Shopping fine unjustified? Free legal advice!

Questioner

I forgot to put 1 item on the conveyor belt at the emté worth 2.70. After paying for the rest of my groceries, I was stopped by the manager of the store to look in my bag. I was a bit confused, but unpacked my bag. There I saw that I had not paid for 1 piece of pork chop. I was shocked and asked if I could still pay for it, but the manager did not believe me. The police were called and I was taken to the police station where the prosecutor told me he would take no action against me, no fine and no criminal record. The police officers tried to persuade the store manager, but the manager still gave me a fine of 181 euros. Can the store fine me 181 euros even if the public prosecutor and officers on the scene disagree? What should I do now?

Lawyer

Of course this is possible. There must be a reasonable cause for the arrest and a report. You may contact me directly so that I can assist you free of charge, because this situation is not correct and the manager's actions are out of proportion.

Lawyer

No, that is not possible. That amount of 181 euros is presented as compensation for administrative costs that the store has to make when someone commits shoplifting. But apparently the police and the public prosecutor do not think that in your case there is shoplifting. Furthermore: a shopkeeper cannot impose a fine. You only owe money to a company if you have reached an agreement about it (and in other cases that are not relevant now). So just because someone says they will charge you an amount, does not mean you have to pay it. You were not able to negotiate the amount and the condition (shoplifting) was not met. A typical case of muscle language.