Dell promises transparency for terms and conditions

Posted on 6 Jul 2006 at 15:21

Dell has promised the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to be fairer to the rest of us.

The OFT had voiced concerns to the world's biggest PC maker that some of the terms of its contracts with consumer customers violated provisions of Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 or The Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000.

According to the Office, Dell had mixed in terms of its business contracts with those intended for consumer use.

Such terms required consumer customers to confirm in writing any relevant conversations that may have been made over the phone regarding any disputes, or Dell would not be liable. Similarly, a consumer customer had to tell Dell of any errors in an order on confirmation for the company to be liable. Dell was also not liable for consequential losses from breach of contract and would only face limited liability over pricing errors.

Dell will now 'improve the transparency' of these agreements, and make it clear which terms applied only to businesses and which were strictly for consumers.

Christine Wade, OFT Director of Consumer Regulation Enforcement said: 'Distance selling, be that by mail, phone or the internet, does not exclude businesses from ensuring their contracts are fair to consumers and compatible with the law. I'm pleased that Dell has worked with the OFT to modify important aspects of its terms and conditions, such as those relating to time of delivery and liability for faulty goods, in the light of the OFT's concerns.'

Author: Matt Whipp