Still No Checks For Aggrieved Dell Customers
Posted on Friday, 6 of November , 2009 at 9:36 am
ALBANY—The check is in the mail?
Think again if you’re one of the thousands of Dell computer owners expecting your settlement check from the New York Attorney General’s Office.
Nearly two months ago, Dell and its subsidiary, Dell Financial Services (DFS), agreed to pay the Attorney General’s Office $4 million in restitution, penalties and costs to resolve charges of fraudulent and deceptive business practices that scammed consumers across New York State.
The settlement follows a decision of the New York Supreme Court, Albany County, which sustained Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s claims that Dell had engaged in fraud, false advertising, deceptive business practices, and abusive debt collection practices.
The court’s decision came as a result of the original lawsuit filed by the AG’s Office, which charged that Dell engaged in bait and switch advertising with respect to its “no interest” financing promotions, misled consumers to believe they had qualified for promotional financing, failed to adequately disclose the terms of its “next day” service contracts and failed to provide consumers with warranty service and promised rebates.
Consumers had until last fall to file a claim but so far, no one has received any money from the settlement.
A call to the Attorney General’s office last week about the Dell settlement was answered after numerous rings by someone who sounded like he just woke up. He said he had no idea when the checks would be going out and had no information about the settlement. http://www.northcountrygazette.org/2009/09/15/dell_fraud/
Information about the Dell settlement had been prominently displayed on the Website for the AG’s office but now is obscure on the site. http://www.oag.state.ny.us/bureaus/consumer_frauds/dell_lawsuit.html
Although initially the AG’s office had said claims had to be filed before last November, they have now extended the claim deadline to Dec. 15, 2009. A FAQ section on the website says that if you qualify for compensation, you should not expect to hear from their office until a few months after the Dec. 15 claims submission deadline. Apparently in the meantime, Cuomo and the AG’s office is sitting with the $4 million.
Anyone having questions about the settlement or completing a claim form please email us at NYAGDELL@oag.state.ny.us or call our toll free phone number, 1-800 771-7755. Hopefully someone in the office will be awake and able to assist. 11-6-09
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Category: Business, Consumers, Government, New York State, Technology
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