Are Next Directory legally allowed to open a credit account without my permission?

Layla

I was interested in buying my son some school uniform online recently from Next and was about to complete the order when I noticed the statement about a credit search being done on me. I didn't want this done so did not go any further with the order.

I phoned Customer Service and asked them if there was any way to order without having a credit search done and they said you could order over the phone with a credit or debit card.

I then checked the FAQS on the website and found this

http://help.next.co.uk/Section.aspx?ItemId=10237


Not sure if it works, as I subsequently found some school trousers on another website which were better, but thought it might be useful information for those of you who want to order from Next online without them carrying out a credit check.

Tomski

I ordered some school shorts for my daughter and was happy to pay straight away with my card. I opted to have the catalogue delivered too seeing as I had to pay for delivery anyway. I didn't know anything about an account until they told me I couldn't have one - thanks, but never asked for one in the first place! The shorts arrived, but no catalogue and it clearly stated on the delivery note that I had requested one. I emailed and asked about it and they told me to email my date of birth!! Well I wasn't happy with giving them details like that via email so they said I could ring customer services...but you know what, I couldn't be bothered. I decided I wasn't interested in having the catalogue coz I hadn't been very impressed with Next.
Today I browsed their sale items and fancied buying 2 items. I managed to log on ok, and had a voucher code for free delivery, but there was nowhere for me to put this code in. I'll get it delivered to a store then, I thought, but as I don't have an account I can't!! After googling and coming up with this thread I'm glad I don't have an account, and I haven't bought the items in the sale...I MAY have a look in a store if I'm passing, but I'm not impressed with Next at all

SevvySev

I too agree with all the previous posts about Next being a really cynically entrapping, unethical trader with their Online Credit Account .

I went into my local Next retailer and wanted to buy a pair of £28 trousers . I was told that they did not have it in my size , and when I asked if they could order it in , I was told that when they checked on their system it was not available in any of their warehouses , and that the only thing I could do was try Next Online .
At home, I then went to Next Online, and found the item in the size I wanted, but, as all the previous messagers will testify, it is not possible to just order it and pay, as you would with other retailers, eg. Amazon .

In the NEXT Online "Terms and Conditions" it specifies that your order would NOT be processed until you had agreed to opening a credit account, with a catalogue costing £3.75 being delivered twice a year to your home address, agreed to a credit check being made into your background , as well as registering with all the usual personal details .

When I sent an e-mail of complaint to NEXT Online, I was sent an e-mail back apologising "for problems you have had setting up an online account" and informing me that indeed there IS a facility for ordering items and paying by debit/credit card using a an 0844 number . This struck me a DOUBLEY cynical ; NOWHERE on the Online website is there any indication that customers can make a purchase without opening the Credit Account . It was only after I had written a bitter complaining e-mail that they gave me this information .

This really smacks of very sharp practice , and bloody unethical of NEXT, and not being an expert in legal matters , I do wonder if it is even illegal of them to do this ? And bloody stupid of them too . They have lost my custom, and by the sounds of it, the custom of many other members of the public . I guess their finance department has done their sums and reckons they will make make more money cheating the public by sending them unwanted/unrequested catalogues and opening unwanted credit accounts than it will lose by p***ing off customers like me .

But they have really lost respect and reputation as a friendly retailer Especially in the current economic crisis, when much blame for it is being laid on the public for fostering a culture of overspending and "living on credit", this proves it really is those big retailers like NEXT who are really responsible people overspending .

DoggyWox

ohh gosh! Looks likely I'm definitely not alone in this confusion of ordering from Next!

Today I ordered a few dresses for upcoming Xmas parties - had my bank card at the ready, to pay for the items, and then I get a notice saying "your items are on the way to you, and will be delivered to you tomorrow" - despite clicking the option to "pay now".

They have opened a credit account for me with £300 - absolutely shocking and NOT what I want.

I went on the phone to them immediately asking them to cancel the order since I only ordered literally 2 minutes ago online - they said cancelling my order was not possible!!

Please please can someone advise me what my best option would be with regards to closing this entire ‘account’? The dresses I ordered can be bought anywhere - they are certainly nothing special - and the only reason I ordered from Next was because the next-day delivery was appealing.

Can someone advise me - should I refuse the delivery tomorrow from the courier then phone to close the account completely? Will they still do a credit check on me? - If so, could this affect me in any way? (I have very good credit and I certainly don't want Next ruining anything for me)

I was on the phone to them today trying to get answers but all the woman kept saying to me was "You'll be happy with your purchase so don't worry" - Honestly, how ridiculous!!

I want this account closed completely!! I feel like I've been completely lured into something that I never wanted! I simply went online to order a few dresses and pay for them immediately. Not to open credit accounts, get credit checks done, and get £300 credit!

Finally - Can someone also advise me if I have the right to ask them to delete all the information they hold on me? I don't want them sending my address around willy-nilly to goodness knows who, then weeks later receiving all kinds of junk mail! I want all the info they have from me completely gone. I'll never ever be using Next again after this experience!

Edited to add: I found this info regarding trying to get Next to delete your account or information;
"An avid Bitterwallet reader, is locked in a battle with Next over such an issue. Simon recently decided to cancel his Next account, because he had no intention of using it again and didn’t want a £900 credit limit in his name floating about in the ether.....But Next are saying they will never delete anyone’s personal information – even if a customer has repeatedly asked for their account to be closed....We called Next’s press department about the matter, but their spokesperson wouldn’t comment unless we sent Simon’s personal details to them; even when we simply asked what Next’s data protection policy was, the spokesperson refused to answer"


Not looking too promising. This is causing me quite a bit of upset as I did infact read the T&C's but it was VERY UNCLEAR that credit of £300 would be opened in my name immediately without allowing me to actually pay for my goods there and then! I feel very deceived, cheated, and so angry.

aruba_2

I have been caught out by this just now.
I know I should have read the smallprint but I still believe it is misleading that this is not mentioned clearly.

Also I didn't want a credit check, which I assume has been carried out

DonnySaver

I've been recently caught out by this too. My wife wanted 2 items of furniture from Next. We went online and ordered them, expecting to be able to pay straight away (like most retailers) only to discover they'd set up a credit account for £900 !! No option to cancel, no proper warning it was going to happen - just was there in a click of a mouse! To top it all, the next day delivery that was advertised is actually now to be delivered in the next 8 working days!:mad:

Today, have just been sent a formal credit agreement to sign and send back but I'm going to ignore it. As soon as the items have arrived in satisfactory condition then I shall ring them up and pay but cancel my account ASAP. Will never fall for this trick with Next again. They've lost me as a customer.

What an old-fashioned way of doing business! Reminded me of the catalogues my granny used to order from in the 70's!

jbtparsons

I totally agree with all the previous negative posts about this really underhand practice. I wanted to buy a Christmas present for my sister and went through the next website. As I went through there was no option to pay as you'd expect. You select the item you want, register on the site, and suddenly the item is yours. As soon as I realised I tried to cancel but the site wouldn't let me. Soon after the goods arrived. This week I get an email telling me I owe them £22. Now that's fine, I obviously expect to pay. But when I checked my Experian credit file my credit score has been downgraded due to a new credit application. I was stunned to see that Next had allocated a £600 limit against my name. I have an impeccable credit record and make sure I keep it this way. Next will never get business from me again. Absolute disgrace. I'll be having a serious conversation with whatever poor call centre rep has the misfortune to pick the phone up to me in the morning. By the way, there are a few people suggesting that it's the customers' fault through stupidity. I work in a senior position in a bank and deal with finance every day, this is low level, loan sharking. Luckily I can afford it and can deal with putting these people straight, others can get sucked in and can end up with big bills they can't afford to repay. Very disappointing from a supposedly reputable company.

Bod321

I have also just been tricked by the Next website. I wanted to buy something and just assumed I would be able to pay for it upfront, as one does normally with most websites. I unticked the free delivery/Next catalogue box but it still opened a credit account for me without making it at all clear. I wondered why the order had been made without asking me for payment details. Quickly realising I'd been tricked, I phoned up immediately to complain and cancel the order, they said I couldn't, I'd have to return the item once delivered. They said there was an option on the website to pay upfront but I don't remember seeing one, if there was it wasn't obvious. I suspect there actually isn't, or perhaps they keep amending the website as it seems from people's complaints that sometimes the option is there, sometimes not. I'm so surprised that Next is playing these games, I thought they were a reputable operation. And looking at these forums (which I should have done before buying!) it seems they've been doing it for ages.

juliebunny

I ordered flowers over the phone with a credit card and they still opened a credit account for me I didn't want!! Took me a year to get rid of it and even now I know they hold my details. Won't touch them ever again.

fluffybunny29

Same thing just happened to me. I opted for the £3.75 with directory as opposed to £3.99 delivery. I was then told the item I wanted was not available for delivery so the purchase did not go through and I thought nothing more of it. The next thing I know I have the directory delivered and a credit account statement demanding the £3.75 for the directory. Having read these threads I was worried about phoning them but actually, they apologised that I hadn't realised I'd opened an account and offered to remove the £3.75 and close the account immediately. I agree that the way they go about this is very sneaky but at least they are rectifying it.