What is civil demand (civil recovery)?
Civil recovery laws allow store and retailers to prosecute alleged shoplifters in civil court. All 50 states have some form of civil recovery law. Civil demand laws were designed to all retailers to recoup losses due to product theft or damage.
Am I required to pay the civil demand (civil recovery)?
Yes. The retailer can turn over the civil demand to a collection agency, report the debt to credit reporting agencies, or file a lawsuit to obtain the civil demand
My child shoplifted from store X, and they sent me a letter for civil demand. Am I required to pay?
Yes. Many states make parents or legal guardians responsible for the actions of their children.
I went to court, do I still have to pay the civil demand?
Usually yes. Many states require you to pay the civil demand in addition to any criminal proceedings that occur. With that said, there are some courts/jurisdictions/states that are either/or.
How long will it take to get my civil demand letter?
Anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Some places process civil demands in batches, have a back log of paperwork, or are just slow to file. States have varying requirements for time frames.
The police weren't called, and I still got a civil demand letter?
There is no requirement that police are called for a store to issue a civil demand. Many stores have a policy that they will only send civil demands if the store/LP made a police report, but this is not required.
They told me they can collect the civil demand right there at the store?
Yes, some stores have policies that the loss prevention department can collect the civil demand/civil recovery at the store.
I gave them the wrong address. What will happen?
If you gave them false information they have several options - they can turn the information over to police, and press criminal charges, or provide the information to a collection agency.
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Civil recovery laws allow store and retailers to prosecute alleged shoplifters in civil court. All 50 states have some form of civil recovery law. Civil demand laws were designed to all retailers to recoup losses due to product theft or damage.
Am I required to pay the civil demand (civil recovery)?
Yes. The retailer can turn over the civil demand to a collection agency, report the debt to credit reporting agencies, or file a lawsuit to obtain the civil demand
My child shoplifted from store X, and they sent me a letter for civil demand. Am I required to pay?
Yes. Many states make parents or legal guardians responsible for the actions of their children.
I went to court, do I still have to pay the civil demand?
Usually yes. Many states require you to pay the civil demand in addition to any criminal proceedings that occur. With that said, there are some courts/jurisdictions/states that are either/or.
How long will it take to get my civil demand letter?
Anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Some places process civil demands in batches, have a back log of paperwork, or are just slow to file. States have varying requirements for time frames.
The police weren't called, and I still got a civil demand letter?
There is no requirement that police are called for a store to issue a civil demand. Many stores have a policy that they will only send civil demands if the store/LP made a police report, but this is not required.
They told me they can collect the civil demand right there at the store?
Yes, some stores have policies that the loss prevention department can collect the civil demand/civil recovery at the store.
I gave them the wrong address. What will happen?
If you gave them false information they have several options - they can turn the information over to police, and press criminal charges, or provide the information to a collection agency.
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