Ask Me Help Desk - Shoplifting fine

About two months ago I was caught trying to shoplift a $2 mascara from zellers in montreal. The reasons are unimportant, but suffice to say it was very unlike me. My first time, etc. last week I received a letter from zellers' lawyers demanding a payment of $475. I've consulted a few help-workers involved with community organizations who couldn't (legally) give me advice on what to do, but one person kind of inferred that I should ignore it and wait to see if it's followed up. I've tried getting in touch with the lawyers who sent me the letter (to no avail), and I'm currently doing... nothing. Let me make this clear: I am ashamed of what I tried to do, but I also think it's unfair (hippocritical? Maybe.) to be being charged 500 tims the amount of what I tried to steal, especially as I was nothing but co-operative with the security I dealt with at the time. I'm the kind of person who has trouble j-walking. Any advice would be very much appreciated, tw

Ok, talk to the shop owner where you shop lifted, apologies and say, look, here's some money for your problems ($50) and I'm sure he'll be happy with that. I would, just as long as it doesn't occur again.

I understand from dozens of other posts this is common practice in your area, for the store to receive a very large compensation amount. My understanding is that if you don't pay, they will cause more legal issues with you. But the last thing you want to do is ignore it, you may go talk to them and try to work out a lower payment, or work out a payment plan on the amount but after lawyers are involved ignoring it will not make it better.

Just curious, so what happened in the end?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave987

Ok, talk to the shop owner where you shop lifted, apologies and say, look, heres some money for your problems ($50) and im sure he'll be happy with that. I would, just as long as it doesn't occur again.

"I'm sure" does not qualify as legal advice. This advice is incorrect.

Nothing's happened yet... like I'd said before: I tried to contact the lawyers and left my contact info, but no one's gotten back to me. I had read an article in now magazine, a free periodical out of toronto, about the giant stores apparently sending out these fines and then not following up on them... I don't know if even has a statute of limitations or what, or if I will get another letter in a few months telling me I owe them a grand, or what. Thanks dor asking...

You might want to try and send a registered mail to the lawyer.
Explaining your position, this way you are sure that he/she has received some reply from you and there is proof that you did try and contact him/her.

You may stress your point that while you agree you did something wrong and there should be some fine.
The amount you received does not fit the crime, (almost sounds like extortion).
What you did was not right but what they are trying to do is also not right and two wrongs do not make a right.

While it would not be good for you to have this taken to court. Since you have already admitted guilt, and a court conviction means also a criminal record.
And since you already admitted guilt you can represent yourself.
It also would not be good for them. It would be costly (they have to use their lawyer's time) and they also run the risk that the judge may throw the case out, (they do not like to waist their time on petty crimes). Or may even judge on your favor and agree the fine might be too excessive.
Another avenue you may want to try, is to contact Zellers. You can send an email to their administration, (this might not change anything), but at least you can express your feelings about this, and that while they may make a short term gain by this, they would still end up losing a long term customer.

You should also read what you received very carefully and if you decide to pay the fine, make sure that somewhere it says that paying the fine would absolve any further attempt to have you prosecuted for this.
Good luck
Let us know what was the result

Quote:

Originally Posted by MZOONY

You might want to try and send a registered mail to the lawyer.
Explaining your position, this way you are sure that he/she has received some reply from you and there is proof that you did try and contact him/her.

You may stress your point that while you agree you did something wrong and there should be some fine.
The amount you received does not fit the crime, (almost sounds like extortion).
What you did was not right but what they are trying to do is also not right and two wrongs do not make a right.

While it would not be good for you to have this taken to court. Since you have already admitted guilt, and a court conviction means also a criminal record.
And since you already admitted guilt you can represent yourself.
It also would not be good for them. It would be costly (they have to use their lawyer's time) and they also run the risk that the judge may throw the case out, (they do not like to waist their time on petty crimes). Or may even judge on your favor and agree the fine might be too excessive.
Another avenue you may want to try, is to contact Zellers. You can send an email to their administration, (this might not change anything), but at least you can express your feelings about this, and that while they may make a short term gain by this, they would still end up loosing a long term customer.

You should also read what you received very carefully and if you decide to pay the fine, make sure that somewhere it says that paying the fine would absolve any further attempt to have you prosecuted for this.
Good luck
Let us know what was the end result

I have no idea where you get your "legal" information but this is basically not correct.

Did you read the other answers?