DELL Computers Credit Card Hold Issue Online, Internet

We decided to purchase a laptop from Dell on 2/9/2010. We went to the website and ordered a computer. Later on, after speaking to family members and reading tons of bad internet reviews about Dell computers, we decided to cancel the order. We canceled the order two hours after it was placed.

We canceled the order by phone. The order was still "in processing" and never went through. I asked the customer service representative if my credit card had been charged. I was told, "Don't worry about that." I told her that I was not worried, I wanted to know what was going on with my credit card. She told me that my card had not been charged. I asked if a hold had been put on my card. She said no.

Today, 2/11,  I went to purchase a computer someplace else and my card was declined. I called my credit card company and was advised that Dell has a $545.00 hold on my credit card.

I called Dell and was literally transferred all around the world (India and another country where I couldn't identify the accent). I finally got a supervisor (after being on hold for 20 minutes) who wanted to argue with me about the hold on my charge card! He tried to tell me that we only ordered the computer yesterday. After I would not back down he finally admitted that the hold had been on my credit card two days, but insisted that it would take another day to come off.

I am in the process of filing an attorney general office and an FTC complaint regarding this issue. The credit card company does not consider a hold a charge, even though the hold has reduced my available credit balance, and will not allow me to dispute the matter.

What Dell is doing is fraud. The hold on my credit card should have been released immediately when I canceled the order two days ago.

It is nearly impossible to get a native English speaker on the phone. The customer service is the worst I've ever experienced anywhere. The reps can barely speak English and you can barely understand a word they say. They're also rude with poor attitudes. I've never seen a company where people are so argumentative when they are clearly in the wrong.

The company itself is not a good company to do business with.

I'm writing this complaint to warn others. Do NOT do business with these people. All of the reviews you are reading here are true. I'm thankful that I did not actually go through with getting the computer.

My sister bought a computer from them a year ago that was not supposed to be built with non-proprietary parts. The computer is full of Dell parts. Dell is actively being sued by at least two Attorney General's offices, and possibly more.

Save yourself the hassle and headache. Do not get tangled up with Dell. You will be sorry.