Received first RLP letter, confused about paying or not?

[Pelicanos]

Me and my brother made a mistake at the beginning of January. We took some clothes from Primark and intended to leave the shop without paying. We both regret having done this, but we can't change it now. As we were leaving the shop, two security guys dressed as normal citizens asked us to go back into the shop and follow them to the room.

At the beginning my brother and I decided to act confused, as if we didn't know what was happening, but of course both us knew that we had been caught. They took us to a room and asked us to fill in a form with our names and general details, like address, surname. They did NOT contact the police and they did say that our criminal records would be kept clean.

I am 20 years old and my brother is 17. We lied about our address. I said my brother lived with my at university. And the truth is that I am the only one living at that address. Almost a month later I have received 2 letters, one addressed to my brother and another addressed to me requiring us to pay around 260 pounds.

I have read online in other forums that people recommend not to pay this debt, that they can't take you to court, that it is not a fine, that you will have no consequences if you don't pay... etc

I would appreciate some advice on this. I want to leave this behind as soon as possible because me and my brother are both very ashamed of what we did but don't want anyone to know or, we don't want this to affect our future career.

Thanks

[ostell]

Re: Received first RLP letter, confused about paying or not?

You've already done the research and discovered that the advice is to ignore. If it ever gets to receiving a Letter before Claim then come back. The letters saying they are recommending their clients start proceedings can be ignored.

[Openlaw15]

Re: Received first RLP letter, confused about paying or not?

Me and my brother made a mistake at the beginning of January. We took some clothes from Primark and intended to leave the shop without paying. We both regret having done this, but we can't change it now. As we were leaving the shop, two security guys dressed as normal citizens asked us to go back into the shop and follow them to the room.

At the beginning my brother and I decided to act confused, as if we didn't know what was happening, but of course both us knew that we had been caught. They took us to a room and asked us to fill in a form with our names and general details, like address, surname. They did NOT contact the police and they did say that our criminal records would be kept clean.

I am 20 years old and my brother is 17. We lied about our address. I said my brother lived with my at university. And the truth is that I am the only one living at that address. Almost a month later I have received 2 letters, one addressed to my brother and another addressed to me requiring us to pay around 260 pounds.

I have read online in other forums that people recommend not to pay this debt, that they can't take you to court, that it is not a fine, that you will have no consequences if you don't pay... etc

I would appreciate some advice on this. I want to leave this behind as soon as possible because me and my brother are both very ashamed of what we did but don't want anyone to know or, we don't want this to affect our future career.

Thanks

It is not a criminal matter so this will not affect either of your futures. The only way they could do anything is to take you to a local court for compensation for their losses. It is very difficult for them to do this so try not to worry too much. As you didn't actually take away the clothing they are likely still in a position to be sold. They have suffered no clothing loss. This is their normal job so could not claim that their security staff were stopped form doing other work. On these limited facts I would say that it is very unlikely that they could take action against you. They're just trying it on to see if you'll give them any money to frighten you. The law doesn't stop them from doing this but the law doesn't obligate you to pay them either, unless they prove their losses, as stated.

[Pelicanos]

Re: Received first RLP letter, confused about paying or not?

We offered to pay what we intended to take away that day.. but they refused. They said we were not allowed to make any purchase on that day. I asked if we were banned from the store, as I have heard that this could happen. They said "No, you are welcome to buy here whenever you want, but not today".

Out of guilt and remorse for what I had intended to do, and to try and ease my conscience, I came back the next day and bought almost everything I was going to steal the day before. I even found one of the security guys that had assisted me the day before, and I showed him that I was really sorry, and that I was actually purchasing the very same items this time. Then that conversation got a bit awkward, since he asked me for my phone number and suggested to be friends... I did not give him my number, of course. In fact, the night before, since I couldn't sleep, I had been reading about RLP and all that... I didn't have the intention to pay that "fine" or "claim" since I had returned the clothes in a good state. I hadn't even removed any price or size tags. They were all okay, ready to be sold. So, fearing he could contact me further about not paying this fine, and because I thought it would be strange to give my phone number to a security guy.. I just made up an excuse and went away.

From what I have read online, more letters are to come. But... is there any way to stop them? I will be moving away next October, same halls of residence but a different block, flat and room. (university student) but I am sure the letters will keep coming to the "old address" (my current one) and I fear someone will open them and see that I am related to an attempt of shoplifting.

Thanks again

[des8]

Re: Received first RLP letter, confused about paying or not?

It is possible that the stream of letters will have stopped by October.
If you are concerned you could arrange with Royal Mail that your mail is forwarded to your new address when the time comes.

[Pelicanos]

Re: Received first RLP letter, confused about paying or not?

It is possible that the stream of letters will have stopped by October.
If you are concerned you could arrange with Royal Mail that your mail is forwarded to your new address when the time comes.

What about the summer term. I won't be leaving at my university address when the academic year ends. I suppose they might keep sending letters then but there will be no one to collect them. Are they able to redirect my correspondence to my parents house? I never gave them their address, but do they have the means to find it out? Do you think the university will automatically redirect them to my house when I am not living at uni?

Thanks

[des8]

Re: Received first RLP letter, confused about paying or not?

If you are really concerned about others eg parents or friends finding out by opening your post you could obtain a PO Box number , have your mail redirected to that and collect it yourself at intervals.
It's very unlikely that they will trace you to your parent's home, but on the other hand why not tell your parents and have post redirected to home.
Embarrassing, but cheaper!

Whatever you do, don't just leave it at an address where you can't collect it.
The possibility is that such post could be returned to sender.
RLP would then know you were not getting the post.
They could then initiate court proceedings without your knowledge, and you could then land up with a CCJ.
Not a good idea!

[Sri]

Hi pelicano. I want just to know I you have payed your rlp fine and if no what happened then.please reply because I just receive my first letter I'm so worried. Thanks

[Kati]

Hi pelicano. I want just to know I you have payed your rlp fine and if no what happened then.please reply because I just receive my first letter I'm so worried. Thanks

Hi Sri and welcome to LB

We do advise that you ignore any letters from rlp ... they have not got the power to take you to court (only the shop itself could do that and they have already wiped their hands of it all by passing it to rlp), they can only send speculative invoices. tagging des8 ostell

[des8]

Hi SRI and welcome to LB
Pelicano hasn't been back on site for a year now so you probably won't get a response from him/her.

Don't know your exact circumstances, but rest assured that if it is a simple shoplifting incident nothing will happen if you don't respond to RLP
All they will do is send a series of letters,threatening and scary, but nothing more!
Ignore them
Their standard letters can be read here: http://legalbeagles.info/forums/foru...rs-rlp-and-dwf

[Sri]

Thank you so much kati, DESB. I read a lot about rlp letters but I m still worried .I want just ask someone who receive like those letters what is the end of the story.
so if I'm unlucky I will be the next person who take him to the court.

[des8]

RLP have not been to court for years as they know given a decent defence they will not win
Stop worrying, keep ignoring them and get on with your life.
When you get further letters come back for more reassurance.
If you ever get proper court papers come back for help

[ostell]

RLP don't do court since they tried it a few years ago and got thoroughly spanked by the judge. Cost them a lot of money that spanking. Search for RLP and Oxford. Ignore the RLP web page that says it was a victory.

There is a collection of sample RLP letters on this site.

[jaguarsuk]

I wonder how many people pay up out of fear to these scum bags?

[Kati]

I wonder how many people pay up out of fear to these scum bags?

Probably a lot ... especially those that don't come onto the forums for advice after the first letter