Dell - Dell Financial Services

I purchases a Dell laptop online in Nov. 2008. I scheduled my payments online on the Dell Finincial Services website to come out automatically from my bank account. The site allowed only one choice of date and I scheduled it on the given due date. The payment came out each month for several months. I happened to open an online statement several months later and noticed that the new minimum payment was greater than the amount that I had been paying as per my first statement and that the due date flutuated several days earlier in the month and that each month I had been charged a $39 late fee. The balance due was more than my initial purchase even though I had been paying for several months.

I called Dell several times as well as the online service for the payments to explain and ask why the due date had changed and the amounts were considered late. The due date was within a day. They could not help me other than remove one late fee. So I cancelled the automatic payment and got records from my bank as to all the amounts that I had paid. I then sent the full amount of payment for the computer purchase.

I have written letters to Dell, and have not recieved a response. I have called and found that customer service cannot help you. I have had a three way call with the web site that processes the automatic payment and Dell and am told there is nothing they can do. The web site acknowledged that often the due date changes and one would have to go back and check each month and/or call when Dell changed the date. They stated when you start the automatic payment it defaults to the first due date from the statement - and you don't have the choice to choose another date. The purpose of an automatic payment is to schedule it and have it paid without having to think about it each month!

It is now Nov. 2009 and each month they add another $39 fee - have recorded my account as deliquent - despite that fact that I have paid for my purchase and then some. My account balance is almost to the point where it is as much as my initial computer purchase.

I am frusterated that customer service won't help me, that Dell being a computer company should recognize that their bill payment services are not working for the consumer. I would not be surprised if this is happeneing to others as well. I use online auto payments for many of my bills and have never had an issue like this. In addition, in my experience most companies would take the time to investigate my complaint and understand that I have more than paid for my purchase and at this point all of their monthly late fees are just exacerbating the problem.

I will never buy another Dell product!! I will never use their service again. I don't think they actually care as I am one person in a million - and my experience really doesn't matter.

So now, I have this deliquincy on my credit record - and get incessant collection calls - for late fees - that they keep adding each month.

I am frusterated and am hoping to warn other to avoid using Dell Financial Services!

Comment On This

i just noticed this exact same thing. how on earth could they charge me late payments when i'm set up for autopayments? did you get any resolution for this? i tried to call but it's after hours. this is some shade business dealings.