“Two Dell customers in California have filed class-action lawsuits against the company for what their lawyers call bait-and-switch marketing tactics,” Michael Singer reports for Internet News. “The complaint alleges that Dell preys on unsuspecting consumers with its scripted sales force, ever-changing ad offers and highly promoted “preferred” rates and “easy” financing packages which, without notice, then are changed to include much higher interest rates and hidden charges. Specifically, the suit claims Dell violates California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), the California Business and Professions Code and the Unruh Act.”
“‘Dell offers one low-priced product and then substitutes a higher cost or lower quality item,’ Reed Kathrein, a Lerach partner whose firm is best known for filing stockholder lawsuits, said in a statement. ‘Dell promises ‘easy’ credit but no one qualifies. It then charges unconscionable high interest and other credit charges.’ Kathrein told internetnews.com that Dell responded to the law firm’s initial letter but could not confirm if Dell has seen the legal filing. He also said his office had received close to 100 complaints since August 2004,” Singer reports. “‘We received too many complaints to ignore,” Kathrein said. Dell spokesman Lionel Menchaca said the company would not comment on pending litigation.”
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