Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to tell you to cancel Next Directory or pay £3.75

38 replies

greencatseyes · 12/11/2013 12:32

Just got email from Next saying they are 'delighted' to tell me that hey have 'reserved' me a copy of their directory.

Buried three paragraphs down it says

"However, if you would like to cancel your Directory order, which is only £3.75 for both Fashion and Home, please let us know by calling 0800 107 8978 quoting your SelfServe PIN xxxxxxxxx before 29th November 2013. "

So you have to actually telephone them and key in an ELEVEN digit pin to not be charged £3.75

UNLIKE

OP posts:
MrsLettuce · 12/11/2013 12:36

How utterly twatish of them!

Sukebind · 12/11/2013 12:37

Mine just turned up when I placed my first order a few years ago. I couldn't believe it (I hadn't really wanted to open an account with them anyway but I had a small baby and getting to the shop, having assumed they had right thing in the right size was a bit much at the time). Basically you get to pay for them to advertise to you! I rang up and complained and got the money taken off my account. However, the lady I spoke to said someone would come round to collect my unwanted directory. I then had it sitting around for 6 weeks, after which I 'phoned to ask when the collection would be made and then was told to keep it as a complimentary copy or give it to a friend. I recycled it!

Tee2072 · 12/11/2013 12:46

This is why I won't order from Next online or catalogue. Well this and the fact you have to have a Next account to do so.

Ridiculous. I don't even shop in store much with them.

MrsDavidBowie · 12/11/2013 12:57

You don't have to have a Next account to shop online....I get a monthly statement and pay it through my bank account.

lottieandmia · 12/11/2013 12:58

Haven't they always charged for the catalogue?

lottieandmia · 12/11/2013 12:59

They do try to force you to have an account - it's annoying and odd.

PatTheHammer · 12/11/2013 13:02

They charge for the catalogue and then you get that charge refunded when you make an order from it.

I don't agree with it but that's what they have always done, perhaps they need to make it a bit clearer when people open next accounts.

It's a bit old fashioned, why they don't just do a store card type thing I'll never know.

Original poster
greencatseyes · 12/11/2013 13:03

MrsDavidBowie that is an account... Its not possible to just pay for stuff in the normal way. It drives me bananas and I only buy school uniform from them (trousers fit my boys and come in right colour - more choice than other retailers). If you forget to pay it goes on your credit reference, so its a risk even if you could have just paid up front.

Now going to look at account and see if they've charged me for the other catalogues I never opened and recycled.

OP posts:
MrsDavidBowie · 12/11/2013 13:03

I have never been asked to have an account and I've been getting the Directory for as long as it's been going.

Not a new thing the £3.75 charge..it's always ben there.

I buy because they do a Tall range and ds fits the trousers.

Bowlersarm · 12/11/2013 13:04

It's normal practice isn't it?

Original poster
greencatseyes · 12/11/2013 13:05

I also hate the outdated catalogue format of the website - its like something from 1999 in web design terms (ex ecommerce person here)

OP posts:
MrsDavidBowie · 12/11/2013 13:05

Oh sorry...I thought you meant the Next card...do they still do that?

Hazelbrowneyes · 12/11/2013 13:06

I stopped using them when they insisted I paid upfront for items I wanted delivered to my works address. I understand they have to be careful with regards to fraud but I'd been using the works address as my delivery address on my account for 5 years previous to this.

AmandinePoulain · 12/11/2013 13:10

I've ordered stuff and just paid on my debit card, it is possible. They also have a store card, I know because I have one (I'm not sure why, I never use it).

Their website is rubbish though, and in these days of internet shopping I don't know why anyone hands over £3.75 for the directory Confused. I did have one once when they told me I could either pay £4 for delivery or pay £3.75 for a catalogue and get free next day delivery. Then I just phoned to cancel the next few until they gave up. The clothes aren't anywhere near as nice as they used to be in my opinion.

Blatherskite · 12/11/2013 13:11

I just got that e-mail too. I guess I'll be ringing them to head off the bloody catalogue!

It's the presumptuousness of it that pisses me off. Who says I want a sodding catalogue and want it so much that I'm prepared to pay almost £4 for it at that?! If I want to buy anything from Next (which is very little these days since they changed all their sizes and nothing fits any more), I will go in store or online and look for the particular thing I want. I do not need a catalogue for general browsing, I have better things to read.

Blatherskite · 12/11/2013 13:12

Thanks for the heads up by the way, I'd only read the first few lines and then ignored the rest Blush

IHeartKingThistle · 12/11/2013 13:18

They're twats. I stopped buying from them when they demanded a copy of my marriage certificate in order to change the name on my order Hmm

chicaguapa · 12/11/2013 13:20

They charge for the catalogue so they can spend more making it like a coffee table book, instead of it being hidden away like the Argos catalogue. It's a clever idea. I often see it in people's houses and sometimes have a quick look at it.

I rarely buy from Next, but if I do, it's because I've looked at it online and then I order it from the shop itself so I don't have to open an account. I don't mind the account itself, but I object to paying for a book that I can look at online and cba to keep cancelling the directory so I don't have to pay for it.

Tee2072 · 12/11/2013 13:25

What's normal practice? To charge for a catalogue? No. It's not.

I can't think of any other retailer who does.

It's called a Marketing Budget.

Coupon · 12/11/2013 13:27

I don't buy from them any more. I got fed up with the unwanted catalogues and having to have an "account" I didn't want. I wonder how many other customers they've lost for the same reason.

Why can't you just look at the website and pay for the total amount there and then, as with most other companies? No catalogue or account necessary.

Blatherskite · 12/11/2013 13:30

Have written and complained too. I also CBA with having to chase them up to stop catalogues I don't want being charged to my account. If they're going to carry on, I will be cancelling my account and being that the only things I tend to buy in there since they fucked up the way the jeans fit are watches I can't find in store for DH and shoes in sizes I can only find online for DD, that'll pretty much mean the end of my shopping in Next.

It should be something you can permanently opt out of. I've had my account for years and bar the first few months, I've been Directory free so this must be a new tactic.

Purplefrogshoe · 12/11/2013 13:30

I just got that email too and cancelled, I'm not paying £3.75 for something Hermes toss over my back fence, I think most people just look online anyway

TheSmallPrint · 12/11/2013 13:34

I've received on a bout a month ago (unrequested) but not had a statement asking for payment. What's going on there then?

MicroPigInHighHeels · 12/11/2013 13:34

What you need to do is ring them and say you don't want to receive the catalogues anymore. I found it annoying being sent the stupid heavy things, having to store them and then having to tear off the covers to be able to put in recycling. The final straw was when next sent a letter stating that 'to be green' they would stopo sending paper bills and I would have to manage my account online. So I rang them and stated that I'd like to be even greener and not be sent the wasteful catalogue s as all their products can be viewed online. Did the trick as I've not received one for years now, and don't get charged for the inconvenience either!

Blatherskite · 12/11/2013 13:36

I did ring them and said I never wanted the Directories - years ago. I still got the email!

Swipe left for the next trending thread