to be specific, and it details the same stuff I believe is seen on all these types of letters: that I haven’t disputed the case and as such it has been transferred to them and I now owe them the original sum.

would advice still be to ignore any letters? I haven’t seen any other posts receive letters from Scott and Mears, are they an agency I should respond to? My nerves has settled and I thought RLP had given up on the matter, but clearly I was wrong.

Advice is appreciated,
many thanks.

[des8]

It always amazes me that a specialist recovery firm like RLP will farm out an uncollectable non existent debt to a firm of debt collectors, who have even less authority
If it was I, I would ignoring S&M as well.
All they can do is send threatening unsettling letters and eventually tell RLP "we have successfully collected zilch"

[Jamesyoung]

Can you please update me I got my first letter today I’m worried