DWF letter from Sainsbury's incident.

[DuBigMan]

Long story short, I forgot to scan a couple of steaks in my trolley of £120ish worth of shopping and they beeped when leaving the store and got treated like a criminal and name taken and photo taken and banned from Sainsbury's nationwide (apparently) which I don't mind as I would not be using them again after such treatment. No police involvement.

I today got a letter from DWF asking for £200 for security costs, including the £13.01 the steaks came to. Is the advice as I have seen on other threads still to just ignore??

Some of the threads are years old and thought maybe they were more harsh with shoplifting being such a common thing these days due to our terrible society and cost of living?

Also do their stores use facial recognition and do they pass information like my photo to other stores so I am also banned from those like Tesco and budgens etc.. if they all use facewatch the facial recognition firm?


Also is it possible if you don't pay this that they can contact the police and upgrade it to a criminal matter?

It was an honest mistake, but I didn't bother trying to explain to security as I could tell they weren't interested.

Thanks in advance for any advice. I'm planning on ignoring these letters just wanted reassurance I guess.

[echat11]

Hi DUBIGMAN

Welcome to LB

It seems to be a mistake (especially when you know other people are waiting), there is no loss, they
have no loss to claim and there are no costs. They budget for their security costs in their business model.
So they will send letters, each one more and more demanding. They need to justify any loss. If they send
a letter before action flag it up on this thread. You should be fine going to other retailers.

[DuBigMan]

So is it basically just a scam?

The letter honestly looks very much like a scam to me and their online link to pay looks very untrustworthy, not that I am going to pay it anyway, but it all just looks very much like a scam.

I will update this thread when I get new more threatening letters. So far I just got the first one saying I have to pay security costs or they can take legal action etc..

The main thing I was worried about was going to other stores and potentially them also banning me because my face is on some kind of watchlist that I've read threads about before.

[echat11]

In so far as, they have no losses that they can claim, yes. They need to provide a breakdown of their actual losses.
Security costs would be built into their 'business model', it would be a different matter, if they contracted security to deal
with your 'situation'. Then they can say, we hired XXXXXXX Ltd to stop Mr. XXXXXX leaving with our goods (allegedly),
it cost us £XXX to hire XXXXXXX Ltd. But there are lots of other things.

If you go in another store, they stop you, you simply explain what happened. Then ask for details of their complaints
department. Then lodge complaint.

[DuBigMan]

I'll keep this thread updated when I get new letters. So the advice is to just ignore and it goes away?

[echat11]

I'll keep this thread updated when I get new letters. So the advice is to just ignore and it goes away?

Yes, update when you get letters.

[DuBigMan]

Got second letter today, just a demand for payment in 14 days. Really seems like a complete scam lol.

The advice I take it is to still ignore?

The letter is even entitled to dear sir/madam so how could they possibly be trying to make me pay a fine and they don't even know haha.

[echat11]

Got second letter today, just a demand for payment in 14 days. Really seems like a complete scam lol.

The advice I take it is to still ignore?

The letter is even entitled to dear sir/madam so how could they possibly be trying to make me pay a fine and they don't even know haha.

Yep, no doubt they will send a few more.

[DuBigMan]

I will update when I get others.

Why do they just eventually give up then if I may ask? Because it is completely groundless?

[echat11]

I will update when I get others.

Why do they just eventually give up then if I may ask? Because it is completely groundless?

They would have 'difficulties' justifying actual losses, the claimed losses can be found in their 'business model'.

Similar cases have gone to Court where other entities bringing such cases have lost.

As I say, if people are 'struggling', there is help out there, they can and should contact their Council / MP.

[DuBigMan]

Third letter arrived today, saying the same as the last pretty much, "if you pay now, no further action will be taken otherwise we MAY commence court proceedings" etc..

The advice is still to ignore, I take it?

[echat11]

Third letter arrived today, saying the same as the last pretty much, "if you pay now, no further action will be taken otherwise we MAY commence court proceedings" etc..

The advice is still to ignore, I take it?

Yes, exactly that.

[Xtasy]

Do you have an update to this? Anymore letters?

[Xtasy]

Do you have an update to this? Anymore letters?

[echat11]

Do you have an update to this? Anymore letters?

Start a thread, we can provide advice.