Dell engaged in deceptive business practices

A state judge in Albany has found that Dell Inc. (DELL) and its financing arm engaged in deceptive business practices related to financing promotions for its computers and technical support.

In a decision dated Friday and released Tuesday, New York State Supreme Court Justice Joseph C. Teresi in Albany ruled that Dell engaged in deceptive practices regarding its advertisement of attractive financing terms to purchase computers, its advertising of technical support that purchasers were entitled to under their warranties and administration of its rebate program.

"Dell has engaged in repeated misleading, deceptive and unlawful business conduct, including false and deceptive advertising of financing promotions and the terms of warranties, fraudulent, misleading and deceptive practices in credit financing and failure to provide warranty service and rebates," the judge wrote.

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo sued Dell and its Dell Financial Services LP unit last year, alleging the computer maker deceived customers in order to increase its computer sales.