July 31, 2009
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Dhell Hound
So almost two years ago I bought a computer from Dell - worst-mistake-EVER. Made payments on it for five months and then my bill didn't show. I was in the middle of finals (and a bunch of other crap) so I figured "Meh, I'll pay the late fee" and went on with my business. I get a call from Dell's collection agency and they're like "You didn't pay" and I reply "I didn't get a bill." So they offer to take my bank information and I tell them I'm not giving them that info over the phone. They tell me I'll be charged a late fee and I tell them that's fine - I just want to receive a bill and not to be asked to provide my financial information a) over an unsecured line and b) to someone who hadn't proven they were who they said they were (we'd been having some mail them go on so I was extra suspicious).
Instead of sending me a bill they pestered me twice a week for a month about paying over the phone and EVERY time I said "please send me a bill - I'm not paying over a phone line." They FINALLY send me a bill and I pay it almost immediately and two weeks prior to the payment due date - I also pay it in full to the tune of over $2000 bucks. I figure I'm free and clear and they'll finally stop harassing me.
August rolls around and I receive a mysterious bill on an account I paid in full. Very angry and frustrated, I call them and ask what the hell is going on. They tell me I've been charged a late fee and I explain that's impossible because I paid the account in full and closed it. They look through their computer and oh look - they waited just long enough to send me my new bill for a special clause to kick in. They charged me full interest on what was due AND didn't bother placing that in the bill they sent despite it being dated and arriving AFTER that charge would have been made.
Something fishy in Denmark? It certainly stank of dishonesty to me so I told them a) I paid what I owed, b) I paid the late fee caused by "my" mistake (my mistake being that I assumed I'd be treated honestly), c) I paid off the account six months ahead of time, and d) they'd made the error that violated the contract between us. Their response? It went something along the lines of "our mistake is your responsibility - you should have paid the bill you didn't receive." My reply was "No." *click*
Three months later, the first bill collector contacts me and I explain it to her. She says "write us and complain" and she gives me a number with their contact information (rather than just giving it to me) and I call that number and get a message that is very long and plays at the speed of light. Being very busy and fed up, I decide just to take the hit to my credit - I'm paying thousands of dollars in other debts so I figured it balance out.
They haven't given up. Today ANOTHER debt agency called my sister to get a hold of me and I explained to them that the "bajillion nonpayments" all happened AFTER I paid off the account. Their response was "you've got a bajillion nonpayments - you must pay them." We traded mantras for about five minutes until I got aggravated and just hung up.
Dell, by the way, is being sued for fraud. It's financial department has been screwing people. I'm not eligible to entering that lawsuit (I think) because Dell had a "no fault" clause in their contract for the computer I bought. I can probably still sue them for harassment at this point but I just want to be left alone. Given that I paid the account ahead of time, they've made their money and then some. But for three hundred bucks they're chasing me like I stole their firstborn and their favorite ceramic poodle. I'm NOT PAYING them money they didn't earn and gained on a technicality created by THEIR negligence.
Am I crazy in thinking I'm being screwed by a corporation? I hate lawsuits, I detest how legalistic our nation has become, but I will sue their freaking pants off if they continue to harass me and destroy my credit when it's their staff who are so incompetent I can't even be billed properly.
Ever been screwed by "The Man"?
Edit: Here's a link to how Dell has been naughty that best fits what I'm experiencing - but if you Google it you'll find they've got a record of deceit and epic failure. http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/PCWorld/story?id=6638130
I've also submitted a complaint to the Better Business Bureau - let's see if it goes anywhere.
Comments (5)
You're in no way in the wrong here, J. Seriously. Dell did bad, and I certainly hope you do get to sue the pants off of them...asswipes.
I almost bought a dell four years ago. I filled out the order and thought it had been placed, credit approved. I get a call from Dell customer service saying that I ordered additional usb ports/speaker jacks on the front that were NOT needed, it already had it in the back.I asked if the board could handle it (slots) and they said, that is not the point sir, you don't need it! I replied, where do you get off telling me what I need! They replied, sir we are sorry but you do not understand, you do not need it! I replied and said, you are quite correct, I do not need the computer at all, cancel the order. 1790.00 sale they lost telling me what I need. I figured if that happened b4 the sale I didnt want to see what happened after the sale.
To your other question, yes. I had paid cash for my final electric/water/trash bill to the city before closing (required proof by buyer) on our home in FL and showed the receipt at closing. About sixteen months later I got a collection notice. I had to pay the bill again because I couldnt locate the receipt as proof. I normally always paid that by check but we had already closed our florida accounts out. and it stayed on my report for 7 years. It was listed as disputed and paid.
Make sure you handle everything in writing that you dispute.
I would write to The Better Business Bureau. If it hits your credit report, you are allowed to put a note on it.
@ProvokingThought - Keep all bills 7-10 years I believe. My brother had the electric company come after him for a bill about 5 years old that he had paid. He had even moved twice within that period and had electric (of course) at both houses. Ridiculous
"...and as almost every word in a sentence: FUCK THE FUCKING FUCKERS!"
Yeah, that kind of thing has happened to both me and other people I know a few times now. That kind of shit sucks, especially as a lot of the time collection agencies continue to hound your ass for years over the stupidest things. I knew this lawyer who had the same kind of annoyance with a cell-phone contract, and even after plenty of yelling (and threatening to sue) random calls from different collection agencies still come in every once in a while.
The corporations are out to screw us all!
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