If you order something from next online do you have to pay for a blooming directory?

[alex8]

They won't let me order the stuff without it.

Any ideas?

Don't order anything and wait until they send you a free p&p/catalogue voucher. They'll be too desperate to keep you spending money.
Worked for me!

thanks for that, hwo do you get on their database to begin with then?

I went on to order stuff online and then couldn't believe I had to pay for a directory, so I phoned my order through instead. But they were really sniffy, as if the reason I didn't want to buy a directory was because I was too strapped for cash to pay for the goods. But I paid by Credit card and it was fine.

was that recently? I phoned to check I had to pay for a directory and the man who answered the phone said yes. I said it was stilly as I was odering online. Maybe I'll try again

Same here - I emailed to complain about it and they told me to order via the telephone - then spoke to me like something they'd just scraped off the sole of their shoe!

that's why I don't order from them

but I've fallen in love with a fleece sleep suit and its the first place I found with bright coloured 0-3 month clothing for boys and have an extreme desire to buy baby clothes. I was so thrifty with my first son and spent virtually nothing. I feel like I am making it up for it now.

Just phone and tell them firmly that you would like to place an order but you do not want to buy a directory. I think (only think) that it's not a matter of getting the money out of you for the directory, I think it's a question of making you an account holder. By signing up to a directory you are agreeing to all sorts of terms and conditions. When I phoned and said I wanted to pay by Visa, the response was "we don't accept Visa electron" - I do a lot of my shopping online (including my weekly groceries) and use my visa all the time, and I have never heard of a visa electron before (ie it has never been flagged up as a problem) so I said "what's that, I don't know if mine's an electron, but it's a visa. "Well" she said "I'm sorry, but if it's a visa electron we can't take your order". At which point a penny dropped somewhere and I said "well, it's not, it's a normal credit card, and I'll place the order". It was quite bizarre.

I just tried again offering to pay up front by credit card and they said no and I had to become an account holder and had to pay £3.75 for something I don't need or want.

yeah - you need to try again, but phone during office hours and insist you talk to a manager (or supervisor) if they're difficult. What a pain for you though.
Wonder if they could/should be reported to anyone? OFT?

I've only ever been an account holder and whether I purchase something online, over the phone or in store I have to pay for the bloody thing!!!

I first ordered from them online by setting up an account - they automatically sent me the catalogue when it came out and I told them it was unsolicited dont ever send me another etc. But another came the following season. I rang them told them I had expressly asked for it not to be sent. They credited my account and I haven't had another since. Think I did pay for the first one though. Crazy waste of resources isnt it?

thanks for that I'll try again tomorrow and ask to speak to someone in charge and claim "a friend" did it recently. Or I could just say lockets from mumnet! I shall go on about not destroying the environment.

Another thought is ordering it via an actual shop as they always have the directories lying about. But then countto10lordsaleaping had to.

It does seem so odd if they have a website too. I remember it from the 80s and thought it was a bit of rip off then but not is so outdated.

Success! I spoke to someone just now and said exactly what I said last night and they said fine, you can open a cash account. the clothes will be with me tomorrow!

Thanks for you help everyone. Now I just need the baby to put in the clothes.