Primark RLP Fine, should i ignore it?

[Gene10188]

I ( 16) was with some friends in primark (under 16), and we attempted to steal multiple items. It was dumb i know and we are not proud of it. We got caught and 2 security gaurds grabbed us by the arm and took us into the back room. They said they saw my hand items to my friends and saw them put in in their bags. Two gaurds argued that i didnt technically steal anything and i shouldnt be fined because i paid one item (the only item i held) and my freinds were the ones taking the stolen items. But since i handed them some stuff, one gaurd agrued that i shoukd be fines and he gave me a RLP letter talking aboit a fine. No police or authorities were called or invloved and we were let go. Ive seen mutliole threads saying to ignore amy letters i get but im worried that it could lead to a court case or prosecution. I havnt recieved any letters yet ( as it happened today ), and i believe the fine will cost around £500. They got all of their stuff back and none of the items we attempted to take were damaged in any way possible. What should i do?

[des8]

Ignore RLP letters.

Police were not involved, they lost nothing, no extra security costs were incurred as security were doing what they are paid to do, so other than a series of RLP letters nothing will happen.
Were security aware of your age? If so RLP might write to your parents on the pretence it is a safeguarding matter, but really trying to get your parents to pay their demand.

Presumably you still live at home, so would suggest you let your parents know if you haven't already done so.

[Gene10188]

Thank you for your reply, they knew I was 16 years of age, and they had called my stepdad to ask if they could release me from the shop. They don't have my mum's contact details or information so I'm not sure if they can get in touch with her. Other than that my stepdad knows and if going to look at thr letters himself.

[des8]

In that case let your step father know about this site, and put "RLP" into the search bar at the top.
We have lots of experience with RLP!

[Gene10188]

Thank you so much, I appreciate your help a lot, I wasn't looking forward to paying 500+. And I was also worried about court action. You've been a massive help. It it possible to ask any further questions in the future?

[des8]

Of course you can ask more questions.
Just keep to this thread

[Gene10188]

Thank you so much!

[Gene10188]

Hi there, sorry to bother again, I was wondering if there was a chance that they send me an official court letter. Can they do that without taking me to court? And do you think they could in future. I was just curious as I don't want to cause any hassle. I was thinking it that they probably couldn't because they wouldn't have any cause as you mentioned nothing was lost. Hope to hear your reply.

[DE DOGS]

Leave it to your dad to take care of it. I think under the age of 16 you should have had an adult with you whilst being questioned, but I stand to be corrected.

[des8]

You will hear nothing from the courts... just a series of threatening letters from RLP which should beignored.

The last time they tried court to recover imagined losses, (several years ago) they lost heavily and that was against two women who had admitted shoplifting..
You can read all the gory details in this thread: https://legalbeagles.info/forums/for...gment-09-05-12

[Gene10188]

I know what I did was wrong but I didn't technically cause any loss from the company because they got their stiff back. I imagine the fine is to get money from loss from other theives? I'm not sure. Thanks for you help, you've been such a huge help

[des8]

On this site we do not condone theft from shops, but neither do we judge people.

On the other hand organisations like RLP set themselves up as prosecutor, judge and jury and Lord High Executioner.
They try and extort money to which they are not entitled by sending letters with thinly veiled threats.
They are, IMO, little better that vigilantes.

And please do not give their demands the cloak of respectability by calling them "fines"
Fines in the UK are imposed by the courts.
These demands for money aren't even invoices... they are demands with no legal backing.

[Gene10188]

When I was being questioned they took a photo of my provisional driving licence which had my aggressive on it. I told them it was currently under ci trcution and I'm living at my stepdads and gave then that address however I did not know the postcode just the street name and number. I'm worried that they will send the letters to the address on my ID, my mum's a bit crazy and would not react well if she knew. Do you think it's possible they send it to my mums address?

[bellawerk12]

Hi, just after some help. Same thing happened to me today. Not on purpose, I’d paid for my goods at the till and had 2 items of makeup in the bottom part of my pram well on show, which I didn’t pay for. As a complete accident, when the security pulled me in. I apologised and said it was a complete mistake and I will pay tor them now. They also took my info and said RLP will send me a fine and if I do not pay it, it will go up and up, bailiffs will be sent out and then court etc?
can someone give me some advice please

[des8]

Gene10188 I can't say if they will write to your mother or not. They should not, but do have a history of writing to parents under the guise of concern for a child who may be at risk!

bellawerk12
The advice given previously holds good for you. It is NOT a fine; the amount will vary according to where you are in the series of letters they send; bailiffs can only attend after you lose a court case and do not pay; there will be no court.
If you want further reassurance could you please start your own thread.