Next automatically opening an account when ordering online

I thought it was common knowledge that if you want to order from their website or their catalogue, it's required that you have an account. They won't do it otherwise.

I can see your being cross, as you've spent all that time selecting the stuff but I can't see what you will achieve from going to watchdog.

This happened to B2B and I think its outrageous - they gave her credit and neither of us is UK resident, so I dont know what kind of credit checks they run (if any)...complian! (Im too lazy...)

It happened to me when I ordered some wallpaper last year. I just paid cleared the payment when it was due and that was that. It's no biggie. I can see why you're annoyed but as far as I know, it's the way Next have always operated and if you don't like it then you really don't have any option but to shop elsewhere. Going to Watchdog would be a waste of time IMO.

It may well be common knowledge in some circles but the site does not make it clear that you don't have a choice. I'm not trying to achieve anything for myself but this makes it too easy for people to get into debt.

At least it's not just me.

I don't think this is common knowledge, I thought you had to have an account with them as well but I thought that just meant registering your details such as address, phone number, etc. Not a credit account.

I would also feel annoyed in your position but I would only complain to Next about the practice and about the snotty call centre person, I wouldn' tbother with Watchdog or anything like that.

It was presumably in the T&Cs, which I have to say I don't generally read when signing up for something either. If they are going to credit-check you (not sure if this is the case but they certainly should!) then I think they should flag this up more prominently, although I don't think they have a legal obligation to do so.

I think there are still quite a few high-street financial institutions acting irresponsibly with regard to credit. I get all sorts offered to me by my existing banks, including credit card checks, even though I'm not a UK resident.

I had actually looked at the T&C before placing the order. This is what it says about the accounts:

A Next Directory Flexible Account ("Next Account") may be opened for you and you will be charged £3.75 for your first and each subsequent Next Directory.

Now I took "may be opened for you" to mean - may be opened for you subject to credit checks if you request it. Legally I'm sure the T&C have it covered, but it's still poor.

I agree that's poor and a bit ambiguous - "may" is used to mean "can" or "might", and interpreting it as "can" gives your interpretation.

Common knowledge? Only if you're a regular Next shopper I'd imagine. I wouldn't have had a clue.

I had no idea until this happened to me a while ago and then I got a bill for a catalogue I didn't want! I refused to pay for it and in the end they cancelled the money!

I had assumed when I ordered from the website that I'd be able to put my debit card details in like you do with most other online places, and if I'd wanted to then I could have set up an account. That's the usual state of play.

I appreciate your annoyance but I dunno if complaining would do anything.

You used to be able to pay with your card but the last time I tried the same thing happened - but then they declined to open me a credit account. I was not best impressed and haven't shopped with them again.