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

marcus_h

But is there anything one can do about it?

Jim1973

They are still doing this. I ordered a polo shirt online and entered my card details and paid there and then or so I thought but weeks later i find they did not take payment and set up a credit account. I was fuming when I found out and rang them and they assured me it would be converted to a payment only account. Four weeks later the credit account is still open! I have demanded they delete my account entirely. I somehow doubt they will.

I never requested a credit account and I feel I've been scammed by Next. I will never shop there again. Am so disappointed in a company I have used for twenty years. Shame on you Next!

N_ROD

I bought a washing machine from Next and paid for next day delivery and the full amount of apx £400 was debited from my debit card.

Next rang me the next morning to apologise as the next day delivery option wasn't available in Northern Ireland. So I cancelled the order and was told a refund would be made immediately.

No refund was forthcoming and when I finally got to the bottom of it it appears they opened a Next account for me and refunded the money to it!!!!!! Even though I had originally paid by debit card. So the refund I was expecting to be made to my current account has been lying in a Next directory account with a limit of £600 that I certainly NEVER applied for.

They are going to look into it and come back to me as they can't understand how it could happen and 'apparantly' its never happened before!! Its very frustrating and concerning as I also didn't give them enough information about me for them to make an informed credit decision. Clearly, at best they are irresponsible lenders, at worst.... crooks!

angelavdavis

It sounds like I am in the same position as many of you - I saw a dress I liked in my local store. I had a gift voucher from Christmas and thought "Great, I will use it for this". Sadly, they didn't have my size "Oh, you can just order online" was the response from the sales assistant. So, I did and used my gift voucher code for the transaction, topping up £2.50 with my debit card. I then received an email saying my balance was -2.50 despite paying this at the purchase time! I paid this off immediately and asked them to close the account.

This hasn't happened. So, now I have a credit account I have contacted them about every month requesting settlement as I do not want an account! They continue to email me to sign the credit agreement which I point blank refuse to do!

I don't even shop in Next usually and only went in there because I had the voucher!

angelavdavis

Just a quick update. I again contacted Next via their customer complaints webform and said I had previously contacted them to cancel the account yet they were still failing to do so I then added that I would take the matter further if they ignored my request this time (planning to email Watchdog and Trading Standards although didn't state this in the message). .

I was emailed back fairly quickly confirming that they have cancelled the account.

Should this situation change, I will update this thread.

black666

Email them (no cost).
Insist on a written (paper letter in the post) reply to confirm the account has been closed and any sneaky credit check which left a marker on your credit file has been removed.
Next, listen to the consumer - avoid sneaky credit accounts or we will shop elsewhere.

sarahlouisexo

I wonder if the MSE team could draft a letter to send to Next to cancel accounts that we didn't want set up? With the right legal jargon etc...I ordered using the First Time Surfer offer, and while I was able to have an instore delivery, I recieved a letter about the credit account being opened in my name, with papers to sign! Have just binned these but don't know what the best next step is!

black666

IMPORTANT!!!! When cancelling your credit agreement, get them to remove the marker on your credit file - also ask them to confirm they did this in writing.

Fila_2

I was just about order something online from Next and create a new account with them. Luckily, I actually managed to catch the part where they mentioned about credit checking me despite my not needing a credit account from them. I exited their site immediately.
Upon Googling "Next" and "credit account", I saw this thread. So this is an update that they are still doing this to potential customers.

Mrs_Moonbeast

I can't believe that a company such as Next feel that it is acceptable to try and force a credit account on unsuspecting customers. Just tried to place a large order online and noticed this credit application check at the last minute. As a result Next has lost yet another customer. Very disappointed!