Security Guard took photocopy of my debit card...

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 (?)

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?

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..

truly,madely,deeply ?

what were the mitigating circumstances?

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."

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

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

Grow a pair of eyes...

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

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'?

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.