Shoplifting civil recovery boots

[Sm180415]

Hi I was also caught and I am expecting a letter from
Rlp if like to know if the letter will mention the incident and when should I expect the letter if I was Caught on the 5th (yesterday) and can I just not open the letter and post it back writing adressee does not live here or something?

[EXC]

Re: Shoplifting civil recovery boots

Hi I was also caught and I am expecting a letter from
Rlp if like to know if the letter will mention the incident and when should I expect the letter if I was Caught on the 5th (yesterday) and can I just not open the letter and post it back writing adressee does not live here or something?

I would simply ignore it. You'll probably get more but if you don't respond they usually give up eventually.

[Kati]

Re: Shoplifting civil recovery boots

definitely ignore :nod:

tagging [MENTION=39710]des8[/MENTION] xx

[Sm180415]

Re: Shoplifting civil recovery boots

Hi but when will the letter come? I don't want my parents to find out

[EXC]

Re: Shoplifting civil recovery boots

It's impossible to say I'm afraid.

[charitynjw]

Re: Shoplifting civil recovery boots

Hi I was also caught and I am expecting a letter from
Rlp if like to know if the letter will mention the incident and when should I expect the letter if I was Caught on the 5th (yesterday) and can I just not open the letter and post it back writing adressee does not live here or something?

Hi Sm180415 & welcome to LB

?? (Above)

[Sm180415]

Re: Shoplifting civil recovery boots

I meant 4th also if I ignore every letter when will they stop

[des8]

Re: Shoplifting civil recovery boots

Hi and welcome.

Generally the first letter seems to arrive 2 to 3 weeks later.
I understand the envelope has Retail Loss Prevention written on it in small letters.
They continue tochase for approx 9 months, and sometimes also involve debt collectors.
As already advised by others you can safely ignore all those letters.

Returning them marked"not known" is unlikely to work.


You say you are still living at home and understandably would rather your parents did not find out.
Are you by chance a minor, and did you give Boots your age?
If you are it is possible that RLP will write to your parents when you ignore their letters.
They shouldn't, but they apply pressure where ever to obtain payment.
If you are still a minor, it might be better to advise your parents now, rather than they discover later via RLP.

I appreciate you might be fearful of your parents reaction, but I hope they would support you.
After all it was not the crime of the century.
If necessary you could point them to this thread, and others here, as although we do not condone theft, neither do we condone vigilantes dishing out their own form of punishment as some perverted form of justice.

[EXC]

Re: Shoplifting civil recovery boots

If you are still a minor, it might be better to advise your parents now, rather than they discover later via RLP.

This is really good advice. Biting the bullet now will save you a lot of stress in the long run. Also just to clarify what des8 said about ''sometimes also involve debt collectors'', it means letters from them and not visits to your house.

[Nosheen-m]

Re: Shoplifting civil recovery boots

Hi,

I also committed the rather stupid act of shoplifting at Boots a month ago. I am 20 years old, and very ashamed to say it was my first and last time committing an offence, and I am deeply ashamed and regretful of my actions. I've been beating myself up about it and only now have regained the confidence to try and move on with my life. A security guard apprehended and detained me, gave me a 1 year ban in Boots, and phoned the police. But they did not arrive, as in his words he said they were too busy to deal with this, and that they would be in touch soon. I was made to sign a Community Resolution form, and verbally apologised to the security guard at Boots who was really lovely to me. I also apologised to the PCO who I was in contact with regarding the Community Resolution form, and that was the end of both the retailer and police involvement in the matter. Or so I thought anyway.

I too have received a letter from RLP, asking me to pay a fixed sum of £149.50. They've given me the standard 21 days to pay it, but i am a student working night shifts attempting to pay my £1500 student overdraft off. I cannot afford to give them £150. And I'm working lots of night shifts so I can also have money to live on when I'm at university.
The letter does not include a cost breakdown of how they arrived at this sum of £150. They've stated losses incurred as a result of goods not recovered/fit for resale, but the goods were all recovered and in perfect condition for resale (i.e undamaged, unbroken). The total goods of the products were 40-50 pounds I believe the security guard said. Letter also states I significantly disrupted the business, but I think floor staff were totally unaware of what had happened when I was apprehended as it was quite discreetly. And it says I significantly diverted them from their usual duties, but this all occurred within store hours, so really they were doing the job they are supposed to be doing, to be honest.

I've read that the standard advice would be to ignore the letters but I'm scared that they'll take it to court as I did make an admission of guilt in front of the security guard and Community Resolution form. I live at home with my parents and I do not want them to find out. I also sought advice from CAB today via online web chat, who said to write to RLP to dispute the claim. And make an appoiment at my local CAB but as I'm working night shifts its very hard for me to do this. CAB also said they could take me to county court if i ignore their letters which could incur further costs.

I don't want to pay them as I need to pay my overdraft off which has given me so much stress for the past year, and I just don't know what to do. If I ignore their letters, can they take any further action against me? And can they issue me with a County Court Judgement?
Thank you

[des8]

Re: Shoplifting civil recovery boots

Firstly, do not write to RLP.
They prey on the vulnerable, and they assume that anyone who writes is more than normally vulnerable.
This seems to excite them to redouble their efforts.

They will not take you to court. They can only advise their client (Boots) to initiate court action.
Only a court issues a judgement, and that is after a trial.
The last time RLP tried court they left with their tail between their legs.
details here: http://www.legalbeagles.info/forums/...h-and-the-lies

I understand your reluctance to talk to your parents about the incident, but do feel it is better to be open about a very minor lapse.
You will have to keep it hidden, whilst receiving a series of letters from RLP.
Although your parents hopefully respect your privacy, within a family group questions might be raised.

Whatever your decision regarding family, do please ignore RLP letters, get on with your life and best wishes for your time in uni.

[ostell]

Re: Shoplifting civil recovery boots

Just ignore. I presume the goods were returned in a saleable condition and therefore there has been no loss. Security staff were doing what they are paid to do so no loss there. You may want to look here about the case they tried to take to court in Oxford

[Nosheen-m]

Re: Shoplifting civil recovery boots

I won't write back to them, as i definitely don't want to give them the impression that i'm fearful, which will only fuel their efforts. I'm just going to ignore them and get on with things, my exam results are out tomorrow and i'm just focussed on that, and passing my second year fingers crossed!
Unfortunately I cannot speak to my parents about this, they will blame themselves and I don't want them to ever think that, but i know they won't open my letters so its okay. I've told my younger sister so i've got her watching the letterbox like a hawk lol! ��

And Ostell, thank you for pointing that case out to me. I know they definitely won't take me to court over something so small, as it was so embarassing for them last time! �� The goods were definitely returned and fit for sale, so they have incurred no losses there, same with the security staff.

Thank you so much for your help and advice guys, i've been scared witless about this whole situation, and would never be able to get through it if it wasn't for the help of the wonderful people on this forum! God bless you!