What to do if I accidentally walked out of a store with an item I forget to pay for and am now being charged an excessive fee regarding it?

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What to do if I accidentally walked out of a store with an item I forget to pay for and am now being charged an excessive fee regarding it?

I went back to the store within an hour to return the item. The owner of the business said that if I didn’t pay him $100 on top of returning the item, he would call the police and have me arrested. It was an honest mistake and I feel as if the storeowner basically extorted $100 from me. Is this even legal for him to do? If it is illegal, what can I do in order to get my $100 back?

Asked on September 14, 2013 under Criminal Law, Washington

Answers:

FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

Based upon what you have written about what the store owner did was illegal. The best way to get the excess $100 back is to file a small claims action against the store owner for this money alleging as a cause of action fraud.

FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

Based upon what you have written about what the store owner did was illegal. The best way to get the excess $100 back is to file a small claims action against the store owner for this money alleging as a cause of action fraud.


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