Should I pay to RLP?

[James101]

Hello Everyone

I'd like to start by stating that I'm very ashamed of this disgusting act of theft and that would never do it again. To cut the story short, I was an employee at a major retail store. A gift card was left at the till which still had funds on it, I took this card (absolutely disgusted by this) and the next day used it to purchase an item. I was off work for a month on holiday after this, however as soon a I returned to work, I was approached by security, had a meeting with manager and was dismissed for gross misconduct. I was told that the customer who owned the gift card phoned up to say that she did not receive her card back after making a transaction and that funds were still on the card. The customer was awarded the funds from the store.

Considering that I have used the funds on the gift card (£10) for my own selfish use, and the customer was awarded the same amount of funds as she did not receive the gift card back, this means the company lost a total of £20.

I have now received a letter from RLP stating that I owe the retailed around £200 in for the costs of the time investigating, detecting and dealing with the matter, including administrative and equipment costs.

So here is my question, do I pay RLP or ignore their letter and hope that the retailer don't take me to court?

Many many thanks in advance!!

[DirtySmurf]

Re: Should I pay to RLP?

If you do a search on the forum you will find the general consensus is ignore these letters from RLP they have no legal right or standing and are nothing but intimidation letters designed to coerce you into paying. I am sure one of the beagles will be along shortly to put your mind at ease though.

[James101]

Re: Should I pay to RLP?

Thank you soo much for your quick reply. I have certainly been looking around the forum and seem to see the same thing which is to 'ignore RLP letter' however, I just wanted to know if that is eligible in my situation as I actually caused a loss to the retailer. Thank you again.

[des8]

Re: Should I pay to RLP?

You actually stole from the owner of the card, but as the theft was so closely connected to your employment, your employer would be held responsible.
Your ex employer reimbursed her £20, but you only used £10 of the value of the card.
Your ex employer therefore lost a total of £10, and that is the extent of their loss.
If that was deducted from your final pay you owe nothing.
If it was not deducted you owe your ex employer a tenner.

You owe RLP nothing and should ignore their letters, unless per chance you receive a proper "letter before claim" or Court papers.

Most of the postings relate to shoplifting cases.
Your case is slightly different, so could you possibly post up RLP's letter (suitably redacted) so we can compare them?

[teaboy2]

Re: Should I pay to RLP?

Sorry but i have to laugh - They are clearly trying to claim back £200 from the OP for the pleasure of being investigated, disciplined and dismissed. Its unlawful and unreasonable for the employer to do that as its simple standard practice that incurs no cost to the employer at all!!

[stevemLS]

Re: Should I pay to RLP?

I make the loss to the employer £20 (£10 refunded to the customer and £10 spent by OP).

Agree with rest of RLP advice, though.

[Kati]

Re: Should I pay to RLP?

Sorry but i have to laugh - They are clearly trying to claim back £200 from the OP for the pleasure of being investigated, disciplined and dismissed. Its unlawful and unreasonable for the employer to do that as its simple standard practice that incurs no cost to the employer at all!!

I take it you're saying "NO" as well then Teaboy :lol:

I have got to agree ... the OP has been disciplined and dismissed already, in my opinion RLP have as much standing here as a chocolate fireguard (as my Grandma used to say )

[teaboy2]

Re: Should I pay to RLP?

I take it you're saying "NO" as well then Teaboy

I have got to agree ... the OP has been disciplined and dismissed already, in my opinion RLP have as much standing here as a chocolate fireguard (as my Grandma used to say )

Yes that was just my polite way of stating me agreement Kati. My not so polite way of stating my agreement would have gone something along the lines of "Tell those w**nkers to go sit and swival! - They will probably enjoy the new sensation!" lol

By the way, is anyone else having issues with the site loading really slow at times?

[James101]

Re: Should I pay to RLP?

Thank you all for your replies and support. I have attached the letters sent from RLP to this post, hope that gives a more clear image of my situation. All advise and replies are much appreciated!!

[Kati]

Re: Should I pay to RLP?

Yes that was just my polite way of stating me agreement Kati. My not so polite way of stating my agreement would have gone something along the lines of "Tell those w**nkers to go sit and swival! - They will probably enjoy the new sensation!" lol

I think I like your "not so polite way" more

By the way, is anyone else having issues with the site loading really slow at times?

yep :sad: ... unfortunately we're having server problems atm

[Amethyst]

Re: Should I pay to RLP?

Have you already discussed the issue with RLP ? ( just ref their comment about waiting for your financial situation to improve)

I agree with the others about RLP's standing, but you should be aware that RLP do seem to be more successful with employee issues - this is because there is an investigation and work outside of normal duties undertaken when looking into a theft by an employee as opposed to security staff carrying out their jobs normally. That is just my opinion off the back of the Oxford test case and previous employee theft issues RLP have been involved with.


((( and yes the DDOS is ongoing but we're fighting our asses off to keep up and running ))))

[des8]

Re: Should I pay to RLP?

I suspect they are more successful in cases of employee infidelity because peeps in that situation just feel they have less chance of resisting, and having just lost their jobs are more vulnerable than a "normal" shoplifter.
The costs of investigating employee theft will be factored into their business costs, probably in HR overheads.
If the employer takes action they have to PROVE their losses, they can't just claim fixed costs.

Otherwise we seem to have a consensus

[Amethyst]

Re: Should I pay to RLP?

I do agree, I loathe RLP as much as anyone. It was just a caveat that the case law is specifically on shoplifters.

[teaboy2]

Re: Should I pay to RLP?

They would have to prove that the cost of investigating the employee, cost of CCTV and staffing was a loss to them and not standard operating costs, which is precisely what it happens to be, as they will still have had to pay those same costs even if the employee had not been investigated, disciplined and dismissed. In fact, the dismissal saved them money by not having to pay the employee wages between date of dismissal and employing a replacement employee! So they will have profited from the dismissal by having a lower wage bill, and not incurred any actual loss other than the £10 refunded to customer and £10 the OP spent - Total of £20!

[Anon2015]

Hello, I have a similar issue that I am very ashamed off. A friend and I went inside a store and was just shopping around. She liked a bag that was worth 500 because she couldn’t afford the bag we replaced the price tag for something mucin cheaper and purchased the item at the check out.

On our way out of the store the security guard had stopped us and said he saw the whole thing on the CCTV cameras. He gave us a chance to confess which we did and did not involve the police at all.

Because I was the one whom paid for the item with my card they took my driving license details and wrote it down they did not question my friend or take her details.

Once he took everythibg he took the bag back and refunded me the money I had paid.

weeks later I received a RLP “before claim” letter stating that I owe them £275.

After reading that people were saying ignore these letters I did although last week I received another email saying I did not respond to them and I should do this before they take further actions.

Please help as to what hat I should do... should I keep ignoring the letter from RLP or should I pay the amount.