MSE News: Buying online at Next? Beware – it searches your credit file

kleapatra

I can't tell you how long this has wound me up, why can't I just buy something and pay for it like pretty much other retailer?! And just to add insult to injury, even if you do have an account, try getting it delivered to your place of work- you can't! I get everything I order online delivered to my office, have done for years, in fact everyone I works with does, Next are the only company that's refuses to deliver there as I don't actually live there. I have yet to find another online company that won't deliver to a work address, and I do A LOT of online shopping!

cocktail

Got caught by next 2years ago by this nasty trick.
Just stopped shopping there.

CAz7999

I fell out with Next a few years ago after they wouldn't let me update my debit card details on my account (card had expired) without WRITING to them. And as if I'm going to post my card details off so anyone could read it... In this day and age! Everyone else you could do it online in a few seconds.

And I also objected to the doorstop of a catalogue they charge you for too, when you can look online for nothing, and save trees.

D-D_2

I found out about this today. I created an Account (like you would with Amazon, ASOS, any other online retailer) as I had £140 worth of gift vouchers to spend for my Birthday. After putting in my details - identical to ANY online retailer - I was suddenly presented with a screen showing I had a Next Account with a Credit Limit of £900! I am in the process of applying for a mortgage so was outraged.

I contacted their complaints department and was told I must have chosen 'Buy Now Pay Later'. Considering I had NOTHING in my basket this was impossible. He was adamant though and refused to let me speak to a Manager. He said he would close the Account and remove the search from my Credit File. I ran my credit report this evening and the search from Next Directory is there. Equally my Account is still 'Open' with £900 to spend.

At no point was there a Box to state I consented to a Credit Account or Credit Search. Yes they claim their T's and C's say they can, yet many people have been caught out.

DON'T SHOP WITH NEXT ONLINE! Which has also picked up on this issue. Next doesn't seem to care as they just release a statement and hope people will forget.

conversation.which.co.uk/money/next-account-card-interest-rate-directory AUG 2013

conversation.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/next-website-credit-account-online-order FEB 2014

lizziebreath

I am completely fuming as I have an impeccable credit history - no debts apart from mortgage (no arrears, ever, in 17 years) and one credit card that is paid off in full monthly. I also have a 50% deposit to put down on our new property.

Yesterday I was refused a Tesco mortgage because of my credit rating. They could tell me no more but said it was something on my Experian report.

So, as I refused to pay Experian £14.99 monthly, I am obliged to wait 4 days for them to email me my £2 report (Experian rant is for another day!).

In the meantime, I have checked Noddle, and see that completely unknown to me, I have an open Next account listed. This is the only anomaly I can spot in my credit report.

About 2 years ago, I ordered some clothes for my baby daughter from next online, and had the same experience as several others. I attempted to pay online but they opened a credit account for me without my permission and did not charge my debit card. Immediately, I contacted them and paid by card over the phone and specified that I did not want the account opened. They agreed. I thought that would be the end of it!

I now find out that not only did they open the account for me and leave it open without my permission, but they have also steadily increased my credit limit. I contacted them today and insisted that they close the account immediately, which they said they would do.

I will soon find out from Experian if there is anything else that could explain why my mortgage application was refused. Otherwise it appears that Next may have seriously screwed up my life, particularly as I now have a refused mortgage on my credit record!

What I want to know is what can be done. Next need to stop this damaging practice straight away. And I need to sort out my mortgage. Help!!

Radcork1

:mad:

Should have done my research.

Saw a lovely item online at Next. Filled in my details and went to order but remembered I had a voucher at home so stopped before making the payment....too late, a screen comes up with a credit account set up for me with the item already showing on it. I rang Next immediately to say I wanted the order and the account cancelled. They advised that if you leave the screen on hold for too long it will automatically set up a credit account (surely this is wrong!!) He could not cancel the order or the account and told me I needed to ring back tomorrow to see if they can cancel both but I may still have to just pay the full amount and then they can cancel the credit account!!

I will never order from Next online again and will be sure to warn all of my friends and family not to fall for the same trick.

As a regular Next store shopper this has annoyed me enough to not want to go into the store again!!!!DISGUSTING!!!!:mad:

Doc_N

It's actually worse than you might think. Opened an account in my name and made a purchase using my wife's credit card. No credit needed or applied for.

Result - two searches made by Next. One on me (for the account) and one on the wife (for the use of her card).

Disgusted by Next's approach - that's the last business they'll see from this household.

Beachview_2

I was in Next and was given a voucher for £10 off my first online shop of £15 or more. I was looking to get a new handbag, and after looking in Tesco and Asda and not seeing anything I liked, I decided to get one on the Next website. My Mum wanted a pair of shoes that were in the sale section so I ordered those too. I paid for everything straight away as I would not ever want to be paying in for clothes. I paid with a debit card, all at once.

Now I'm worried about this messing up my credit rating. I'm looking to get a very small mortgage some time this year, well to come on with a family member as a joint mortgage. I thought my credit rating would be decent as I've never had any debts.

What is the best way to fix this? I want to tell Next to remove my name from their system, what is the best way of doing this?

I see other people saying that Next have set up some sort of credit limit on their next account, so I was worried that they must have done something like that with me too. I logged on to the Next site but do not see anything like that in the 'my account' section. What do I need to look under?

Joco84

If anyone wants the CEO's email address, I think it's: [EMAIL="simon_wolfson@next.co.uk"]simon_wolfson@next.co.uk[/EMAIL]

I guess if he got enough complaints in his inbox, he'd soon take action....

adonis

If they are lying to customers perhaps people should complain to the Financial Conduct Authority and see if they can sort Next out.