RLP Letters

[BlueDove5313]

Hi,

So I got caught stealing a low value item (small teddy) in a shop. They made me sign a form saying I'm banned from the shop and from shopping on it's website. I had no choice but to provide my real name because they were asking for my ID and even saw it in my bag and said by showing them it it's the only way they wouldn't call the police as it was my first time doing this. I am actually homeless living in temporary accommodation and as a result of the fact I am also moving just not just when, I have them an old homeless hostel address I lived at where I'm still in contact with the staff and just said that was my home address. I wasn't told why they wanted my address.

They said they wouldn't send letters and they'd already dealt with it in store and it was the end of the matter I actually paid for the small teddy in the end which I requested to do. I have autism and this teddy was a character related to my special interest and I stole it because it was expensive for a small teddy and I wasn't really thinking. I've never stolen before. I can't even deny I did it, because me taking the item and even taking the item out of my bag is all on CCTV.

my concern is that I have been offered a long term home and if the council find out about this, they may withdraw the offer. So the hostel wouldn't tell them but they may send the letter back as I no longer live there (they send ex residents post back all the time regardless if you ask to collect it). Now I haven't received a letter yet but I'm worried I'll get one because I've been reading online about these letters.

If I don't pay this fine, if they send me one. Will they take me to court? (The item was a few pounds that's why they didn't call the police) and will it also cause a county court judgement or debt from a debt collection agency to appear on my credit file? This could really affect my future if that happens and I'd just like some honesty regarding this because I don't want to not pay any fines and it come back to bite me. Even if they don't currently have the right address for me, debt collection agencies can track people down. I'm homeless, without any family (grew up in care) and I'm having to deal with this, whilst also waiting to move into my first home. Very stressful and I paid for the little teddy anyway. I'm also scared that if I don't pay the amount will go up. The loss prevention officer took my picture and I think he's probably going to add it on the wall with all the other thief's. For me the huge worry is it leading to a country court judgement or debt collection agency messing up my credit file/score because it will cause problems when renting amongst other things.

I was caught very obviously stealing it wasn't something done sneakily either.

[echat11]

Hi BLUEDOVE5313

Firstly I hope things work out for you, permanent home etc.

Secondly, you paid for the item, nothing was taken, there isn't anything that is actionable.

It won't ruin your chances of a 'home'. What they send is a 'speculative' invoice, there is no 'breakdown of actual costs, they can't justify the costs because they are 'baked' into their business model. They might send 3 / 4 letters, it's best to read and then file them away. Update the thread if you get anything 'meaningful'. Otherwise get on with your life.

Your worries are totally 'unfounded', 'country court judgement or debt collection agency messing up my credit file/score'.

[BlueDove5313]

Thank you. It's more because I read on the thread if they have an old address for you they can summon you to court in your absence. Then it can create a CCJ on your credit file and debt collection agency can also effect your credit file. I've got a clean DBS and clean and actually good credit score. I made a silly mistake and I'm kinda scared actually. But thanks. I move around alot as I'm homeless in temporary accommodation so was scared of the letters going to an old address if I do indeed receive them but they did say they wouldn't be sending letters to my address so why ask for my address in the first place on the banning from shop for 12 months paperwork

[des8]

If you are worried about it, then have your post redirected to your new address
https://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/re...us%20a%20visit.

[pc52straw]

How about redirecting to a "care of" address with someone you can trust who agrees to do it for you and who can contact you quickly if anything arrives?

if you can't guarantee a temporary address will be permanent but do have a c/o address, that is a reasonable and equitable solution.

[BlueDove5313]

Well I went back to the shop. Just waited outside and asked someone to call the manager for me. I asked if I was going to be fined or receive a fine the manager said "no". They also confirmed they hadn't reported it to the police. They just said my details were added to their database? What database is that? I've never heard of shops having databases.