Dell, Micron settle leasing charges

Dell Computer Corp. and Micron Electronics Inc. have settled government charges they used deceptive ads to sell computer leases.

The Federal Trade Commission said the settlement requires Dell and Micron to "provide consumers with clear, readable, and understandable information in their lease advertising."

The FTC said the companies used the deceptive advertising on both television and the Internet to promote their leases.

For example, a Dell Internet ad said a $2,288 machine would lease for $86 a month. But the FTC said that to actually compare the cost of leasing to buying, a consumer would have to "scroll diligently through a number of complicated, densely filled screens," and use many hyperlinks.

A Micron ad promised a monthly lease fee of $98.96 for a $2,499 machine, but omitted information about $250 in fees due at the signing and buried information about terms of the lease, the FTC said.

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