Hello Everyone!

[Maisy]

Hi Everyone, I'm very nervous and panic stricken!

Was recently accused of shoplifting, was banned and made to sign statement saying so.
Police were already there, so were not called for me. Item was recovered. I explained that it was a genuine mistake but didn't go into details, (was unwell on a mixture of prescription meds, opiate variety, distracted etc). Now expecting a letter from RLP, what do I do. Have done A LOT of reading on it for past few days and my main concern is it affecting my employment prospects and credit rating as I am a single parent. There are conflicting views it seems and would like a definitve, (if poss) answer on worst/best case scenario. If I have to pay to make it go away I will. I can offer more detail if needed, am just weary of how much I say as I have read RLP read these forums. Please if anyone is willing to help me I will be eternally grateful.

[Amethyst]

Re: Hello Everyone!

The billing by RLP can not affect your credit file nor your employment prospects, so don't worry about that. The only way it could possibly affect you would be if they took you to court and won and you ended up with a CCJ, and the chances of that happening are virtually nil.

Were you charged by the police at all ?

[nemesis45]

Re: Hello Everyone!

Hi Maisy,
RLP is a speculative scam, clearly the store has suffered no loss it seems.
What exactly was said at the store?

[des8]

Re: Hello Everyone!

We often hear from people who are having dealings with RLP.
The best advice is to ignore them.
They will send increasingly scarier letters, some may even be written with coloured pens.
Never since the Oxford case ( http://www.legalbeagles.info/forums/...h-and-the-lies) have RLP been reported as going to court.
In your case the store have suffered no loss, as presumably their goods were recovered in a saleable condition and their security costs would have been incurred whether or not you visited the store.
Obviously if you do receive official court papers do not ignore them and we will help formulate your defence. Most unlikely to happen.

PS they seem to pursue these matters for about 8 months before giving up.

[Maisy]

Re: Hello Everyone!

Thank you, so much for your speedy reply. No I was not charged or cautioned, the Police did a background check which he concurred I had been honest about. All he said is that it would remain on their files in case a similar incident ever happened again, which it won't.

[des8]

Re: Hello Everyone!

Not all retailers employ RLP, so you might not hear anything anyway!

[Maisy]

Re: Hello Everyone!

Hey there, from what I can remember I was banned for a year and asked to sign something agreeing to it. I couldn't take much in of what I was signing but I remember saying that I couldn't see the time span, to which the female employee said it was a year and that was that. I felt pressured to sign as the police was there and I didn't want to be arrested. I was given a piece of paper that had RLP stuff printed on it. It was explained that they would contact me and pursue the cost of the goods and £137. The police said that no further action would be taken, although it would be kept on their files for reference...

[Maisy]

Re: Hello Everyone!

So just to be clear, there would be no need for me to contact CAB as soon as the first letter arrives or anything like that?

[Maisy]

Re: Hello Everyone!

Also it does feel as though RLP may contact the store who may issue a lifetime ban or ban me from all their stores. Has anyone ever heard of this happening? Or does it depend on which store it is?

[des8]

Re: Hello Everyone!

Please don't worry about this at all.
RLP will just send a series of scary letters and threats.
And how pray will they enforce a country wide store ban?
And come to that why would you want to shop in a store that treats its customers with threats from RLP?

[Amethyst]

Re: Hello Everyone!

Sometimes it happens but not at the instigation of RLP, the stores sometimes issue bans themselves, they would have done that while you were there though.

You can contact CAB - it would be interesting to hear their take on RLP's activities these days, but I think they are on the same wavelength as us. They've had quite a lot of dealings with RLP - see attached document and news story -> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18595023

Also have a look at the BIS guidance on misleading practices -> http://www.legalbeagles.info/forums/...s-BIS-GUIDANCE

Hopefully that will put your mind at rest a little

As the others have said you will receive more letters and they will sounds quite scary - just come tell us, and if you possibly can photograph and upload copies of them (removing your name and identifying details first ) - I'll find some examples for you so you know what to expect.

[Amethyst]

Re: Hello Everyone!

[Maisy]

Re: Hello Everyone!

Please don't worry about this at all.
RLP will just send a series of scary letters and threats.
And how pray will they enforce a country wide store ban?
And come to that why would you want to shop in a store that treats its customers with threats from RLP?

Apologies if my questions appear irrational, I guess I am just anxious as I am a frequent sufferer of panic attacks and can't seem to stop the flurry of endless possibilities that might ensue. Also your quite right about actually wanting to shop their again in any case.

[Maisy]

Re: Hello Everyone!

Is it worth mentioning that the officer at the time 'witnessed' the entire event on camera, does it work in my favour that despite being as he phrased "suspicious", he did not arrest me. Forgive me but the fact that something is highly unlikely does not mean that it is impossible does it? What if I am the exception to the rule? Thanks in advance.

[des8]

Re: Hello Everyone!

No ..... nothing is impossible but...
re the police you were not arrested, not charged with anything, not given a caution.... so no worries there
re the store a) at the time of the incident you were under the influence of prescription drugs
b)the store lost nothing as the item was recovered in a saleable condition
re RLP, they are nothing but scammers and should be ignored. They will write ever more scarier letters, threatening all sorts of action, written in spurious legalese language trying to recover imagined costs and losses which they will falsely attribute to you. You need only to read the court case referred to earlier to see how the courts react. Their business plan is to frighten people into paying by stressing them.

As Amethyst suggested, when you receive their first letter post it up here and come back for reassurance.

For it to affect your credit rating the store/RLP will have to sue you for their losses (which they don't do)
You would have to lose in court (for you to lose would be difficult viewing your condition at the time, their lack of loss and the spurious nature of their expenses claim)
You would then have to fail to pay any award the court made.
A long long way to go before your credit rating is affected