Dell Inspiron Notebook Class Action Settlement

A class action lawsuit accusing Dell of deceptively designing, manufacturing, marketing, selling and servicing certain Dell Inspiron notebook computers has reached a tentative settlement. If you’ve ever owned a Dell Inspiron 1150, 5100 or 5160 notebook computer, you may be able to receive a repair refund of up to $150 from the class action lawsuit settlement.

According to the Dell Inspiron class action lawsuit, Dell allegedly knew its Inspiron notebook computers contained three common defects that could cause premature failure: (1) inadequate cooling systems, (2) a power supply system that prematurely fails when used as intended, and (3) motherboards that prematurely fail when used as intended. Dell denies any wrongdoing or liability of any kind associated with these claims.

As part of the Dell Inspiron class action settlement, Dell will provide a refund to customers who paid for certain Reimbursable Repairs to Inspiron laptop models 1150, 5100 or 5160. A “Reimbursable Repair” is any of the following repairs/replacements done by Dell or one of Dell’s authorized service providers — Bantec or QualxServ — for which the customer paid Dell out-of-pocket:

— Those addressing clogged vents and/or restricted airflow, including fan repair and/or replacement;

— Heat sink replacements;

— AC adapter replacements;

— Motherboard replacements addressing power failure, shutdown, failure to boot, and/or freezing situations; and

— Batter replacements addressing failure to take/hold a charge.

The amount you can be reimbursed for these repairs under the Dell Inspiron settlement depends on which Inspiron computer model you have/had and how long you owned it prior to the repair. For more information on how to calculate your reimbursement, see the FAQ section at www.CarideoSettlement.com.

There are several ways for you to get a refund under the Dell Inspiron settlement:

(1) Automatic Refunds: Customers who paid for Reimbursable Repairs and are in Dell’s repair database as doing so will receive a Notice of Eligibility postcard in the mail sometime after December 6, 2010. In order to receive an automatic refund, you must confirm your address with the Claims Administrator within 30 days of receiving the postcard.

(2) File a Claim: If you did not receive a Notice of Eligibility postcard, it means you do not automatically qualify for a refund and must submit a claim form, which can be downloaded at www.CarideoSettlement.com. Claim forms must be submitted online or postmarked by April 5, 2011 and must include (a) the Service Tag Number of your Inspiron 1150, 5100, 5160, (b) an invoice, receipt or other documents showing your Inspiron 1150, 5100 or 5160 was serviced for a Reimbursable Repair, and (c) a declaration under penalty of perjury confirming the truth of the claim. If you no longer have documentation of a Reimbursable Repair, you can still submit a claim form that includes a written explanation of who performed the repair, the date of the repair, the reason for service, a reason for why the proof of repair is not available, and a description of your efforts to find the necessary documentation.

For more information on how to claim up to $150 cash from the Dell Inspiron 1150, 5100, 5160 Class Action Lawsuit Settlement, check out our Open Settlements section now!

Updated October 28th, 2010

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