Is a fine still justified after five months?

Questioner

In connection with a letter I received 5 months later from NAME, which I had never heard of before. On July 12, I shoplifted, for which I was stopped, the police arrived and acquitted me, I only received a ban from the store and that was the end of it. I also returned the items properly, nothing else was wrong, also because I had not yet passed the cash register. The store also suffered no damage, I returned everything properly. And the police handled it further, nothing was wrong, and I apologized properly. And now suddenly I receive a letter 5 months later that I have to pay a fine of 181 euros, while I know nothing about this and have never heard of it. I also no longer remember which police that was. So I don't know what to do, but I think that fine is unfair.

Lawyer

I can imagine that you have questions about this. The annoying thing is that this is probably a letter from the SODA foundation. Is that correct? If so, the following information applies: They try to collect such amounts for shopkeepers on a no cure, no pay basis. So it is not an official fine and has nothing to do with the police. More info at: https://www.so-da.nl/winkelinspecteur/ An example of a case in which the judge ultimately rejected the 180 euros is: https://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/inziendocument?id=ECLI:NL:RBAMS:2018:1548 You can explain to SODA why you do not agree with the amount. If you do not pay, you run the risk that SODA will charge collection costs. You can always contact me if you have any questions.