Say No To Compulsory Sign Ups !!!!!!!!

codger

It's about time somebody -- MSE? -- cracked down on Internet retailers who insist on you signing up to an "online account" whenever you want to make a purchase.

Yesterday we attempted to order online from Marks & Spencer.

But before an order can be placed, M&S insist on you registering online first with username, password, email address etc etc.

God in heaven, WHY??

Isn't there enough clutter on the average home PC with passwords, security questions, security answers, anti-spam email addresses, account names etc etc without some blasted High Street store demanding you add yet further to the carp.

It has nothing to do with security, nothing to do with "enhancing your purchasing experience" and everything to do with retailers trying to grab as much personal information as they can and thereafter presumably target you with junk email.

We didn't buy from M&S. Went to Debenhams instead, which at least offered the option of either registering with them, or just purchasing without registering.

Disappointing that an outfit ostensibly as consumer-savvy as M&S should be so stupid, but they're obviously not alone. Perhaps if all consumers told online suppliers "hey, we just want to purchase something, not make friends with you for life" there'd be less clutter on home PCs, less junk emails, and less personal ID floating about the ether.

Ends rant! :mad:

dangeroussports

Agreed.
The government and business behave in exactly the same way.....very orwellian....

I.e

"this is in your security and safety now tell us everything about yourself, where do you shop, what are your political beliefs, how many children, how much do you earn etc etc"

B****CKS

advent1122

codger wrote: »

We didn't buy from M&S. Went to Debenhams instead, which at least offered the option of either registering with them, or just purchasing without registering.

You have answered you own question, if you dont like it - shop elsewhere.

nealallen

advent1122 wrote: »

if you dont like it - shop elsewhere.

I don't thnk thats the point, you might want to get somethin from a certain shop that knowone else does, don't mean you should be made to all yor persanal deatils.

I now stear well clear of all these comapny's that say you have to register. The worse one's are those when you finish sopping for what you want, click "checkout" Then register!

Once you register with peoplw like that, they take yor details, write, send emails and call you.

We DON'T what all your hassle, let me pay and send my goods :mad:

marleyboy

just give them a Jo Bloggs a/c, I hate the ones that insist you put in your phone number, suppose you dont have one?

*Louise*

marleyboy wrote: »

just give them a Jo Bloggs a/c, I hate the ones that insist you put in your phone number, suppose you dont have one?

I never give any company my phone number...just type in loads of 00000's

marleyboy

*Louise* wrote: »

I never give any company my phone number...just type in loads of 00000's

Likewise I usually use 123456789.

missylou_2

marleyboy wrote: »

just give them a Jo Bloggs a/c, I hate the ones that insist you put in your phone number, suppose you dont have one?

If you don't have a phone how do you access their website in the first place?

hawkwinddotcom

missylou wrote: »

If you don't have a phone how do you access their website in the first place?

You dont need a phone to have internet access, 1 example is cable

Andy_L

Even if you don't sign up for an account you've got to give them delivery/billing address, email, phone, credit card details anyway

MORPH3US

@ missylou...

I don't have a phone (excluding mobile). I am on Virgin Media (cable) for broadband and every time I ring up they try to get me to have phone too but why would I want to pay £10 a month for a static phone when I have a mobile that goes everywhere with me and I get hundreds of free mins and texts.

I agree with the OP though, it is very annoying. Its the same when you want tech support so you have to register and then use their "secure" messaging service to submit a query and then they e-mail you to tell you to login and check the "secure messaging service" for the answer.... why not just let me e-mail you and then you e-mail back?!?!?

I also enter loads of competitions from these forums and they all insist on phone numbers, but then usually in the T&C's say "winners will be contacted by e-mail / post" - so why do you need a bloody telephone number.... but then I always think that by using 0000000000 I could void my entry if I do win! So I always give my mobile number but then be very careful to tick all the boxes saying "no contact". Least I change my mobile number every year if needed so its not too bad!

M