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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:
maiadoo · 07/05/2009 11:10

Aaargh - I'm having a nightmare with Next online at the moment. The item I delivered never arrived and they're still including it in the statement.

I also hate the fact you have to wait in for a courier to come get it. Why can't they just include a return postal sticker with your order (like other companies do), then you can stick it on and take it to the post office yourself rather than wait around all day? I believe they do send out a return postal address, but you have to call up and order one ... what a faff!

I agree they must lose so much custom by not letting you pay online directly. I held off ordering from Next for 3 years because of their stupid system. Now I regret signing up for this account as it's so fiddly - I'm going to cancel this week. Never again!

And yes, what on earth is this nonsense about paying for a catalogue??!?!?!? It's not even that great!

unclefluffy · 07/05/2009 11:13

Sooo glad it's not just me. I HATE it. And even when you have accidentally ended up with an account, you can't use a returns voucher to buy things from their online selection. So all the pink things DD got given which I took back can only be replaced with equally shitty pink things from the store (all the nicest stuff only being available online). Unless I would like a Next credit card. ARRGGGHHH!

Crackopenthebaileys · 07/05/2009 11:30

Hi, I haven't read this whole thread, so forgive me if I am repeating....
When you order from Next, the first order creates an account, as you have said. Very annoying I know! But when you get your details through, phone them and ask them to change it to a cash account. Nice and simple again. Oh and make sure they cancel the catalogues!! It's in the sall print that when you sign up you agree to each catalogue being sent to you..... at a cost of £3.75 each time! Pah, I'm shopping online you doofus, I can see it all here ust fine thanks!

bamboobutton · 07/05/2009 11:49

i had a Next account once, had all the problems that have been outlined here so i phoned up to cancel it. it was such a faff, they wouldn't speak to me because the card was in DHs name.

they made it so difficult that when we hung up we were slagging them off to high heaven, it was only when we paused for breath that we realised we hadn't hung up the phone properly and we could hear the call centre worker squawking down the phone, we carefully hung up and then pissed ourselves laughing

Mummyfor3 · 07/05/2009 12:27

at bamboobutton!

babypringle · 07/05/2009 12:41

I ordered maternity clothes from next when I was about 20 weeks pregnant. Half of the order didn't arrive. They finally wrote to me two weeks ago - when my baby was 5 weeks old - to tell me that the rest of my order was unavailable!!

betterthanlife · 07/05/2009 13:50

I've just bought some maternity clothes from Next. Lovely clothes, fit really well, no local store selling them etc BUT the account thing is infuriating. I do NOT do store cards. EVER. I've now lost the farking number you need to log on with and I don't know how to find it out again. I'm not going to do it again. GRRR.

OP YAabsolutelyNBU

PringlePopper · 07/05/2009 13:54

You can now log on with your email address and password rather than your account number, which does make things slightly easier.

muddleduck · 07/05/2009 13:56

how do you do that PP?
I tried earlier and failed so had to got searching through boxfiles full of junk to get the number.

ta.

PringlePopper · 07/05/2009 14:04

When I last logged into my account an option to change my log in to email and password came up. So I think initially you do have to log in using your account number but you are given the option to change it straight away. Not much use though I'm afraid if you have lost your account number

GracieGrace · 07/05/2009 14:06

My gripes with next are

  1. their polysester work wear obesssion
  2. that the staff look so odd in it
  3. their dull stores are rammed with crap tie die tshirt and muttony tops
  4. their obsession wiht cargo trousers and shorts
  5. the slow tunrover of stock
NervousNutty · 07/05/2009 14:07

I hate Next for exactly this reason.

I can't get an account with them because my credit history isn't very good and I don't want an account with them anyway, but this means I can't buy from their website at all.

Had to trek all the way into the city centre the other week to get shorts for Ds when I could have ordered them online. Plus when i got there they didn't have the one colour I wanted and when I aksed about it and said i'd seen them onine I was told that they are probably only available online then.

Ridiculous.

GracieGrace · 07/05/2009 14:07

they need LESS stuff

dexter73 · 07/05/2009 15:46

God I must be in a minority!
I like not having to pay immediately as if I send it back then I don't have to wait for a refund.
When you order from the catalogue you get a free delivery which cancels out the cost of the catalogue.
Also there are always free delivery codes flying about.
I also like the fact that I don't have to return goods via the post office but have them collected by courier for free.

Sycamoretree · 07/05/2009 15:48

YANBU - I nearly exploded first (and last) time I tried to order with them.

I don't like being "on tick". It's infuriating and so much more to faff about and remember to do - just take my bloody card details already!

PringlePopper · 07/05/2009 15:55

I agree with Dexter. I like being able to order many different items in a couple of sizes (because my usual size isn't guaranteed to fit) try on at my leisure and return, only being charged for what I keep and not having to wait for a refund. I always settle my account in full when the statement comes through.

I also like having the returns picked up from home and not having to trail into town with them.

What I don't like are the statements and the online account, neither of which give enough, easy to understand details.

Fimbo · 07/05/2009 15:55

I tried once to order curtains, they were in stock when I phoned to order, but the time they had faffed about with the account opening thing, the curtains had gone out of stock. Then the call centre person uttered the immortal phrase "is there anything else I can help you with today".

PinkTulips · 07/05/2009 16:08

the worst one i've had was a nappy site who didn't take payment on site but emailed me later to request i email a completed transaction form to them with credit card details on it! from a bloody hotmail account, as if!

needless to say i went to another site that used secure payment

dexter73 · 07/05/2009 16:09

I was just reading my letter that came with the directory and this is what it says -
You only pay for the brochure if you order from it. We'll charge you £3.75 for this brochure but you'll receive a credit for free delivery worth £3.95.
So really you don't pay for it iyswim!!

PringlePopper · 07/05/2009 16:13

All it takes is a letter to head office or an email to customer service and request that they no longer send you a catalogue. I did this and I don't get them anymore. Like someone else said, I don't see the point when I can see exactly the same thing on the website.

cuppachar · 07/05/2009 16:23

Dexter - I have argued this point with Next, as my letter also said that, but I got charged for the directory anyway, despite not ordering from it. They couldn't explain this.

Anyway what on earth is the point in that ridiculously complicated charging / not charging / free delivery credit stuff anyway?? Why not just give you the option of whether you want it or not in the first place?

PringlePopper · 07/05/2009 16:31

There used to be a note on the statement saying the directory was out and would be being delivered. If you didn't want it you had to ring and enter your self serve number to cancel it. It was a royal pain in the backside!!

I used to cancel mine but the directory would still be delivered. In the end I wrote a very long and detailed letter with a list of my complaints to head office as customer service are useless! I received a telephone call from a very nice lady who took care of everything and made a very generous credit to my account

muddleduck · 07/05/2009 19:19

Have to say I had no trouble cancelling the directory. When I paid my first statement over the phone I just asked for it to be cancelled and it was.

dinny · 07/05/2009 19:22

totally agree with Op

ChezzaB · 07/05/2009 21:06

If you call the 24 hour order line and explain to them you don't want to open an account etc they will take your order over the phone and take payment there and then also when this happens when they send the item/s you will get an account number with which you can order on line and pay straight away with no credit agreement! I had exactly the same issue and rang up and they were really helpful! Sorry if someone has already posted similar I didn't really read all the posts!