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.