18 Year Old Girl Caught Shoplifting

My question involves criminal law for the state of: New Jersey

Last week I shoplifted from Lord & Taylor in New Jersey. I am not proud of it. I am 18 years old. I cooperated very well with the people that took me into the security room. They did not call the police or press charges. They had me sign papers, give my address, social security #, etc. I live at college and they said they will not be sending any letters to my house. I had to sign a trespassing paper saying I cannot go there for 2 years and filled out a paper stating the 2 items I took and the fine, it was around 200 dollars total.
I don't even remember the exact total, they told me that I had to pay it by friday November 5th. But they never gave me a document saying that or a paper telling me the amount, they kept it. I have been researching this and I'm starting to believe that I do not have to pay the "civil demand" i think its called. I'm confused and do not have $200+ dollars to pay them. Some websites i looked at say its just an extortion guilt trip that they make you think you have to pay. No police were involves so I kind of think its BS.

please help me, i'm desperate. thank you

The Civil Demand is perfectly legal. Basically, it recovers the costs incurred by shoplifters - those pretty security cameras are not free, the LP's don't work for free, and the losses to stores by shoplifters.

If you don't pay it now - the amount can double. Then triple. Then they can take you to Civil Court to collect that plus attorney fees. And it can mess up your credit rating.

Keep in mind, the store does have 1-2 years (varies by state) to file Criminal Charges.

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Quoting PandorasBox

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The Civil Demand is perfectly legal. Basically, it recovers the costs incurred by shoplifters - those pretty security cameras are not free, the LP's don't work for free, and the losses to stores by shoplifters.

If you don't pay it now - the amount can double. Then triple. Then they can take you to Civil Court to collect that plus attorney fees. And it can mess up your credit rating.

Keep in mind, the store does have 1-2 years (varies by state) to file Criminal Charges.

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Thank you so much for your help. But I think it's very weird that they did not even give me paperwork or any type of letter when I was released stating the amount I had to pay. It's very shady to me. They just told me to come back next week and pay but I don't even remember the exact amount because they never told me, it just seems weird.