Security Guard took photocopy of my debit card...

I would be inclined to complain to Boots head office and go to the Police about it

Asda, one of the biggest users of civil recovery "fines", recently barred one disabled woman from its Peterborourgh store and then sent her a bill for £150 damages. Its security staff claimed she had tried to steal goods worth £39 – she says the matter was a genuine mistake.

I thought these fines had to be in a sensible proportion to the amount involved, there is no obvious legal basis for these demands.  And if people don't pay 'em they get threatened with court action. 

But whatever the rights or wrongs with your case, don't think they had any legal power to photo-copy your debit card, but I'm not sure about that, address and other info yes, but not your debit card details (?)

citizens advice bureau or see a solicitor

Can I recommend the Chit Chat Ladies Citizen's Advice Bureau?

If you were wrongly accused you should have told them to **** off and had nothing to do with it, surely though?

it may well be that your time in the office was recorded on camera, as would your time in the shop

if you havnt done anything wrong you can speak to police/shop about your concerns


they have an obligation under data protection to allow you to know what information is stored electronically about you (might cost you up to £10 to see this)

you can snap your card and get a new one off your bank if you are worried they may use it without your permission

Technically I did 'shoplift' because I left the store without paying for an item but it was a genuine mistake with mitigating circumstances - so, I couldn't really tell the three burly guards to ''f*ck off'' really. I was told if I could prove my name and where I lived they would not ring the law and the only thing I had on me was my debit card. Think I may ring my bank to cancel my card but could do without the hassle that comes with it..

Are you Richard Madely ?

truly,madely,deeply ?

get some advice, almost certainly they exceeded their authority

what were the mitigating circumstances?

Ring the bank say you lost the card. As for the bill from Boots sounds like "speculative invoicing" i.e. a scam.

Boots have a very aggressive way of dealing with these problems.  This is a student's story taken from online:-

"I was recently caught removing the plastic wrapping on a bottle of aftershave in boots, with a friend who took the aftershave out of the store without paying, along with a second bottle which I did not touch.

As soon as we left the store, 4 security guards grabbed us, we were taking into a back room, the police were called but they said because of our clean records they would let us off, yet after they had left the security staff made us fill out a civil recovery form, and told us we must write a letter of apology to the store.

I sent the letter the next day to them.

About a week later I received a first letter explaining the costs of the aftershave (£28 per bottle), and they expected us both to pay for both the bottles each, despite stating that the store had recovered the bottles.

About 2 weeks after that they sent a second letter arrived, they now said because of other costs I must pay them £137.50 , or about £100 if I could pay in the next 31 days.

I did not make a payment, as I'm an A-level student without an income.

After the 31 days, I received a letter saying I had 14 days to pay £137.50.

After the 14 days had passed they are now saying my credit will be ruined, and I owe them £137.50 but it will increase by 5% annually."

'let us off'?!?!

seems fair that if you try to rob a shop, they try to rob you in return.

If you were wrongly accused, you should have told them where to go.....I dont get why some people are so wet. Grow a pair of balls....dont be pushed around.
OP....How old are you?

You didn't read my second post did you Blades?

Grow a pair of eyes...

What were the mitigating circumstances please?

On the basis of what you have written so far, you deserved a good shoeing.

You have NOT committed a crime - as you fail to meet some of the criteria of a 'theft' charge. You do not need to pay them under the recovery law, and they cannot/will not take money of your card without your authorisation or THEY will be committing the ONLY crime that takes place.
The only thing you did wrong was agree to return to the store with them, don't say or produce anything .. better to insist the police were called... though I do understand your actions under the circumstances described.
(Ifor ex-retailer having dealt with over 3500 'theft' incidents).

So if I had nicked from your store, Ivor, and my only explanation was a blase 'mitigating cricumstances', you would have said 'that's alright son, you have NOT committed a crime'?

so many replys yet not one mention of chit chat favorite worrel-thompson ffs ken masters will be rolling in his grave

No - I never entered into debate with the accused .. I called the police EVERY time and let them sort it. Generally either a charge would follow or they'd recommend the matter be dropped. That's THEIR job .. mine was selling goods.

Ok, Ivor so the police would have arrived, been informed merely of 'mitigating cricumstances' by the urchin, and would have said 'that's alright son, you have NOT committed a crime'?

Not that easy - generally searched in store (for other goods/needles etc) maybe handcuffed esp.if male, but dependent on 'attitude'(not elderly ladies)and led away to the station, where interviewed, identity checked, offer the suspect to 'confess' to other crimes if any, history checked, have an excuse to search the home property if necessary - let out in a couple of hours if they happy there was no intent to steal and call to me agree to drop charges.

Of course its not that friggin easy.  That's the point I'm making.

Surely there first question would have been; 'What were the mitigating circumstances'?


P.S. There is zero chance of Boots taking money off your card without your permission.

Querying 'mitigation' may well have been an early question in this particular case .. but it's very rare for such a plea - the huge majority hold up hands, 'fair cop guv', and offer to pay once they've been caught. Very, very rarely did we ever need to attend court (once every 5-years or so?) - only 'not guilty' pleas.
1% of Brits have convictions for shop theft - 'tis as common as breaking the speed-limit and normally a simple caution suffices.