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Tesco and Civil Recovery Limited Scam!
MovieMakerNow
Posts: 1 Newbie
My wife was accused of shoplifting at a Tesco store a few days ago! She was doing her shopping as normal and having finished went to the till to pay for the items about 16 in total at one of the small basket tills. She finished paying and was leaving the store when a security guard approached her and asked if she had bought any cosmetics! She replied YES i bought some lipstick. He then asked to see here receipt which she gave him. He then stated that the cosmetics were not on the receipt. My wife said there must be some mistake and she would go to the till and pay for the two missed items immediately. She was told by the security guard this was not an option as she had been steeling.
Well to get to the point she was detained against her will by the guard and Tesco staff in a back office for over 20 minutes. She asked for the police to be informed but was told it was not a police matter. She was told to sign a form. She initially refused but this went on for nearly fifteen minutes. Eventually another Tesco staff member entered the room and told her just sign it its just a formality and then you can go.
By this time she was so upset that she just signed it to get out of the store.
On returning home she told me what had occurred. As you can imagine I was incensed at the way she had been treated. I put it down to an over zealous security guard and told her to forget about it.
However 2 days later we get the demand from Civil Recovery Limited for payment. Now this got my blood boiling. I decided to take action. I emailed the following reply.
Dear Sir,
In reference to your letter (############). We do not accept your claim that Ms #### committed an unlawful act on ### February at ########### Tesco store. We further dispute your accounts of the events as misleading and malicious.
Ms ##### was shopping on the day in question at the store. She is a long standing customer of the ####### Tesco store as here club card number will show (#############) and has been shopping there for many years. One the day in question she was doing her shopping as normal! She paid at the till and left the store. On leaving she was approached by a security guard and asked if she had bought any cosmetics, to which she replied YES some lipstick. The security guard then asked her if she had paid for it, again she replied YES and showed him her shopping recite. The Guard checked this and said it was not on the recite. Ms ###### on being told this was surprised and checked her shopping and realised she must have forgotten to place the cosmetics on the counter. She accepted that a mistake had been made and stated she would pay for the items straightaway. At this point the guard refused to allow this saying it was company police to prosecute all offenders. Ms ##### was taken into the store and subjected to what can only be described as abuse by the security guard as she was detained against her will for over 20 minutes. She asked for the Police to be called and this was refused. Then she was asked for her ID which she provided. She was then asked to sign a form which she refused. At this point another member of Tesco staff told her to simply sign the form as it was just procedure and if she signed it she could go.
Ms ### has a poor understanding and command of English as it is not her first langue and was confused about what was being said to here or what the form she was being asked to sign was for. After she had signed the form further comments were added to the form by the staff. This is clearly visible on the copy she has as the comments are in a different colour ink and hand writing.
Ms ##### having made a genuine mistake in forgetting to place 2 items out of a total 13 items on the till gives the Tesco Staff every opportunity to resolve the matter once it had been raised with her by immediately offering to pay for the 2 items. Please note that at no point did she ever deny having purchased cosmetics when she was asked she replied yes! She is a long standing customer of good character with no previous record of any such claimed unlawful behaviour. This matter could have been resolved by simply accepting her statement that she had made a genuine mistake and acceptance of her offer to pay for the 2 item. This was refused by your client.
We reject you claim and will vigorously defend any civil action taken in respect to this false accusation. The Civil Courts take very dim view on actions brought about by firms like yours when the accused has clearly made every effort to resolve the matter amicably at the time the incident occurred.
This email will be our first and final communication with you, as far as we are concerned this matter is now closed. Please do not make any further attempt to contact Ms #### as we will take this as harassment and will report this matter to the FSA. We will also be sending a copy of this letter to all the company directors of TESCO.
Acting for and on behalf of Ms ####
A copy of this email was also sent to the head of Tesco Stores Sir Terry Leahy as I believe he should be made aware of how some of his staff are behaving. Hi email is available on several sites (terry.leahy@uk.tesco.com ) I would recommend every one who has been wrongfully and unlawfully detained like this or had these unlawful letters demanding payment report the mater to him directly.
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has stated that the issuing of such claims letters constituted ‘deceitful’, ‘unfair’ and ‘improper’ business practice, as defined by guidance on debt collection issued by the Office of Fair Trading.
see the full article here.all the w's .lawgazette.co.uk/news/sra-warns-lawyers-acting-civil-recovery-claims-against-shoplifters
I have yet to receive any reply from CRL or Tesco. I would recommend that if you made a genuine mistake such as my wife then ignore any demands for payment. Insist on having the Police been called and if refused simply leave the store. If you are prevented from leaving call the police. Never give the Store or the Security Guard your personal information they do not have any right in law to demand it and with out this they can not send you these despicable letters demanding payment.
I would welcome any feedback/help from anyone who has had a similar experience.
Moviemakernow
Update! I have been looking in to the company Civil Recovery Limited! Here is there listing as shown in Company's House.
Name & Registered Office:
CIVIL RECOVERY LIMITED
LEYTONSTONE HOUSE
LEYTONSTONE
LONDON
E11 1GA
Company No. 06864468
Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 31/03/2009
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC(03)):
None Supplied
Accounting Reference Date: 31/03
Last Accounts Made Up To: (NO ACCOUNTS FILED)
Next Accounts Due: 31/12/2010
Last Return Made Up To:
Next Return Due: 28/04/2010
Previous Names: No previous name information has been recorded over the last 20 years. There are no UK Establishments associated with this company. There are no Oversea Details associated with this company.
It is clear from this that this is another scam company jumping onto the bandwagon of civil recovery hoping to make some easy money. The are less than a year old and have not filed any returns or accounts. What is more interesting is that this company has been Dissolved in 2004 see full details below. Once again no accounts or returns ever filed. What a scam! why are the authority's not putting a stop to this type of criminal activity!!
Name & Registered Office:
CIVIL RECOVERY LIMITED
47/49 GREEN LANE
NORTHWOOD
MIDDLESEX
HA6 3AE
Company No. 04840424
Status: Dissolved 14/09/2004
Date of Incorporation: 21/07/2003
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC(03)):
None Supplied
Accounting Reference Date: 31/07
Last Accounts Made Up To: (NO ACCOUNTS FILED)
Next Accounts Due:
Last Return Made Up To:
Next Return Due:
Previous Names: No previous name information has been recorded over the last 20 years. There are no UK Establishments associated with this company. There are no Oversea Details associated with this company.
I would recommend that everyone take time and write to your local MP and complain about this type of scam. Its not hard! in fact its very easy to do. Simply enter you post code into the website below and write your complaint! its as easy as that.
all the w's writetothem.com
If enough of us do this they will have to act!
MovieMakerNow
Well to get to the point she was detained against her will by the guard and Tesco staff in a back office for over 20 minutes. She asked for the police to be informed but was told it was not a police matter. She was told to sign a form. She initially refused but this went on for nearly fifteen minutes. Eventually another Tesco staff member entered the room and told her just sign it its just a formality and then you can go.
By this time she was so upset that she just signed it to get out of the store.
On returning home she told me what had occurred. As you can imagine I was incensed at the way she had been treated. I put it down to an over zealous security guard and told her to forget about it.
However 2 days later we get the demand from Civil Recovery Limited for payment. Now this got my blood boiling. I decided to take action. I emailed the following reply.
Dear Sir,
In reference to your letter (############). We do not accept your claim that Ms #### committed an unlawful act on ### February at ########### Tesco store. We further dispute your accounts of the events as misleading and malicious.
Ms ##### was shopping on the day in question at the store. She is a long standing customer of the ####### Tesco store as here club card number will show (#############) and has been shopping there for many years. One the day in question she was doing her shopping as normal! She paid at the till and left the store. On leaving she was approached by a security guard and asked if she had bought any cosmetics, to which she replied YES some lipstick. The security guard then asked her if she had paid for it, again she replied YES and showed him her shopping recite. The Guard checked this and said it was not on the recite. Ms ###### on being told this was surprised and checked her shopping and realised she must have forgotten to place the cosmetics on the counter. She accepted that a mistake had been made and stated she would pay for the items straightaway. At this point the guard refused to allow this saying it was company police to prosecute all offenders. Ms ##### was taken into the store and subjected to what can only be described as abuse by the security guard as she was detained against her will for over 20 minutes. She asked for the Police to be called and this was refused. Then she was asked for her ID which she provided. She was then asked to sign a form which she refused. At this point another member of Tesco staff told her to simply sign the form as it was just procedure and if she signed it she could go.
Ms ### has a poor understanding and command of English as it is not her first langue and was confused about what was being said to here or what the form she was being asked to sign was for. After she had signed the form further comments were added to the form by the staff. This is clearly visible on the copy she has as the comments are in a different colour ink and hand writing.
Ms ##### having made a genuine mistake in forgetting to place 2 items out of a total 13 items on the till gives the Tesco Staff every opportunity to resolve the matter once it had been raised with her by immediately offering to pay for the 2 items. Please note that at no point did she ever deny having purchased cosmetics when she was asked she replied yes! She is a long standing customer of good character with no previous record of any such claimed unlawful behaviour. This matter could have been resolved by simply accepting her statement that she had made a genuine mistake and acceptance of her offer to pay for the 2 item. This was refused by your client.
We reject you claim and will vigorously defend any civil action taken in respect to this false accusation. The Civil Courts take very dim view on actions brought about by firms like yours when the accused has clearly made every effort to resolve the matter amicably at the time the incident occurred.
This email will be our first and final communication with you, as far as we are concerned this matter is now closed. Please do not make any further attempt to contact Ms #### as we will take this as harassment and will report this matter to the FSA. We will also be sending a copy of this letter to all the company directors of TESCO.
Acting for and on behalf of Ms ####
A copy of this email was also sent to the head of Tesco Stores Sir Terry Leahy as I believe he should be made aware of how some of his staff are behaving. Hi email is available on several sites (terry.leahy@uk.tesco.com ) I would recommend every one who has been wrongfully and unlawfully detained like this or had these unlawful letters demanding payment report the mater to him directly.
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has stated that the issuing of such claims letters constituted ‘deceitful’, ‘unfair’ and ‘improper’ business practice, as defined by guidance on debt collection issued by the Office of Fair Trading.
see the full article here.all the w's .lawgazette.co.uk/news/sra-warns-lawyers-acting-civil-recovery-claims-against-shoplifters
I have yet to receive any reply from CRL or Tesco. I would recommend that if you made a genuine mistake such as my wife then ignore any demands for payment. Insist on having the Police been called and if refused simply leave the store. If you are prevented from leaving call the police. Never give the Store or the Security Guard your personal information they do not have any right in law to demand it and with out this they can not send you these despicable letters demanding payment.
I would welcome any feedback/help from anyone who has had a similar experience.
Moviemakernow
Update! I have been looking in to the company Civil Recovery Limited! Here is there listing as shown in Company's House.
Name & Registered Office:
CIVIL RECOVERY LIMITED
LEYTONSTONE HOUSE
LEYTONSTONE
LONDON
E11 1GA
Company No. 06864468
Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 31/03/2009
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC(03)):
None Supplied
Accounting Reference Date: 31/03
Last Accounts Made Up To: (NO ACCOUNTS FILED)
Next Accounts Due: 31/12/2010
Last Return Made Up To:
Next Return Due: 28/04/2010
Previous Names: No previous name information has been recorded over the last 20 years. There are no UK Establishments associated with this company. There are no Oversea Details associated with this company.
It is clear from this that this is another scam company jumping onto the bandwagon of civil recovery hoping to make some easy money. The are less than a year old and have not filed any returns or accounts. What is more interesting is that this company has been Dissolved in 2004 see full details below. Once again no accounts or returns ever filed. What a scam! why are the authority's not putting a stop to this type of criminal activity!!
Name & Registered Office:
CIVIL RECOVERY LIMITED
47/49 GREEN LANE
NORTHWOOD
MIDDLESEX
HA6 3AE
Company No. 04840424
Status: Dissolved 14/09/2004
Date of Incorporation: 21/07/2003
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Company Type: Private Limited Company
Nature of Business (SIC(03)):
None Supplied
Accounting Reference Date: 31/07
Last Accounts Made Up To: (NO ACCOUNTS FILED)
Next Accounts Due:
Last Return Made Up To:
Next Return Due:
Previous Names: No previous name information has been recorded over the last 20 years. There are no UK Establishments associated with this company. There are no Oversea Details associated with this company.
I would recommend that everyone take time and write to your local MP and complain about this type of scam. Its not hard! in fact its very easy to do. Simply enter you post code into the website below and write your complaint! its as easy as that.
all the w's writetothem.com
If enough of us do this they will have to act!
MovieMakerNow
0
Comments
-
Everyone hold on for 10 minutes...I'm just popping out for some popcorn!0
-
Can you get me some? Salted please."Growth for growth's sake is the ideology of the cancer cell" - Edward Abbey.0
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Pity she didn't say "either call the Police or stop detaining me against my will" - then simply LEFT. Physically preventing her then would be assault.
Forgive me but I've got to ask - are you saying she simply forgot to take the two items out of the basket along with the other 14 items? If so how did she get them accidentally past the check out, surely they'd be left behind in the basket. I'm not surprised she was accused of shoplifting if she had them about her person and simply forgot to pay for them - technically I suppose she was shoplifting, though not necessarily deliberately.
Lesson learnt I suppose. As for 'signing something', well, sounds as if she was coerced into doing that or they wouldn't let her out.0 -
Another one screaming SCAM and claiming innocence when someone walks out of a store without paying for items, it is amazing how it is always an honest mistake and the person was really completely innocent and the store security guards where over zealous and out of order for doing their job.0
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I'd totally ignore the civil recovery company. Let them take you to court.
But I'd want some answers from Tesco. Since when has shoplifting not been a matter for the police???
Check out this similar post http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2261129"Growth for growth's sake is the ideology of the cancer cell" - Edward Abbey.0 -
Should have rung the police herself. Bored of these threads now.Starting Debt: ~£20,000 01/01/2009. DFD: 20/11/2009 :j
Do something amazing. GIVE BLOOD.0 -
I'm getting a very strong sense of deja vu
:j30/7/10:j
:j24/1/14 :j
0 -
Where was the unpaid for lipstick found ,and how does your wife say it got there?
I don't agree with the part of your letter where you say " ..courts take a dim view of companies....where the accused has offered to sort out the issue amicably."
There is perhaps something you have not told us here?If someone is accused and offers to pay,that doesn't usually resolve the issue,as a crime has most likely occurred.Or are you saying it hasn't? If not,why not?0 -
I think this is only half the story. I think the op's wife has also only told the op half the story as well I imagine.0
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Where were the cosmetics found and how did they get there from the basket?It's someone else's fault.0
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