
Quoting
yeshuaisiam
This is a funny area. They are charging you $500 for what?
Did you get to keep the cards?
If not what did target lose to justify $500?
I've never understood shoplifting. If you "steal" but you don't keep what you stole, then what loss is it to the store? Why do they extort $500 from you for taking probably a couple of bucks worth of cards?
Especially if you don't get to keep the cards.... There were no losses.
I can't stand extortion.
I would send them $500 Mexican Pesos (pesos use the same symbol $ for their currency) if they didn't list U.S. Dollars specifically (500 pesos is 45 bucks). I'd also send it in cash and include a letter that you dropped the cash in a toilet filled with pee first and let it air dry. "just think of what you are holding". The letter is not legal, it's just as if I typed one to you.
If they sue you, it's civil. Remember, if you are sued you have the right to fight the charge. Ask questions like "what was it that caused $500 in losses to the store".
Or call them and say you are broke. You'll send them $50 U.S. That's all you have and if they sue you, you'll just file for bankruptcy.
Corporations shoot themselves in the foot. They'll look for a solutions that grants them the most money.