- Report: #598593
Complaint Review: Dell Computer Corporation & Dell Financial Services - Austin Texas
Reported By:
Deb Rooth -
Lake Forest, California, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
Dell Computer Corporation & Dell Financial Services
PO Box 81577 Austin, 78708 Texas, United States of America
Phone:
800-283-2210
Web:
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Dell Computer Corporation & Dell Financial Services Dell's "No Interest" Plans Designed to Mislead Customers Austin, Texas
Dell customers BEWARE!!! I ordered a Dell computer and monitor in March of 2009, arranging installment payments. On all the lengthy, confusing monthly statements, Dell shows a minimum payment due, and new optional "11 yr & 3 yr" payment plans," plus a "Daily Periodic Rate" (0.07463%) and an "Annual Percentage Rate" (27.24%). On 4/29/10, Dell notifies me that I owe $406.67 IN ADDITION to my previous balance! I thought it was a late payment penalty as this was the 1st time I forgot to pay my Dell account on time. No, they say, they charged me $39 of the $100 I sent them for the late penalty. I'm fine with that. The $406.67 is interest, they say, due them because I didn't pay off my purchase within 1 year.
Dell says there's a note on the billing statement telling me about that. I have to look very hard to find it, but it's there. It is quite a shock to find that overnight my Dell balance owed has gone from $900.00 to $1348.47!! This is just a deceptive, unethical business practice, if not out-right fraud. Instead of sending me a bill for this deal they say I allegedly signed up for, (12 months interest free), Dell sets up the customer by sending them a bill every month for something different -- a longer payment plan that is deliberately designed to mislead people into paying a lot more for their purchase.
I'm not a CPA and you have to be one to understand Dell's statements. They count on that so they can make the majority of consumers, like me, fall into this trap. I cannot believe Dell is getting away with this deception and some class-action lawsuit hasn't stopped them! I got slammed with $400 more: surprise! I never signed anything with Dell. I do not plan to hire an atty as that would cost more than $400. I am going to file a complaint with the FTC, however they only store information. All I can do is warn people and that's my mission now.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Deb Rooth
Lake Forest,California,
United States of America
You Should See Dell's Statements
#2Author of original report
Fri, April 30, 2010
If you could see Dell's monthly statements, you might understand how they intentionally mislead consumers. The Magna Carta wasn't as long as a Dell statement! All the boxes, lines of text, and financial calculations they list on it -- and there's plenty -- are deliberate and deceptive. They list, first, foremost and in the largest print, your payment options, and not one of them includes a payment consistent with achieving that timely payoff. That isn't deceptive on Dell's part? Unless one is used to these credit arrangements, as apparently you are, you'd never know that is what is going on with the Dell statement I receive. Kudos to you for being so knowledgeable, but for the average soul just trying to pay his/her bills, I believe it's as unethical as what Wall Street and mortgage institutions have been doing to the American public for far too long. Have you ever heard of something that doesn't pass the "smell test"? A lot of States have "Unfair or Deceptive Acts and Practices" laws, and these laws are effective weapons to deal with business practices not passing the "smell test" even if the practice is otherwise in conformity with State and Federal consumer protection laws. Dell computers has found a stinky little hole to hide in and I hope one day a class-action suit forces them to abandon it.
jabroney
United States of AmericaThis is how it works
#3Consumer Suggestion
Fri, April 30, 2010
Every single interest free finance offer works this same way.
If you do not pay off the entire balance by the expiration date, the interest is accrued from the date of purchase. Every month you should have seen on your statement the amount of interest that was accruing as well as the expiration date.
Welcome to the world of consumer credit.
