Complaint / Review
Dell Financial Services — Dell Preferred Account
Caught in vicious circle of Account Verification

Towards the end of March, I needed to purchase a new laptop. I went to the Dell website and applied for a Dell Preferred Account and was instantly approved for 3000.00. I continued to place an order for a laptop and software totaling $2270.

A few days later, through my standard Equifax alert, I saw that a new account had been opened in my name by Dell.

About a week later, I went to the website to check the status and saw that the order had been cancelled and that I needed to contact the verification department. I contact the verification department and they take my SSN etc and said I could not be verified. I asked why not? They couldn't tell me. They said my account was restricted until I could verify my identity.

I call back a couple of days later to try again. Same story. I asked if there was something I could do to get verified — send them a paystub, drivers license etc? No. They couldn't do any of that. Would I get a letter? Yes, they said, I would get a letter (no letter has come).

I called back today and attempted again because the account was still showing a balance of 2272.00 and it still shows up on my credit history. I spoke with customer service. They said it had to be handled by the almighty Verification Department. Of course, I failed verification again. I told them I wanted to close the account. They said that would have to be handled by Customer Service. They send me back to Customer Service and they said that since my account was not verified, I could not close the account. They sent me BACK to the verification department. I got the same script — they do not deviate from the script. I failed verification. She said I could not close my account until I was verified. I could not be verified any other way than via the phone Verification System.

So now I have an additional credit liability showing up on my credit report. I can not purchase the laptop (I wouldn't purchase a Dell now if they paid me). I can close the account. I can't even find out what I need to do to pass the verification.

If there are any attorneys out there that can help me with this, please let me know because this really should be illegal. How can they open an account in my name without making sure that I am who I am but they refuse to close it or let me use it because they can't verify I am who I am.