RLP civil recovery notice: Unsure what to do??

[LM6383]

I've felt very ashamed to post on here but I'm really starting to worry about this whole ordeal that I need some advice. I'm a university student and was caught trying to steal an item from debenhams worth £39. It had a sticky tag on that I peeled off that was a security measure. I seriously don't know why I did it, the entire time I was considering paying but then for whatever reason because I was running low on money I'd decided to slip it into my shopping bag. On my way out I got stopped by a security guy who escorted me to a back room. He took my ID and name etc, asked to take a photo of me and said that I wouldn't ever be allowed back in debenhams else it will be trespassing etc. I was also given a note from RLP saying to expect a civil recovery letter for the cost of the item plus expenses (apparently by peeling off the security sticker I've made the item unfit for sale- unsure how?). I am expecting a letter soon, I've been reading up on threads where people say don't pay vs do pay. I don't want a criminal record, the guy said no police will be notified and it won't go on my record as long as I pay. I really can't risk it being on any checks in the future as I wish to work in social care. It was a stupid mistake and I feel so upset with myself from now on. I probably will pay the fine but if they're just scare tactics I'd rather not pay upwards of 180+ just for a stupid mistake. I apologized to the security team and they commented on how I probably was just being stupid as they'd checked the rest of my bags and saw all my purchases has reciepts from that day. I'm just so scared and any advice would be really great.

[des8]

Re: RLP civil recovery notice: Unsure what to do??

Hi and welcome to LB

First up stop worryng about a criminal record.
Police were not informed, and no criminal proceedings could now be started.

As the goods were recovered in a saleable condition (removal of a peel off label ain't going to make a difference) there is no loss to Debenhams.

You know already that the advice you will receive is to totally ignore RLP.
They will huff and puff in legalese language, they will threaten court and even write in big scary red letters.
Just ignore them
Last time they advised a client to go to court, they ended up with egg on their faces and have not tried since.

The only papers you never ignore are genuine court papers (and you won't receive them)

Have a good Easter and concentrate on your studies

[LM6383]

Re: RLP civil recovery notice: Unsure what to do??

Hi and welcome to LB

First up stop worryng about a criminal record.
Police were not informed, and no criminal proceedings could now be started.

As the goods were recovered in a saleable condition (removal of a peel off label ain't going to make a difference) there is no loss to Debenhams.

You know already that the advice you will receive is to totally ignore RLP.
They will huff and puff in legalese language, they will threaten court and even write in big scary red letters.
Just ignore them
Last time they advised a client to go to court, they ended up with egg on their faces and have not tried since.

The only papers you never ignore are genuine court papers (and you won't receive them)

Have a good Easter and concentrate on your studies

Thanks for the reply.
I just feel uneasy about leaving it, I'd rather pay (unless it's a ridiculous fee) and be done with it rather than worrying about it going to court. The security man said if it wasn't paid then they would pass it onto the police so that's what is mainly worrying me.
If I did, hypothetically, pay the fine, would they then leave it be or could they continue asking for more money?

[MIKE770]

Re: RLP civil recovery notice: Unsure what to do??

they do not feel uneasy to rob you of monies not owed them, go to court RLP? they lost badly last time! if you pay them they say good another mug paying for something they did not have to read read read threads all tell you the same, the companies have lost nothing = you owe them nothing only your own embarrassment , get on with your life.

I can tell you before this crowd decades a go it was all huff puff from big companies, if anything really wrong the Police would not just caution anybody and I worked for a big company decades ago!

get on with your life and put it in the past!

[des8]

Re: RLP civil recovery notice: Unsure what to do??

Well said [MENTION=3394]Mike[/MENTION].
Please please ignore them
If you pay them it just funds their next attack on vulnerable people
We have civil and criminal justice systems in the UK.. we do not need self appointed vigilantes levying their own system of "Fines"
Imo their activities are despicable.

[Amethyst]

Re: RLP civil recovery notice: Unsure what to do??

The security man said if it wasn't paid then they would pass it onto the police so that's what is mainly worrying me.

That is just a blatant lie. Maybe we should look again at bringing this up with the retailers - it's been a while since they last ignored us completely lol.

[LM6383]

Re: RLP civil recovery notice: Unsure what to do??

Well said [MENTION=3394]Mike[/MENTION].
Please please ignore them
If you pay them it just funds their next attack on vulnerable people
We have civil and criminal justice systems in the UK.. we do not need self appointed vigilantes levying their own system of "Fines"
Imo their activities are despicable.

I just thought I'd update you all. The incident happened on the 13th April and it's now the 7th May and I've had no letter from RLP? What do you think this could mean? I don't live at home with my parents (the address they have) so I've been diligently coming back every week trying to find post addressed to me. Could it maybe mean they're not going to bother?

[des8]

Re: RLP civil recovery notice: Unsure what to do??

It means they are letting you stew!

Not writing immediately leaves the victim time to worry, and makes them more vulnerable.

You almost certainly will receive the series of letters, but don't worry about them.... just ignore

[LM6383]

Re: RLP civil recovery notice: Unsure what to do??

Is not replying straight away something they actually do? I thought they'd want to send a letter out asap and get payment ASAP.. I'm not particularly worried at the moment because to me it feels like I might be lucky and they've done one?? (Wishful thinking?)

[des8]

Re: RLP civil recovery notice: Unsure what to do??

Four/five weeks after the event is about normal afaik

[LM6383]

Re: RLP civil recovery notice: Unsure what to do??

Alas, two letters have come through (8th may and the 28th may) but none since then. All of them looked basic asking for payment, I didn't really read it to be honest. I've had a letter from cityco as well, saying their security team have my details and will keep on record for a year unless they have any other incidents. Not sure who they are but I assume they're the security company that cover debenhams?

Am I okay to ignore that too?

[Amethyst]

Re: RLP civil recovery notice: Unsure what to do??

Cityco ?

CityCo, Manchester's city centre management company, coordinates the nationally accredited Manchester Business Crime Reduction Partnership (MBCRP)

Does it ask you to do anything or just informing you ?

It will just be some database so if anything else happens they can see you're a repeat ''offender'' at a guess.

[LM6383]

Re: RLP civil recovery notice: Unsure what to do??

Cityco ?



Does it ask you to do anything or just informing you ?

It will just be some database so if anything else happens they can see you're a repeat ''offender'' at a guess.

It's just informing me of it from what I can gather

[embob2]

Re: RLP civil recovery notice: Unsure what to do??

i have posted a question about civil recovery please can you offer any advice

[LM6383]

Re: RLP civil recovery notice: Unsure what to do??

Hi again, recieved my 3rd letter. Very similar... Basically the same as the 2nd... Continuing to ignore.

My main concern recently is that I'm registered as living with my family and if this gets passed onto debt collectors (which is usually what happens?) then I'm worried that will become door to door visits and my family know nothing of this situation. Will it just continue to be letters or should I be worried about debt collectors coming in person to my door?

I've also read that prospective employers have a list of people who have civil recovery claims against them.. I've been working part time for a retail company (clothing) for a long time now and I've been paranoid that this will come out to them at some point. Is that something they can pass on and that I could lose my job over? It's been over two months since the incident so I'd assume something would of happened already if that was the case?

Thanks for the help so far, it's reassuring to have people who know what they're talking about on the other end. I keep seeing posts of people in the same situation and they stop responding and I keep wondering if they ended up with court action or if it worked out okay in the end...