Microsoft Internet Service, MSN and Dell Computers Dishonest signing up for service and billing account automatically with no consent by user fraudulent partnership of Dell & MSN to trick customers Online Internet
I bought a Dell Laptop, so along came with it was the MSN internet access free trial. Since I already have the connection at home, I did not need it and so did'nt even bother "activating" it or trying it at all. I did'nt even touch it, click it, or even open the d**n package of the MSN trial password that physically came along. I also took that d**n icon out of the desktop screen.
Basically, I did not do anything with it!!
What do you know, charges were made to my account at a $21.95 per month! And it went on quietly for 3 months till I began to wonder what the hell is this "MICROSOFT *ONL BILL.MSN.C OM" on my statement. I first thought it was some charges credit cards, the thought of MSN dial up charges was not a possibility on my mind.
After I called msn hotline up, it was then that hell broke loose.
Those shrewd people some how activated the account and charged my account using the information I provided to Dell Computer during the purchase.It's outrageous!! Cust Service Rep said that "it just like cable, we bill you even if you don't use it". My a*s I said, cable don't just maraculously come to your TV if you don't call for it. And I did'nt not apply for the dial up access account, but still somehow, it got attached to my account.
Other Dell users please beware, if you get a new set of Dell Computers, you must get online with the trial MSN account offered, activate it, and then cancel the service. If not, the clever dicks just "assume" that you are using the service and bill you for it, without your consent. Bloody hell!
Sunny
Ann Arbor, Michigan
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Mona
Toronto,Ontario,
Canada
avoiding MSN charges you don't need
#2Consumer Suggestion
Fri, January 17, 2003
The thing is, you don't need to "activate" the account yourself. When they give you a username and password, it's active from that day. So, you don't have to even login to the service. Just phone 1-800-386-5550 (MSN's main customer support line) and choose the options to get to cancellations.
Most Dell computers now days come with the MSN software programmed for the free promotion so that DELL doesn't create the account for you. The account is then created when you click the DelNET by MSN icon and create it yourself. So if you don't get a username and password don't worry about it.
Other partners with MSN are Best Buy, Staples, Circuit City, and the Qwest Phone Company. Any free trial account starts the day of purchase and will automatically bill you so many months on that date.
Advice to avoid MSN charges - a few days after walking out of Best Buy, phone MSN and have them see if any accounts were created. They can search by many different criteria. The MSN reps don't like it when this happens either, trust me. They still have to follow the company policies and procedures though.
If Qwest is your phone company and you order a new phone line, or even if they phone you and offer you a free MSN trial CD, phone up MSN shortly after and have them check.
This may be annoying but it's good advice!