shoplifting in boots now have a RLP demand - worried sick

[Angie1953]

Hi,
I am over 70 and for the first time in my life I shoplifted in boots. I've never done anything like this in my life and I'm so ashamed. My son died not long ago and I am also on strong medication for something life changing that happened to me three years ago. The psychologist called it Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I never ever feel happy.

Half an hour or so after the theft the security guard and the police came over to me in town and I confessed immediately. I was arrested and taken to the police station, fingerprints and DNA taken, locked in a cell for hours, then I finally gave my statement, the police said that as it was a first offence I would just be cautioned but next time it would be court. The police took the deodorant and lip pencils from my bag when I was in town. When it was all over and I was allowed to go home the police said they didn't know if I would be allowed in boots again and so I decided to write to the manager of boots apologising for what I did and I asked him in the letter if I would be allowed to shop in the store in future as it was the first (and last) time I'd done anything like this in my life.

I never got a reply but two weeks later I received a long letter from RLP and I'll attach it below. I'm worried sick now as Boots must have given them all this information or where else would they have got it from? I'm on income support (pension credit) and I don't know how on earth I am going to afford this money. Could they take me to court? If they do it might be in the local paper and I couldn't cope with everyone knowing what I did. Thank you for any advice and I'm sorry this is such a long email.

[charitynjw]

Re: shoplifting in boots now have a RLP demand - worried sick

Hi Angie1953 & welcome to LB

Firstly, the letter goes on about the loss suffered by Boots.
But who does it say to pay money to? (I bet it's not to Boots!)

Secondly, have a read of the attached judgement (an actual court case) which blows away any claim for loss that RLP try to con people with (or Boots, although they don't usually bother).

[des8]

Re: shoplifting in boots now have a RLP demand - worried sick

Hi and Welcome Angie.

Just ignore them
They are past masters at applying pressure to persuade people to part with their money, and they will continue over the next few months to send ever more threatening letters, some may even be written in scary red ink.
Ignore them all.
The only letters not to ignore are genuine court papers.
However since the case referred to above they have not tried court.

Whilst we would not condone shoplifting, it was hardly the crime of the century!
RLP act like vigilantes, which in my book is even worse.
In this country we still have a proper independent judicial system, but RLP try to implement their own private system using legalese language to frighten vulnerable people.

[wales01man]

Re: shoplifting in boots now have a RLP demand - worried sick

You made a mistake make sure you don't do it again and IGNORE RLP until they issue a CCJ application which will be NEVER if you receive more letters come back on here

[Angie1953]

Re: shoplifting in boots now have a RLP demand - worried sick

Thanks very much for replies but the letter states Boots have instructed them to act for them. That is what is scaring me. If I don't respond I'm scared they will notify Boots and Boots might well then take me to court. In which case the theft might be plastered all over the local paper and my reputation here shot to pieces. I would rather die than that. It's all very well saying ignore them but this might happen??

[Kati]

Re: shoplifting in boots now have a RLP demand - worried sick

Thanks very much for replies but the letter states Boots have instructed them to act for them. That is what is scaring me. If I don't respond I'm scared they will notify Boots and Boots might well then take me to court. In which case the theft might be plastered all over the local paper and my reputation here shot to pieces. I would rather die than that. It's all very well saying ignore them but this might happen??

This is how rlp manage to get so many people to pay

BOOTS have washed their hands of this now it's been passed to rlp ... they aren't bothered!! @des8 and [MENTION=30456]wales01man[/MENTION] are right ... ignoring these 'people' is the right thing to do (they can only ever ASK you to pay, there's no need for you to do so). the link @charitynjw put up is well worth a read too (it would put your mind at rest) xx

I'll tag @Celestine too ... she should be able to put your mind at rest xx

[charitynjw]

Re: shoplifting in boots now have a RLP demand - worried sick

Yes, it might happen.

& I might win the Lottery tonight! arty:

[des8]

Re: shoplifting in boots now have a RLP demand - worried sick

Thanks very much for replies but the letter states Boots have instructed them to act for them. That is what is scaring me. If I don't respond I'm scared they will notify Boots and Boots might well then take me to court. In which case the theft might be plastered all over the local paper and my reputation here shot to pieces. I would rather die than that. It's all very well saying ignore them but this might happen??

No they won't.
To issue a civil claim against you in the county court will cost Boots a lot more than they can possibly claim they have lost or recover from you.
Why would Boots do that?
And as Kati said RLP are dealing with it now and they will do all they can to scare you into parting with your money.
Be ready for a series of letters that may last for up to 8 months.
Eventually you will probably receive one from a debt collector.
Ignore that as well as they have even less teeth!
That will be followed by a " final" effort to screw some money out of you by offering settlement at a discounted amount!
You are now in the final stages before they give up and file their papers.

Just stay strong and if you feel you need support or to talk to someone come back here

[Angie1953]

Re: shoplifting in boots now have a RLP demand - worried sick

Two hours ago I received this. I think it's a letter from my local Boots as I had written to the manager apologising for my actions and asked him if there was any chance I could still shop in Boots as I'd shopped there all my life. and had had a clean DBS before all this. I told him it was my first (and last) shoplifting offence. I'm so shocked as I'm sure it's from the manager himself and he's enclosed the RLP notice as well.
I've made an appointment to see someone at my local CAB but he's not back in his office until the beginning of September. At the back of my mind is the thought thiat this particular manager could in fact carry the civil recovery court threat through if I don't pay and make me a warning to others.....

oops - I forgot to attach photos of the letter. I will send it as a seperate reply.

[Amethyst]

Re: shoplifting in boots now have a RLP demand - worried sick

Are you scanning in the letter? If you're having trouble you can email it me me or Kati ( admin@legalbeagles.info)

[Angie1953]

Re: shoplifting in boots now have a RLP demand - worried sick

These were in the letter I got today:

[des8]

Re: shoplifting in boots now have a RLP demand - worried sick

So you have been sent the standard notification, which is normally handed over in the store.

File it and await RLP's threats, which you should ignore.

The Boots manager will not have the authority to initiate civil proceedings against you off his own back.
Head office aren't going to either, certainly not for twenty oncers!

Just ignore and find another (dare I say) better chemist.

[JulieM]

Re: shoplifting in boots now have a RLP demand - worried sick

Please try to stay calm. A coule of things to note, the value was only £20 and returned to Boots.
You are retired so a DRB check will have no impact.

If and it is a huge if, anyone found out, yes people may talk untill tomorrow when something juicier comes up,

From everything I have read on several different forums, RLP are full of hot air and do not take action, neither do retailers. It is bullying plain and simple.

You our made a mistake with mitigating circumstances, no parent should ever have to bury a child, you have my deepest sympathy.

Please stay clam , if you feel things are on top of you and you are having bad thoughts call the emergency out of hours doctors, if you need someone to talk to,the Samaritans . No one is judging you.

[Johnathon678274]

Re: shoplifting in boots now have a RLP demand - worried sick

This is how rlp manage to get so many people to pay

BOOTS have washed their hands of this now it's been passed to rlp ... they aren't bothered!! @des8 and [MENTION=30456]wales01man[/MENTION] are right ... ignoring these 'people' is the right thing to do (they can only ever ASK you to pay, there's no need for you to do so). the link @charitynjw put up is well worth a read too (it would put your mind at rest) xx

I'll tag @Celestine too ... she should be able to put your mind at rest xx

Hi [MENTION=49370]Kati[/MENTION] , i too have been cuaght yesterday at tk max, im really ashamed and i honestly regret it so much, im not like this usually, im 15 years old and im excellent in school and very well behaved, i just didnt know what went through my head yesterday, i really need help, im expecting an rlp letter and am very scared of the noney i will have to pay, what do i do?? No police were involved and the interviewer just let me go with a rls letter

I really need your help, please can you get anyone to help me out

Im really depressed of my actions and couldnt sleep at all last night because of how scared and regretful i was, never done anything so bad in my life

Please help

[Openlaw15]

Re: shoplifting in boots now have a RLP demand - worried sick

Hi @Kati , i too have been cuaght yesterday at tk max, im really ashamed and i honestly regret it so much, im not like this usually, im 15 years old and im excellent in school and very well behaved, i just didnt know what went through my head yesterday, i really need help, im expecting an rlp letter and am very scared of the noney i will have to pay, what do i do?? No police were involved and the interviewer just let me go with a rls letter

I really need your help, please can you get anyone to help me out

Im really depressed of my actions and couldnt sleep at all last night because of how scared and regretful i was, never done anything so bad in my life

Please help

Listen Jonathon, these RLP person just exploit young people such as yourself. They have nothing but a hope of claiming the amounts back. It is so difficult to prove their alleged losses but anyway it needs to be done through court, which costs them money. Think of all the time it would need for them to take you to court, away from their jobs never mind the court applications' costs itself. It's simply not worth their times.

However, frightening young people or worrying their parents sick, they're hoping will mean their 'threatening letters' work so that any money they request/ demand is paid. It's easy to frighten children as they know it wouldn't work on shrewd adults. You are only 15 years of age mate, stop worrying yourself sick.

Young people your age worry about stuff like this all the time. It feels like the end of the world - but it's really not! You can go to any chat website/ forum online and there will always be young people on there who worry about stuff so unnecessarily. When these young people grow older, meet someone, ie marry - they won't think the same as they would when they're younger. You made a mistake, Jonathon - everyone makes them, so stop mentally torturing yourself. Listen, those security personal whom the company employs are not what you call 'reasonable people', or 'thinkers'... the company (RLP) don't think about the devastation it has on young people or to their families because they made a mistake. As long as they (security) get paid to do their job and keep their employer happy, they'll just exploit the young people - to meet their 'targets.' Some people follow orders without challenging them or being critical of them, RLP security staff are probably such people. They won't think of it until their own children are personally affected. So, my advice, stop worrying as it's very very very very unlikely anything will come of it.