Complain about a product or service

Dell Finance

Lydia of Katy, TX October 12, 2009

Several years ago I purchased a computer from Dell during a promotion and had no problems paying it off in a timely manner. This June a wanted to upgrade to a new computer and printer and called Dell Sales Dept and gave them my new address and phone number since I had moved from Louisiana to Texas. The computer and printer were delivered and I began calling Dell when I could not get my statement. I could not reach a real person and entering my SS# did not do any good because the computer just said there was no account with that number. Finally after trying every for over 2 months, Dell finally called me and told me the statements had been sent to my address in Louisiana. (After telling them I had moved at the time I purchased the computer).

I was told when the account was brought current I would have the charges they had added removed since this was there mistake and I was not the first person this had happened to. I was finally able to get an account number and paid the account so that it was current then called and asked when the charges they had added to my account would be removed.

To my surprise I am now told that it is my fault that I did not receive the statement and the promotion no longer exist since I did not pay in a timely manner. They are not removing the charges as I was informed they would and i am now having to pay interest on a promotion because of Dell's mistake. Since I gave Dell all of my information at the time I purchased the new system. For them to now blame their mistakes on me and continue to charge me for it gives the appearance of a deliberate attempt to charge interest to clients instead of allowing the them to payoff the account during the allowed promotion.

Amy of Lido Beach, NY October 12, 2009

I checked out a "No interest for one year" incentive to purchase a laptop by a certain date by asking two Dell employees and two other Dell Financial Services employees whether that meant "No payments needed to be made for a full year." Each confirmed that to be the case and explained that a substantial finance charge would apply if full payment was not made when due in a year. This was fine, and suited my needs at the time. I purchased the laptop by the required date and was extended a preferred acct with DFS. The 1st bill I received was consistent with the promises made. It said that to "avoid deferred finance charges" I was required to pay the full cost of my purchase by 4/7/2010. About a month later (May 14), I received an automated phone call early in the morning saying my account was in arrears. I called twice that day, and spoke to two different people (both of whom had the last name "Smith"), who promised a supervisor would call me back in 7-10 days. No one ever called. I wrote a letter to DFS Customer Care on or about July 15th, including copies of the writings I had, with all the names and dates, and asked them to honor their promotion. No one responded. I wrote again on September 16th, this time with a cc to Dell, Inc.'s General Counsel, and received an annoying response saying the promotion was cancelled as to me because my account was in arrears! On October 2, 2009, I called the number on the letter, and after a long time got them to cancel the several hundred dollars in additional charges in exchange for my payment of the full cost of the laptop.

Jon of Ringwood, NJ October 9, 2009

We went to pay our bill on line, as usual. It is due Oct 12th. Today is the 9th. We were informed that our payment would be credited on the 13th, making us a day late. If we wanted our payment credited the same day, as before, we would be charged 9.95! Their explanation is that it is the weekend; even though it is before 9 AM and that they are not a bank. After complaining, they forgave the charge, this time. Some scam.

Paul of Las Vegas, NV October 6, 2009

I ordered a laptop and paid for it then. I later was sent a Denial of Credit letter. I reported this to Dell financial, Lauren. She told me to file will Dell fraud. Neither Lauren, Dell financial, or fraud will return a call. I have also reported this as attempted identity theft to the 3 credit agencies

Samuel of Pittsburgh, PA October 6, 2009

Back in April of this year i needed a new computer. I did not have the cash, so I decided to use my Dell account, which i have not used in two years...zero balance. i received my new computer and started to make my monthy payment...all on time. last month when my invoice arrives, it says that my intrest rate is going up 5%. I call dell and speak to a manager...if that what she was, and she tells my there is nothing she can do and hoped that i will continue to use dell. i let here know that the reason they are upping my rate is to avoid the credit laws that take affect in 2010. I also let here know that i had never been late with a payment. Again, she says there is nothing she can do. After that, I let her know that i will vever purchase a dell product as lond as I live and that I will no longer care if they receive the paymant late or at all and thatnked her for her time and hung up on her. Does anyone have any other solutions?

d of kapaa, HI October 4, 2009

In August of 2008, I purchased a computer for my brother. I opened a Dell account to pay this off. No Problem, until just recently, I received a notice from Dell welcoming me to a NEW account. Knowing full well I did not open a 2nd account I first thought of course, someone is using my name falsely. I contacted Dell on Sat. told that I had to wait until Monday to contact the business office even with concerns of fraud. I then contacted my brother who had indeed talked with a Dell rep on the phone on Sep. 30 or Oct. 1, the rep told my brother of a plan to insure his hard drive for about 429 for 4 years at 15 per month.

My brother stated this would had to be his own bill and payment at his own address, they assured him it would. He told the rep he had asked for credit before but was turned down, they said no problem. My brother has an obvious disability, this can be discerned in a simple phone conversation, his ability to comprehend and levels of anxiety in a phone conversation are extreme. He was assured this would be fine. When I got the notice from Dell that a 2nd account had been opened in my name and then talking to my brother, I realized that fraud and deceit by DFS was apparent. My brother had never been told that this billing would be possible by creating a new account in MY NAME!!!! All of these conversations have been recorded on your end.

My brother suffered extreme anxiety through this as he needed to call Dell back on Sunday and finally talk with someone to make sure that this contract and fraudulent new account in my name, unknowingly to me, is closed ASAP. I was NEVER contacted by one of your reps to even find out if I was aware of someone else even trying to open an account under my name. I NEVER put my brother's name on my account. I bought him a computer, FINAL. I see where in 2005 there was a class action suit against Dell of defrauding customers. Apparently this is still going on. My brother, under much duress, has hopefully been able to resolve this deceit by your company. I am forwarding this complaint to the San Francisco Law Firm who filed the class action suit and the Attorney General of Hawaii. Your actions reek of deceit and fraud.

Jackie of Danville, IL September 27, 2009

My 83 year old mother and I bought a Dell 1501. It is our third Dell. We had always had good luck with them and got just what we ordered. This time the one we called about was no longer available although we had just gotten an ad. We bought the 1501. I explained that we already had the programs we needed and had the hardware, just needed a new (notebook) because the old desktop wasn't working. They asked what we had, I told them and was surprised to learn that a program called Vista was loaded and didn't work with anything we had. I had also explained that at that time only dial up was available in our area, couldn't even get wireless on satellite.

After six months of calling, hours of frustration and phone bills (a cell phone, often costing expensive minutes even though toll free), they told me that Vista wasn't designed to work with dial up. Not to mention that the 599 computer we have been paying on for almost two years (and now owe over 1,000 somehow!) is basically worthless. I was told we had had it for more than six months and they wouldn't do anything about it. All I asked was that they put XP on instead of Vista.

The finance charges began soaring, late fees and fees we don't know what they were keep piling up. We had been paying on time hoping in good faith to get the computer up and running. Their finance company calls seven days a week beginning early in the morning until exactly 9:00 p.m. Some days I would time the calls every 15 minutes (needless to say I had quit answering long before). They began calling my 85 year old mother that often; even calling her at work, before work, in the evening. They got her to agree to give them hundreds of dollars she didn't have trying to save her credit record. The account (and the small business she had) was in her name at the time we made the purchase. The balance keeps going up on the computer and I've begun to think it isn't ever gong to pay off or be fixed. We had been loyal Dell customers for years buying only from them. We expected better.

Debra of Jonesboro, LA September 18, 2009

My original purchase price for the Dell computer, purchased in Sept. 2007, was 1721.72. Now, after 2 years and payments of at least 1400.00, Dell says I owe 2200.00. This is due to their adding finance charges, "late" fees, and credit protection plans that I never requested. I have never been told the due date of my bill, to try to avoid the "late" fee of 35.00 per month. the consequences are that i will NEVER get this bill paid off. When I called and asked Dell Financial if i could include them in my American Credit Council debt payoff program, they said ABSOLUTELY NOT, that Dell doesn't work with any program. My only alternative will be to file bankruptcy, and ruin my credit to get this HUGE "monkey off my back"mayoral

Michael of chipley, FL September 17, 2009

I had a account paid of by a Mortgage company that sent dell a check. the company has verified that dell cashed the check and gave me a check number and date dell cashed it on. However I can get no one on the phone from dell "after many many attempt's to do so" that will try to fix this error.

Dell keeps referring me to there collection company, and say they no longer service my account. If I call the collection company they say I have to call dell. I have spent hours on this over a long time and have not made any headway. I can prove I paid dell off but no one there seems to care.

Martin of Des Plaines, IL September 14, 2009

I bought a computer during a sale. I had asked for my corporate discount along with a remaining credit to be used. I was mis led into opening a Dell credit account with a promise of an additional 100 dollar discount on any future purchases. So I opened an account with Dell Financing, but never received any credit for any future purchases. I have called over a dozen times and even written a big huge complaint to Dell, but have not heard a single thing back form them about this. Isn't there some recourse for me? is this not similar to a bait and switch or truth in selling? I was out right lied to with a false promise.

While the loss of a 100 dollar credit does not damage my financial situation, it did make me take a hit on my credit score for opening another credit account. Now, if i choose to close this account, I will take another hit for closing it. In this age of bad credit gone rampant, I am extremely angry over this.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.

Back to the top |

Terms of Use Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use

Advertisements on this site are placed and controlled by outside advertising networks. ConsumerAffairs.com does not evaluate or endorse the products and services advertised. See the FAQ for more information.

Company Response Welcome If complaints about your company appear on our site, we welcome your response. Please see the Response Form for more information.

For more information, see the FAQ and privacy policy. The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice.  ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof. 

Copyright © 2003-2009 ConsumerAffairs.com Inc.  All Rights Reserved.    The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission.