Next Directory

squashynose

I was looking for a jacket for a friend as a surprise gift, and found it cheapest on the Next website (have since found it £30 cheaper in the brand's own store ).

I went through the whole checkout, first putting my friend's address in as the delivery address, filling all my details in, including ALL my card details, opting OUT of the catalogue and free p&p, choosing to pay the extra £3.99. It even told me that I had to pay up front if I wanted it delivering to a different address to the billing address. So I got to the last stage, but after thinking and realising there might not be anyone to take delivery at her address, I went back and changed it to my home address. I clicked continue, expecting to have to go through all the stages again, but it just popped up with a 'order complete' page.

I checked my bank online that evening, and the payment wasn't showing as pending. Okay, sometimes they take a few days to process these things. The jacket arrived in the next few days, and I gave it to my friend. In the packet was also a catalogue, and a credit agreement to sign and send back. I did not want a credit account whatsoever. In fact I'm surprised I even pass the checks for one. My OH owes out somewhere in the region of £15k, with £2k of that in a joint account with my name on it... So the credit agreement got ripped up and thrown away.

I was still concerned that the payment hadn't been taken, but my OH said just to leave it, and hey maybe we wouldn't get charged for it, winner! I kept checking my online account, and the balance said £0. I even clicked on 'make a payment', just to see if the balance would change, and it said you do realise you don't owe us anything??

Fast forward 2 weeks, and I get a text message from Next, saying my statement is available to view online. So I go on, and lo and behold, a credit account has been opened, and I owe them nearly £200.

As I said, I didn't want it, or ask for it, and I had read the t&c (I always do now when opening new online accounts). I know I should pay for the order, I obviously intended to when originally placing the order. But if I don't, can they even chase me for it? I didn't sign anything, and they were stupid enough to send me the jacket before receiving payment or a signed credit agreement. They seemingly have no payment details (I also wonder where my card details went. I entered everything, security code, the lot. I'll be checking my bank statements everyday to make sure there's no suspect payments been made.), and we're moving house in a month. I'm just so mad that they did it all without my permission :mad: Our credit is bad enough, we don't need these morons adding to it.

bexx82

I received 2 catalogs from next that I do not recall asking for! These included a customer number that I could check on line, which I did and found I had a £250 credit limit ! I did decide to order some items as I needed some decent maternity clothes however it was asking me to make the payment in full, turns out I had to call them to activate the credit account and did not have to sign anything. Don't know if legally they can chase you or not, but I know that they WILL chase you and charge interest on top every month that you don't pay.

Write them a letter explaining how disgusted you are at what they have done without your permission and that you wish to close the account immediately. Also advise them that you think that they should waiver the payment for the jacket as a goodwill gesture. Is worth a try and you never know ! I worked for a large company that used to give vouchers as good will gestures.

dmoyes

I had a very similar situation, I did order the cataloge online but it was under a promotion so free catalogue and free delivery. A month later receiving a statement of my account showing the £3.99 delivery and a £250 credit limit. I had not agreed to any of that.

I did ring or e-mail (can't recall) and they removed they aparently removed the crdit check and the postage on the account.

The funny thing was, I was just about to buy somthing from them. I chose not to after that.

bexx82

Going back to my experience with next they rarely deliver within the time slot they are supposed to ! even though you pay 3.99 delivery ! and wait in all day ! Also they have just reduced my credit limit to 0 and I have no idea why and they cannot tell me, they just said that they review your credit every month and maybe it will go back up next month??? seems a strange way to operate. I have always paid on time and always pay more than them minimum payment sometimes the whole balance. I am seeing this as a blessing in disguise now that I have ordered my xmas presents from them, I should be able to clear the balance within the next couple of months!

If you dont get anywhere with your complaint then you need to complain to the financial services ombudsman about them.

squashynose

I decided I would just pay this, next week when I get paid, before the date of the next statement (dec 1st), and then just forget about it. But just received an email saying I was overdue on my minimum payment... So I sent them this email

I bought something from your website, chose to pay there and then, AND pay a delivery charge... I have just received an email saying I am overdue my minimum payment???
You have opened me a credit account, which I DID NOT WANT. Surely the fact that there is a delivery charge on there is proof that I chose to pay up front. I am absoultely disgusted that you think you can do this without my consent. I have not signed any credit agreement, and highly doubt you will be able to chase this debt that I did not agree to. I gave you all of my payment details at the time of the order, if you chose not to take them payment, then that's you're choice. If you do not close this account immediately, I WILL take this further.
I look forward to your response.

Let's see what they say to that. If they waiver the 26% interest for this month that I somehow now owe, I'll just pay the original balance. But if they want to play hard ball, I will too. I'd like to see them chase a debt with no credit agreement, and when I'm moving house in less than a month. I know my rights, if a debt collector can't prove a debt, then they can't legally do anything.