The week after Christmas I was in Walmart with my daughter and her teenage friend (both 14). I had finished shopping and returned to my car when security came to get me. They informed me that my daughter was being held for shoplifting. On the way into the store they told me it wasn't my daughter, it was her friend who had shoplifted. The friend admitted to taking an item worth under $10 and returned it then. She told them that my daughter was not aware of her shoplifting and had not been with her when she did it. I was informed that my daughter was banned from Walmart for the next 6 months and would have to write a letter of apology to the store manager in order to ever return, or she could/would be arrested for criminal trespass. We were also told we would be getting something from head office about repayment.
Today I got a letter from corporate headquarters demanding a $50 total civil recovery payment stating they would take me to court if I didn't pay it. It stated my daughters name and that she "took possession of of merchandise from Walmart, without the owners consent, without paying for it, and with intent of converting the merchandise for personal use or the use of another."
Keep in mind that neither girl was charged with any crime, although I'm aware that the friend did shoplift. And even though the store employees knew and admitted that night that they are knew my daughter did not steal anything and that she wasn't aware that her had, that it was corporate policy to handle it this way and they could do nothing about it.
I was very interested to read the former post from single mom with problem as same store in same town. This store may be setting bad precedent?
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