Dell "No Interest" Offers

Several months after my last payment, I received a notification from Dell stating I still owed them nearly $400. Phone calls to their financial department led me to long discussions with someone who assured me my records would be reviewed. I continued to make payments so my credit wouldn't be ruined, but after making over $1,800 in payments on a computer that originally cost $1,200, I finally stopped making payments. Dell responded in a letter, stating I still owed them $795!. They submitted this information to a collections agency that has harassed me relentlessly. All I have is a slow, outdated, 5-year old computer that needs to be replaced.

I bought a monitor from Dell, and saw that if I got their Preferred Account, I would get 12 months, no-interest charges. So, I got the account, and for the first 3 months, there were no interest charges. Then this month, I see interest being charged. I called them and they said, it was their mistake & they actually charged me for interest the month before, as well. They are refunding me the interest for both months, but based on this site, and many others, you can be assured their "mistake" is not accidental. They are trying to scam buyers by "accidentally" charging you interest, and hoping you won't notice. Pay close attention to your bills from Dell. Don't let them get away with this.

I purchased a computer and printer from Dell in July 2004. This was through a promotion for interest free for six months for preferred customers. Since I was a preferred customer with a good credit rating I thought no problem. But two months later I was notified that I did not qualify for this credit.

I had made a payment for $70.00 in August 1. I was charged finance charges of $42.43 for two months. I pay the whole bill including the finance charges on August 23 to stop the financing. Another promotion was that the shipping was to be free. They sent the printer ahead of the computer and charged a shipping fee. After a call to Dell they agreed to give a credit of $15.50. I purchase some ink cartridges from Dell in August 2005 for $95.88. I sent a payment of $80.38 which was $15.50 less than the bill. Dell keeps charging me finance charges on this amount.

The first call to Dell I was told that the credit could not be used this way but it was used to increase my credit line limit to $4015.50. On the second call I was told that Dell would fix the problem. After keeping more statements with additional finance charges, I was told that could not do anything about this problem. After receiving a letter from Dell Financial Services(DFS)about missing a payment I called again and talked a person in DFS who said my account showed a -$15.50 which she thought that they had deleted my credit. She connected me to customer service who went through the whole problem over again and said they could fix the problem but needed to talk to someone in DFS.

I was cut off and connected to someone in India who ask me for my account number as if starting from scratch, and they could not reconnect to anyone. After another call I was told by Dell customer service that they would take care of the problem. I the get a call telling that the account is being turn over to a collecting agency. An email from a Michelle Brown from Dell wanted to know how my experience with the person that I talked on December 27.

After emailing her back I got a call from her manager was now told that Dell had sent a check back in September 2004 for the $15.50. I never received any check and can't tell what to believe from Dell anymore. I would surely never recommend buying anything Dell to anyone.

My wife applied for Dell preferred account. She was approved for $4,000.00 We were told that she will be qualified for 18 months without interests if we buy the XPS desktop. Since my wife preferred to buy the Dell 9300 dimensions laptop, she is only qualified for 6 months without interest. My wife decide to open the account.

We received the bill on time and send our 1st payment of $305.00 and planning to pay-off the balance before the 6 months term expire. Guess what, the 2nd time we receive the bill there a $47.00 added to balance as a result of late payment and finance charge. My wife complained and she was told that she was not qualified for the 6 months without interest because of her credit score did not meet their minimum requirement which she was not told when she open the account.

Customer service refuse to offer us this kind of deal. They can waive the finance charge if we decide to pay off the balance. What a loser!

In October I called Dell to get pricing and advice on purchasing a laptop. Amy, the rep, told me that I could sign up for a Preferred Account and would receive 0% interest for 18 months on the laptop and anything else I purchased up to $4000. I accepted.

I received a bill and paid $40 thinking it was all principal. I have now received another bill that shows 19.99% interest - not the 0% interest for 18 months as promised. When I complained to Amy by email she said she offered me 2 laptops, only 1 had the 0% interest deal. She also said she was required to and did read me a script about the terms. THAT IS NOT TRUE. Let me make this very clear, I did not apply for a credit card. I DID NOT ASK FOR ANYTHING. I was told that if I bought the laptop and wanted to sign up for the preferred account I would get 0% interest for 18 months.

I have been told that what I purchased through Dell "did not qualify for the 0% interest." I did not ask to qualify for anything. Amy did not say I needed to qualify for anything.

I knew my daughter recently bought a Dell laptop so I called her and asked if she was offered and got the same 0% deal. She said yes. Unfortunately, she looked at her statement and found out they did the EXACT same thing to her!

We saw a Dell ad for "no interest until Jan 1," so we ordered a monitor by phone. We asked the salesperson numerous times if there were ANY circumstances, AT ALL, that would change the interest rate and he assured us there were not.

Of course, you know the story -- they charged us interest because we did not "qualify". Our phone calls to Dell connected us with people in India who have no concept of customer service. We complained in a letter, but we were denied a refund.

Damages: We paid three month's interest.

In September 2004 I was looking to buy a computer and I was attracted by a promotion from Dell -- 1 year no interest if I buy a specific computer and I?ll get approved for Dell Preferred Account. I applied, I got approved. First invoice: charges of 21%. Starting November 1st I was in a business trip in France and when I came back, and see the invoice I sent an email demanding reasons for 21%. I never received an answer to that email.

Two weeks later I received a phone call that I?m back with my payments. I was never able to find a manager that will answer my questions so I decided to pay the whole computer plus charges. Another two weeks later I received an invoice for $35 USD (late payment plus a charge of 21% for $600+USD). I tried to work this thing out through BBB but they keep telling me that I was not approved for the promotion. I was never able to make them tell why I didn?t qualify for the promotion. In top of all the computer is a lemon -- changed HDD and two times processor, motherboard, memory.

After that, I had many problems with the sales person James xxxxx. On the first day of order, he got it wrong and offered a $50 promotional discount and free shipping. Well, upon receipt of the order via email, several mistakes were noted (e.g., did not want floppy, wanted Norton Internet Security 15 month.) When I called several times, he did not return the call and then he was no longer working. I couldn't handle the matter with anyone else as per their policy. The following day he did call and we went over my order again. He assured me about the Norton Internet Security 15 month and I upped my warranty to 4 years. He said he could no longer give me the $50.00 promotion. I told him I shouldn't suffer due to his errors. He spoke with his supervisor and I was told $40 not $50, so I said fine. When I called to say the $40 was not listed in the order, James said that I would be receiving it in the mail, which was fabrication. And though he assured me I was getting the Internet Security, I was not.

Within 15 minutes of having the computer, the hard drive failed. After 2 hours, I was told I needed a new hard drive and was given a dispatch number. When I called the next day to find out about the service, I was told the technician did not get manager approval, so it wasn't placed. This would result in a 1.5 day delay. Six days after receipt of the computer, the technician came and fixed the problem. I returned calls to James trying to resolve the $40 issue and the Norton issue, but he NEVER returned any calls regardless of whether I left voicemail or left a message with a person. His supervisor was supposed to call me and never did. I called to speak to another supervisor and they were unavailable. I was given a number and an extension that led to other people who also did not help. All they did was transfer. I was told things like call Norton even though Dell made the order: what would Norton do? I was also told well it is your option to return the computer after I complained about my experience. My Dell Preferred Account has my last name spelled wrong, so after several redirects, I was allegedly allowed to make the correction.

One week later, I decided to pull back the troops and quit the war. After all, I had nothing in writing but James Louden's promises. My sanity was worth more, so for $30.00 I purchased Norton Internet Security from Staples. The only reason why I toughed this out was because comparison shopping. I could not beat Dell's price or technology. I sent materials for my rebates certified receipt requested just to be on the safe side.