Dell is currently being sued in California for
bait-and-switch practices. Plaintiffs are claiming that Dell has been engaging
in unsavory business practices such as advertising a low price and then billing
the customer a much higher price. Among the other complaints against Dell is
that they advertise low interest rates for their financing packages when there
are often actually hidden charges and higher interest rates involved. I’m a Dell
girl. It’s hard to say no to a company which generally makes good quality
products, especially when they often have great sales and coupon codes. Over the
past 2 years, without exaggerating, I’ve purchased over $30,000 worth of Dell
products – of course not just in personal purchases alone but from business
purchases as well.
bait-and-switch practices. Plaintiffs are claiming that Dell has been engaging
in unsavory business practices such as advertising a low price and then billing
the customer a much higher price. Among the other complaints against Dell is
that they advertise low interest rates for their financing packages when there
are often actually hidden charges and higher interest rates involved. I’m a Dell
girl. It’s hard to say no to a company which generally makes good quality
products, especially when they often have great sales and coupon codes. Over the
past 2 years, without exaggerating, I’ve purchased over $30,000 worth of Dell
products – of course not just in personal purchases alone but from business
purchases as well.
A couple of months ago I decided to buy a laptop with them using their
"preferred" financing account. At the time they advertised 0% interest for 6
months so I figured it was worth it. I applied for the account and was accepted.
I was unpleasantly surprised a month later when my first bill came. An
outrageous 29% interest rate was applied to my bill. I thought this is probably
just a billing mistake so I called up to "correct it".
"preferred" financing account. At the time they advertised 0% interest for 6
months so I figured it was worth it. I applied for the account and was accepted.
I was unpleasantly surprised a month later when my first bill came. An
outrageous 29% interest rate was applied to my bill. I thought this is probably
just a billing mistake so I called up to "correct it".
The operator, who didn’t speak very good English, explained to me that I
was not eligible for the 0% interest rate and that’s why I was getting the 29%
interest rate. If they had told me this originally when I had applied for the
account I would have never purchased the laptop using their "preferred"
account. I was outraged, and also stuck. I argued to the rep that this was not
fair and that I should have been notified when I was accepted for the account
that I was not eligible for the 0% interest rate for the first months. Their
site’s advertising had been completely misleading. The rep had no answer.
was not eligible for the 0% interest rate and that’s why I was getting the 29%
interest rate. If they had told me this originally when I had applied for the
account I would have never purchased the laptop using their "preferred"
account. I was outraged, and also stuck. I argued to the rep that this was not
fair and that I should have been notified when I was accepted for the account
that I was not eligible for the 0% interest rate for the first months. Their
site’s advertising had been completely misleading. The rep had no answer.
I’ve owned the laptop for 5 months now and so far only about $20 towards
the actual laptop has been paid off. So much for getting this laptop at a great
price – it’s going to cost me double, if not triple in the end.
the actual laptop has been paid off. So much for getting this laptop at a great
price – it’s going to cost me double, if not triple in the end.
To add fuel to the fire, today a Dell rep called me and nastily explained
to me that they had not received my latest payment yet. I responded to her that
I had sent out a check a couple of days before and that they should have
received it already. She badgered me and said that since they had not received
it yet, the account is going to go delinquent if I did not immediately give them
the money over the phone using a check. I was irritated and also half asleep at
the time so I said that I would call back later. The rep then said that she
would be putting down that the account is delinquent. Her attitude was so
awfully rude and disagreeable, you’d think they would be nicer to someone who
has thrown so much money and business to them over the past 2 years. Not to
mention that this was the first time a payment was late from me, and it’s not
like i was behind with more than one payment.
to me that they had not received my latest payment yet. I responded to her that
I had sent out a check a couple of days before and that they should have
received it already. She badgered me and said that since they had not received
it yet, the account is going to go delinquent if I did not immediately give them
the money over the phone using a check. I was irritated and also half asleep at
the time so I said that I would call back later. The rep then said that she
would be putting down that the account is delinquent. Her attitude was so
awfully rude and disagreeable, you’d think they would be nicer to someone who
has thrown so much money and business to them over the past 2 years. Not to
mention that this was the first time a payment was late from me, and it’s not
like i was behind with more than one payment.
In the end no matter how upset I was by their attitude, and the fact that
it was most probably a mistake on their part that the latest payment wasn’t
showing up, I was forced to give them a check number because I didn’t need an
unnecessary delinquency going on my credit report. To add insult to injury they
charged me $10 for paying over the phone with a check.
it was most probably a mistake on their part that the latest payment wasn’t
showing up, I was forced to give them a check number because I didn’t need an
unnecessary delinquency going on my credit report. To add insult to injury they
charged me $10 for paying over the phone with a check.
I’m outraged and frustrated. However, it is somehow comforting though that
I’m not the only person who was duped. I emailed my experience to the lawyer
taking care of the suit against Dell in California. He responded that he’s been
getting plenty of similar feedback from other "preferred" customers and that he
might possibly extend the lawsuit to customers in other states.
I’m not the only person who was duped. I emailed my experience to the lawyer
taking care of the suit against Dell in California. He responded that he’s been
getting plenty of similar feedback from other "preferred" customers and that he
might possibly extend the lawsuit to customers in other states.
The current horrible customer service caused by Dell’s outsourcing has been
problematic enough, but this is really pushing the limits. Dell needs to shape
up before it starts losing customers – including me. Check out Ihatedell.net for other disgruntled customers like me.