Caught shoplifting

[MindlessFool]

I am 19 years old and today I did something stupid. I was caught shoplifting from Primark with a friend. Technically she was shoplifting and I asked if she could take a small item for me. Anyway that doesn’t really matter because we were both caught. We were taken to a room with 4 employees including the security that caught us. I didn’t have ID so I just told them my address, name and dob and an old college ID with only my name. They kept telling us how they would call the police usually but didn’t want to ‘ruin our lives’. I was absolutely mortified, this was my first and last time and I would never normally do this but honestly my life has kinda gone to ruins recently and I’m not in the best state of mind.
We were told that we were banned from primark for a year (not a problem I usually online shop) and that we would receive a fine that would be a lot more than the cost of items we attempted to take. I am a student (on a gap year because of mental health reasons) and I go back to education in September. I don’t work and there is absolutely no way I can afford to pay that fine. I am terrified. I have already has a pretty big panic attack about this and the thought of my parents finding out is unbearable. I know they will eventually find out because of the letters but it’s not something I can think of right now. I am petrified and embarrassed. I just want to know what will happen if I don’t pay because there really is no way I can pay. Will police come to my house? Debt collectors? And if anyone knows how much the fine will be?
I am aware that I am completely in the wrong and trust me I regret my actions completely.
Sorry for the extra details and the many questions but I’m just really scared.
Thanks in advance.

[ostell]

It's not a fine. Only courts can issue fines, the security company have no authority to issue fines. They are trying to claim for their alleged losses but as they recovered the items and they would have been paid anyway even if you had not been there then there has been no losses.

search for RLP to what to expect and ignore. The police werent called and will not be interested now, there is no debt so there cannot be any debt collectors.

It is suggested that you tell your parents what has happened. After the initial shock they will support you. You do not pay any invoice that you receive. Just ignore

[des8]

No problem, take a deep breath and calm down.

No police involvement means no record so no impingement on your future.

I think Primark use Retail Loss Prevention, so they will be writing to you asking for a donation of around £150.
This is not a fine.
In the UK fines are imposed by the courts.
This is a demand for money from an outfit that has set itself up as judge and jury, just like some vigilante group from the wild west.
Just ignore them and their letters (and tell your friend to do likewise)
You can read their letters here: https://legalbeagles.info/forums/forum/legal-forums/consumer-and-civil-rights/civil-recovery-retail-loss-prevention/93667-the-scary-letters-rlp-and-dwf

No police will come to your house
RLP send about 5 letters, and sometimes get a debt collector to send a couple, but they eventually give up.
Don't respond to them because that only encourages them to increase the pressure

I would recommend telling your parents sooner rather than later.
Just gets the embarrassing bit over sooner and allows everyone to move on

Just forget it and get on with your studies

[MindlessFool]

Thank you both, this really calmed me down. My parents are not really the kind of people that will be accepting of these sorts of things so I’ll come up with a plan.
Thank you so incredibly much, I can finally sleep

[ostell]

Parents will accept, you will get told off, rightly so, but they will help.

I have a daughter who is forever getting into scrapes and I have to write the letters to extract here. She's now over 40!

[des8]

ditto that ostell

When you are a bit older you will realise that your parents show disappointment but still love and support their child!
'fess up and get it over with.
It is a minor incident, you aren't a master criminal