The New York Attorney General’s office is urging customers who believe they have been victims of Dell’s deceptive and negligent business practices to get in touch in order to claim compensation.

The Attorney General has launched a website through which customers affected by Dell’s dubious dealings can register their complaints in an attempt to seek compensation.

The move follows this week’s judgment against the computer company in which New York State Supreme Court Judge Joseph Teresi declared Dell had engaged in fraud, false advertising, deceptive business and abusive debt collection practices. The company was also found guilty of a sustained pattern of depriving customers of tech support.

The new website explains itself to be: “Dedicated exclusively to your complaints against Dell and/or Dell Financial Services. To file your complaint, you may complete the Form made available to you online. Additionally, please download your copy of the completed printable Complaint Form, sign and mail it with any related documentation.” 

The site also offers a couple of examples of Dell’s abusive practices, one being particularly telling: “When 67-year-old Barbara Williams, President of the Crochet Sewing Guild, bought a Dell computer, she also purchased 3 years “on site service.” When Ms. Williams’ computer crashed, she called Dell’s technical support. Ms. Williams says Dell simply abandoned her for 2 months before agreeing to send a technician to her home.”

In another stated example, a customer was convinced to purchase a Dell computer using Dell’s own finance scheme. While offered a good rate, the customer was then switched to a different plan with a 29 per cent interest rate - this customer’s regular credit card would have charged no more than 8 per cent.

Dell shares are currently trading at $21.69 with the company scheduled to reveal its Q1 earnings today. Should company founder and now CEO Michael Dell simply sell the company and return the money to company shareholders?

Image: Thanks to Gizmodo, image illustrates a Dell laptop bursting into flames at a conference in Japan in 2006.