Ordering from Next online - beware

Ria24

I nearly let this happen to me whilst recently placing an order with Next.

There is an option though as soon as you have placed your order to pay with your bank card, this avoids entering a credit agreement with Next and avoids any extra charges for Next Directory Catalogues

sammyjammy

I think Next are really onto a loser there, I have often wanted to order from their website but don't do so for the reasons above, I want to buy something fro mtheir website, I don't want a credit check done, I don't want to pay £3.50 for a catalogue I don't need and I don't want a Next account, its bizarre and unlike anyone else I can think of.

Clive_Woody

Contact Consumer Direct to make a complaint

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

piratefairy

They tried to do this to me as well, I did not enter any credit card details online. I called the customer services helpline on the site, so that they could check if any of my local stores had an item in stock, whcih they did, and took my address etc details to be able to "reserve" the item in the store, for me to go and pick up and pay for. I never entered any card details anywhere, did not agree to any terms and conditions (didn't tick a box etc) and they had put an account on my name, which turned up on my creidt report.
Eventually, after calling the complaints department, I managed to get this cancelled, although apparently they 'are not able to delete an account, but can only make it dormant'.
I have reported thsi to the Financial Ombudsman.

frozen_wastes

I've now had some feedback from Consumer Direct:

Here are the salient points in their email:

If the company is processing and opening credit agreements/running accounts when purchases are made and this is not made clear to the consumer, the trader may have committed an offence under the Consumer Protection regulations.


The Regulations introduce a general duty not to trade unfairly and seek to ensure that traders act honestly and fairly towards their customers.
The company may also be in breach of the requirements under the Consumer Credit Act.

On this basis I would like to make the details available to trading standards for consideration/action.

So, a little action! I'll keep you posted regarding any further developments.

frozen_wastes

I've had some further feedback from my Local Trading Standards Office, here are some extracts from the email they sent me:

From the information that you
have provided and also checking the terms and condition on the Next website
I have been able to establish that by checking the box to say you have read
and agreed to their terms and conditions this has allowed Next to open a
credit account for you.

This is similar to a
credit card and several of these types of agreements can be entered into
online by ticking a box to confirm acceptance of their terms and conditions
which set out all the necessary information for the agreement.

It does not appear to me that Next are in breach of the legislation, and
there would be no action that I could take in this regard anyway, however,
your complaint has been made available to the local authority for Next who
would be responsible for rasing any potential issues with Next.

So, from the basis of the Trading Standards officer's interpretation of the law, Next can get away with entering you into Credit Agreements, so long as it's somewhere in the terms and conditions.

climbgirl

frozen_wastes wrote: »

So, from the basis of the Trading Standards officer's interpretation of the law, Next can get away with entering you into Credit Agreements, so long as it's somewhere in the terms and conditions.

Go back to them with the point about it being clear and prominent. It's clearly not!

climbgirl

piratefairy wrote: »

Eventually, after calling the complaints department, I managed to get this cancelled, although apparently they 'are not able to delete an account, but can only make it dormant'.

That is rubbish. Although Next are notoriously bad at not closing down accounts. Just keep persisting, in writing. And mention that you've reported them as well.

Good luck...

birkee

I've experienced sites that leave you with no 'back' button. It must commit a lot of people to continue with the purchase phsychologicaly.
Simple answer. Don't complete the last steps, just drop the connection to their site. Go to your 'home' page or something.

Also, even if they open an account, just don't use it. If they're not taking money......?

The above said, thanks for the warning on Next's disreputable practices regarding hiding important info in the T&C.

Sparklyfairy

Hi all - this just happened to me TODAY! I now refuse to do any business with Next - it's so underhanded & I hope to god they lose a lot of business as they seem to be one of the only companies that do business this way!

I also hope their staff at their HQ is reading this thread - they have now lost a really good customer!