Shoplifting in Filene's Basment

My question involves criminal law for the state of:

New York

I received a civil demand letter regarding a shoplifting incident that occurred in October at Filene's Basement. It is requesting a payment of $500 for items that I took worth about $109.

Should I pay this fine? What would happen if I did not pay the fine? Will they take me to court to collect the fine or take me to jail?

I'm not sure if I should pay the $500. But then I'm scared that if I don't, they will take me to court and I could have a criminal record.

I am really scared and confused about what to do.

If you fail to pay the fine will rise (triple likely) if still unpaid they can sue you in court and win! This will rise cost yet again and you will likely owe court costs adn legal fees making your $500.00 close to or exceed two grand! The other option is submit case for prosecution. In short your better off paying

Quote:

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It is requesting a payment of $500 for items that I took worth about $109

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The amount you took is irrelavent

Not paying the Civil Demand could lead to BIGGER trouble

Pay it !!

I am having some financial issues now. Once the fine is overdue, would they send me a second letter to pay the $500? If I were to pay the fine but it is late, would I still be able to pay the original amount?

Is it true that the fine will increase once it is late and the collection agency will keep on contacting me until they get the payment? I called the agency and they said that if I don't pay, the store will take me to civil court. Then I called the store and they said that if I don't pay, they will lower my credit score and didn't mention anything about going to court.

I am not sure if I don't pay that (1) the fine will increase, (2) the store will file a lawsuit to take me to civil court, or (3) my credit score will just be lowered and I won't have to go to jail.

I appreciate any help to these questions.

Make payment arrangements

Can someone explain what submitting the case for prosecution means? Does that mean that I will have to go to court and a verdict will then be reached as to whether I will pay the fine?

Thanks for the help.

Is the best option to make payment arrangements to pay the fine? Anything else that I can do to make this go away?

The amount that is demanded is a bit too much.

Oh and stealing wasn't too much!:rolleyes:

I know that shoplifting was wrong and I plan on not doing it ever again. Everyone makes mistakes and this was a really stupid one that has financial consequences.

I called the collecting agency and they wouldn't even help me. They said pay I can either pay the $500 or not and then hung up before I had time to respond. Does anyone know if the collecting agency will usually file a lawsuit if payment is not received in time? Thanks for the help.

Thats up to them. But lets put it this way they get no money unless they collect