Thief/fine

[John132]

The other day I was caught trying to steal, I was taken into the back by security and another guy, I got out of the police getting involved, by paying for the goods. They took a photocopy of my I.D. They said that I am banned for 1 year from the shop, and said that a fine will be sent out to me, do I have to pay this fine or can I ignore it?

[ostell]

You do not have to pay what they incorrectly say is a fine. Only a court can issue a fine and you haven't been there.

What you will get is a letter from a loss prevention company asking you to pay for the loss suffered by the company. There was no loss, as determined by a court when one of the companies tried court.and lost heavily.

You will find some sample letters from one of the companies, RLP, listed on the forum.

[des8]

Hi and welcome
The scary letters referred to by OSTELL above can be found here http://legalbeagles.info/forums/foru...rs-rlp-and-dwf

[John132]

Yeh I have read all of them, should I just ignore them if I get one?

[ostell]

Yes, Just ignore. If you want further reading search for RLP Oxford to see what happened when they did try court.

[John132]

Tesco said I would be fined for ‘wasting there time’ and that I fine would be sent to me, is this possible?

[Kati]

you'll probably get a letter or two ... but we still advise you ignore them

[des8]

Tesco use a firm known as DWF (some of their letters are on the scary letter thread)
ostell has already said that only the courts issue fines, and you won't be going there!

These firms (and that includes the retailers who employ them) seem to think that it is perfectly acceptable to set themselves up as courts and issue what Tesco call fines.
They are not fines, but only invoices for imaginary losses.
"Wasting their time"... presumably the security man was doing his job so how were you wasting his time?
He was paid to do the job he did, so you cost them nothing as he would be doing it regardless of your action
As already advised IGNORE THEM.

[John132]

I work as well, do you think they would contact where I work for to get this “fine”?

[Kati]

that would be against the Data Protection Act IMO ... des8 ostell ??

[ostell]

definitely against the Data Protection Act ! What would they say the money was for? There has been no court case.

[John132]

Is there any chance that they would put these letters in a parents name?

[des8]

Is there any chance that they would put these letters in a parents name?

No chance, unless you are a minor, when they might claim to be acting in the child's interest

[John132]

I’m not a minor, but thank you for this, and sorry about all these stupid questions.

[des8]

You're welcome, and not stupid to ask questions if you don't already know the score.

And by the way, don't beat yourself up over this very minor episode.
It wasn't the crime of the century.
I personally think that these (un)civil recovery firms commit worse crimes than those who for whatever reason shoplift.
They set themselves up as judge & jury and levy punishment without any regard for the due process of law.
In fact they avoid the courts because they know they will lose, but they use the threat of the courts as if they have some legal standing.