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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to not want to use Next online because it won't let me pay straight away?

79 replies

Naetha · 06/05/2009 20:37

I placed my first order with Next online for some maternity stuff (can't get it in the shops, so it's online or through the catalogue). Put all my details in etc etc, but I can't pay yet?

I have to wait for a customer number to be sent out through the post, THEN I can log into my account and pay.

I know it sounds daft to want to pay when I don't have to, but I have this morbid fear of debt (and reasonably so tbh) and I really don't like this hanging over me, even for a few days.

AIBU to feel so uncomfortable like this? Or does everyone else cope find and I'm just being a stick in the mud?

OP posts:
pointydog · 06/05/2009 22:39

YANBU, I agree. Next online is a huge pain in the arse. The insist on givin gyou a customer number, I can never remember where I put the silly bit of paper or if I wrote it down, they refuse to tell you over the phone if you phone them up.

It is a piece of nonsense.

I am normally trying to order some piece of school uniform fairly urgently adn I end up tearing my hair out

Mummyfor3 · 06/05/2009 22:43

Should we not mail this whole thread to Next customer services? That would teach them, wouldn't it!?

pointydog · 06/05/2009 22:46

oh I wish someone would. They drive me nuts

pointydog · 06/05/2009 22:47

I CANNOT REMEMBER ANOTHER BLOODY NUMBER IN MY LIFE!

brimfull · 06/05/2009 23:08

and their website is complete shite as well

pictures of pages from the catalogue...oh very clever

flockwallpaper · 06/05/2009 23:21

Couldn't agree more, nice products but a PITA to deal with. I hate having to open an account, why not let people pay with a credit or debit card like any other 21st century retailer? And yes, the website is rubbish - wonder if they do it on purpose so that you give up in frustration and pay for a hard copy catalogue? Awful.

Longtalljosie · 07/05/2009 06:40

I refused to buy from Next online for all these reasons but when I needed maternity stuff relented. I've got half my order but my jeans (which it said would be 1-2 weeks) haven't turned up. It's only just over 2 weeks but I really need them now.

How long is it before the bill turns up? I've been expecting it for ages.

Oh yes, and YANBU. Whoever said this was 70s catalogue shopping is quite right.

LuluLulabelleWantsANewName · 07/05/2009 06:55

I was completely confused by the whole account thing. I was waiting and waiting for the payment screen to come up but it never did so I called Next and they said that was how they did it, I could pay when the goods arrived the next day. Er, no I couldn't. Had to wait for that statement.

Hate the account number waffle, had loads of problems with delivery, have been charged for things which didn't arrive, sent 3 lots of one item then had to be in the house for 2 days for the bloody courier to take the stuff back that I didn't ask for. I don't bother with them now unless I absolutely have to and I haven't absolutely had to for months.

I complained and got a £10 credit to my account as some kind of gesture towards my telephone expenses (or something).

ProfYaffle · 07/05/2009 07:00

dh once ordered flower for me from Next online and was horrified when a catalogue turned up a few weeks later, swiftly followed by a bill for it! He rang and complained loudly and they sent a courier to collect the catalogue and didn't charge him.

Similar thing happened to me a couple of years later, I just thought feck it, I'm not paying. I ignored it and they didn't pursue it any further.

racmac · 07/05/2009 07:04

Never used Next online but i hate the fact that if you want a catalogue you have to PAY for it? Whats that about

Clayhead · 07/05/2009 07:40

Exactly the reasons I don't use Next, I can't understand why they can't be as flexible as other shops/sites.

Madmentalbint · 07/05/2009 07:57

I don't like the Next Online experience either. I hate that you have to have an account and I hate that you have to have a Directory or pay a delivery charge.

I ordered a throw to be delivered to a local store, changed my mind and told them so when it arrived in store, but the throw was still on my next statement. Gah!

laurielou · 07/05/2009 09:05

Oh, I thought it was just me!! Tried to order a dress (shop didn't have right size). Had email saying account set up, clearly it hadn't been, rang twice, still couldn't help, then finished their call with "is there anything else I can help you with?" Anything ELSE?? You didn't manage to help me in the first place, you twonk!

Sad thing is REALLY need this dress for a wedding. But will never use the online service again.

Woah, and BREATHE......

Sorry for that, x

cuppachar · 07/05/2009 09:37

It is soooo annoying that there is no way of ordering online without setting up an account and signing up for a £3.50 directory which you don't need. (Although I have since phoned up cancelling them for good.)

Also I wanted to set up a direct debit to pay automatically each month. They said they couldn't do it over the phone because it's a joint account , so sent me a form instead. The form has two options: (1)pay the minimum payment each month (and therefore pay interest on the rest) or (2) pay a fixed amount each month. Er no, I'd like to pay the actual bill each month thanks, same as any other direct debit!

They really need to sort it out - online ordering should be easy!

muddleduck · 07/05/2009 09:44

Thank you ladies!

I had completely forgotten that I needed to pay for some stuff I got last month. I wish I could pay straight away so that I didn't have to rely on mumsnet to avoid getting behind with my payments

Their delivery/returns system works well IMO but this bit really annoys me. I want to buy, pay and then move on to my next bit of overspending somewhere else

muddleduck · 07/05/2009 09:46

Oh and don't get me started on that nonsense where you have to remember to but your code in when you first log in...

catski · 07/05/2009 09:58

I HATE their system. I want to pay when I order - all done and dusted, instead of making it into two jobs, and I invariably forget to pay on time. Bah.

It's a total throwback from the 80s when they first introduced their catalogue (which was considered such a work of art and a privilege to possess that you had to pay for it). Why on EARTH would you want to pay 4 quid for a catalogue these days when you can see it all online???

flowerybeanbag · 07/05/2009 10:02

It's absolutely bonkers isn't it, for such a large retailer? They must lose incredible amounts of custom each year because they choose not to provide a decent online shopping facility.

muddleduck · 07/05/2009 10:07

Shall I print out a copy of this thread and send it to their head office?

flowerybeanbag · 07/05/2009 10:09

Yes, do!

PaulaYatesBiggestFan · 07/05/2009 10:23

tbh it they have lost a lot of trade from me and it is simply the 'hard sell' next directory thing

not nice

paisleyleaf · 07/05/2009 10:38

Oh if this is getting sent to Next, I'd like to say I agree with everyone here.
I like to pay straight away when I order. No account. No code.
So I don't shop next on-line.

catski · 07/05/2009 10:41

I will say that I think their recent decision to deliver overseas is great (for me anyway, I'm in sweden where children's clothes are very expensive so it'll be cheaper to order from Next even with the P&P), but they're not going to get any custom from non british people if you have to open an account to order and faff on with statements etc.

Mummyfor3 · 07/05/2009 10:53

In all seriousness, this thread is an invaluable customer survey for them, surely?
Could we not e-mail them a link to this? Anonymity will prevail and they get a fair share of bile opinions - for free !

As somebody who buys virtually all my and the kid's clothes online, and I like their stuff, they are losing a lot of business by just being awkward to deal with.

PaulaYatesBiggestFan · 07/05/2009 10:57

agree mummy - i have 6 children and online buying is my lifeline