Warning Next Directory

Trying_really_hard

Well, I've just gone onto Next.co.uk to order a pair of jeans. Gave name, postcode, etc to register like you do for every site that you order something from. Suddenly, it pops up with "Thanks for your order - it'll be with you on Wednesday".

I'm thinking, "how odd, I never gave my details for payment". Yep, they'd opened a credit account for me without even giving me the option of paying by normal card!! I know I should have read the T's&C's but I thought they were the standard ones you read with every site. I'm so annoyed at myself for letting it happen.

I now have a credit check against my name for a pair of jeans of all things! So I agree with the OP, Next are cunning people. Devious way of getting me to take a store card which i have never done in my LIFE! :mad:

Sorry for the rant but I'm very annoyed at myself for falling for it! Luckily I ticked the "no thanks, I don't want a directory" thinking I was being clever at avoiding that one. :rolleyes:

Bongedone

They don't do a real credit check. My OH got the catelog with a £250 limit. There are no credit searches on her credit record. I think they go by trust with a low limit 1st. Maybe they just check the electoral roll.

EDIT: They just rang her on Friday asking if she wants a card to use instore. She has had the directory for 6 months and has ordered stuff and paid it off before interest. They did not ask for further details. To do a credit check they would need six years of addresses.

chuckley

Trying_really_hard wrote: »

Well, I've just gone onto Next.co.uk to order a pair of jeans. Gave name, postcode, etc to register like you do for every site that you order something from. Suddenly, it pops up with "Thanks for your order - it'll be with you on Wednesday".

I'm thinking, "how odd, I never gave my details for payment". Yep, they'd opened a credit account for me without even giving me the option of paying by normal card!! I know I should have read the T's&C's but I thought they were the standard ones you read with every site. I'm so annoyed at myself for letting it happen.

I now have a credit check against my name for a pair of jeans of all things! So I agree with the OP, Next are cunning people. Devious way of getting me to take a store card which i have never done in my LIFE! :mad:

Sorry for the rant but I'm very annoyed at myself for falling for it! Luckily I ticked the "no thanks, I don't want a directory" thinking I was being clever at avoiding that one. :rolleyes:

they dont give u a card account until u ask for it, and even then they may say no until uve been with them for a while. it stays as an online account only. thing is its at the top of the t&c's that a credit acc is opened!

just cancel if u dont wanna use it.

Grade_A_Reject

Exactly the same thing happened to my wife. She was simply asked in store whether she would like a catalogue sending out.

If I hadn't opened the statement (which she hadn't bothered opening thinking it was a circular) and spotted the balance and available credit she would have been unaware that she had entered into a credit agreement under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and not paying the £3.75 for a catalogue would have led to a black mark on her credit file.

To be fair their customer services closed the account and offered to refund the charge without any bother but it would appear the practice is quite widespread.

jenny-wren

My OH has been getting the Next Directory for years ... a waste of money because we never order from it.

They phone us up every time a new catalogue comes out to ask if we want it. We normally say yes.

But ... the past 2 or 3 times they've phoned and I've answered (and I clearly am not the account holder as I don't have man's voice) they put the phone down without even asking for him. Looks like they have to make so many calls and can't even be bothered if it's clear that the account holder isn't answering the phone. What they fail to realise is that the number is traceable back to Next Directory.

Gold star for customer service huh?!

Needless to say after that they can stuff their catalogue!!!

Butlers1982

Tell them to come and collect the catalogue and invoice them for the storage of it.

When i worked in retail, people like you really used to get up my nose.

chuckley

jenny-wren wrote: »

My OH has been getting the Next Directory for years ... a waste of money because we never order from it.

They phone us up every time a new catalogue comes out to ask if we want it. We normally say yes.

But ... the past 2 or 3 times they've phoned and I've answered (and I clearly am not the account holder as I don't have man's voice) they put the phone down without even asking for him. Looks like they have to make so many calls and can't even be bothered if it's clear that the account holder isn't answering the phone. What they fail to realise is that the number is traceable back to Next Directory.

Gold star for customer service huh?!

Needless to say after that they can stuff their catalogue!!!

well more fool you for keeping and paying for something you dont want. why didnt you cancel the directory and/or the account if u dont want it?!

and maybe then they will stop contacting you...

du02

Bongedone wrote: »

They don't do a real credit check. My OH got the catelog with a £250 limit. There are no credit searches on her credit record. I think they go by trust with a low limit 1st. Maybe they just check the electoral roll.

EDIT: They just rang her on Friday asking if she wants a card to use instore. She has had the directory for 6 months and has ordered stuff and paid it off before interest. They did not ask for further details. To do a credit check they would need six years of addresses.

Hi, just found this thread on a search, having been duped by Next.co.uk like a previous poster.
I felt the need to clarify some mis-information in this thread. They very much DO do a proper credit check, even though you only supply them with minimal details when you place an order.

The notification of an 'Opt-in' credit search by Next Directory appeared on my Equifax credit report within minutes of me ordering something online, thinking it was just a normal store..... and kindly wiped about 50 points off my credit score, which is just what I need right now:mad:

Furthermore, searches are held on your credit record for 12 months, but if they open an account, that record will be held on your credit file for 6 years from the date that it is settled. (Reference:www.equifax.co.uk)
A single search might not have much affect on your rating but the number of searches performed is taken into account and more is not better.

I was only ordered a ****ing £15 T-shirt for my Dad because the local store didn't have the right size!!!!!!

And cancelling the account isn't easy either, I phoned them up when I realised what was going on, wanting to pay by card right now and not open an account...but no, you can't do that. They won't accept payment until after the product is delivered.

So in disgust I cancelled the whole transaction. Now my credit score is down a little and I have no T-shirt!

This practice has got to stop, I am not sure who to complain to, so if anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

Apologies....if this message has turned from a correction into a proper rant!

Rgs
Chris

next-directory

This is an outrage!

Even if the customer wants to pay by debit card, Next Directory, the fashion retailer at next.co.uk, are credit checking EVERY customer. It's disgusting. One cannot shop there without being credit checked. Talk about abuse of information.

If you fail their credit scoring, you will be given a 'cash account' as they call it and treated like dirt as they only care about customers who pay the 'service charge' which is interest.

They are breaking the law on a number of instances:

1. Next.co.uk do not display the APR % in the application process, it is hidden in the terms and conditions.

2. Next Directory credit check you without your express permission, it is hidden in terms and conditions on http://www.next.co.uk/dir-mail.asp

If you have been credit scored or sent a Directory you MUST contact: http://www.fsa.gov.uk to ensure they are punished accordingly as a licensed credit holder as they are abusing their license.

Skint_Catt

I receieved two catalogues last weekend (at an address I haven't lived at for 2 years) and I don't want to be credit searched. I've never filled in one of their applications for a catalogue or for a competition so I don't know how they've got my details. What number do I phone to get them to cancel all this?????

Where's Martin when you need him? :money: