Re-Affirmation on Computer Help needed

[freshstart32]

Ok we received our re-affirmation agreements on both of our vehicles and then we also received one from Dell on our computer. Our attorney sent a letter with it and said that we could reaffirm it, surrender it, or we could redeem it for one lump sum payment to Dell.

I don't want to surrender it if I don't have to....my whole life in pictures is on there....I do a lot of photography and I hate the idea of having to download to CD's and then buy a new computer and so on and so on. I will NOT reaffirm it for the total amount due at all. Which leads me to the redeem it for one lump sum. This I am fine with. Only problem is.....I need to come up with a lump sum amount and I am having a hard time with this. I need some help and advice as to what you think I should offer to pay for this.

Right now our total Dell bill is $2,646 but that is tons of late fees and then interest that was added onto a 1 year no interest on the computer and when we quit making payments they added on all the interest. It also includes a video camera....yeah I know...but we needed a new one ours broke and that was the only card that had anything available on it so we bought one thru Dell. It also includes a memory stick for it and then also a couple of photo softwares that I bought.

They only asked me to reaffirm on the computer so if that's the case.....I don't have to worry about the rest of that stuff do I?

The computer was bought on Nov. 29, 2006 and it is a Dimension E521, Athlon 64 x 2 3800+2.00 GHZ with a 19"Flat Panel screen. We paid $926.44 for it. Oops well we didn't pay for it..... but you know what I mean.

So what do you think we should redeem it in one lump sum for??

[chpxiii]

What you need to do is look up computers online with comparable specifications and see how much those are selling for. Then minus .. oh.. I dunno, 10%? 20%? For your computer being "used."

But you at least should look up comparable computers.

[ssdsco]

If you search on Dell I think you'll see others didn't pay or reaff, just kept the equipment and Dell never picked it up. You might PM them and see how it finally turned.

Glad you're keeping your sense of humor.

[HHM]

Go invest $50 on a back-up external hard-drive and back-up your pictures.

And don't bother paying Dell...very rarely will anyone go to the effort to repo consumer electronics.

As with most consumer products collections, they talk a big game...but if you call their bluff, they fold.

[ameliabedilia]

Go invest $50 on a back-up exteran hard-drive and back-up your pictures.

And don't bother paying Dell...very rarely will anyone go to the effort to repo consumer electronics.

As with most consumer products collections, they talk a big game...but if you call their bluff, they fold.

This is great advice no matter what- I had my computer crash a few years ago and lost lots of pictures that I hadn't uploaded to a website or backed up

[chpxiii]

As with most consumer products collections, they talk a big game...but if you call their bluff, they fold.

I wish I had known this at the time I filed. I paid IN FULL some POS camera that is listed as "secure." It was scratched one year after I filed and I haven't used it since.

[CindyLou]

never heard a peep from them! they talk a big game, but they don't want your stuff!! Personally I wouldn't do anything. If they require a response tell themthe computer is giving you problems (which is always the truth!). But really just ignore them.

[HHM]

I don't want to give you the impression that repo of consumer products never happen...but doing so is rare.

If you really think about what a company would have to go through and pay to repo the product....(1) consumer products are movable and usually inside someones residence...no states allow breaking and entering to repo goods (2) thus, they would have to involve the sheriff, which means going to local court to get a writ of possession and pay all associated fees (and comply with all the noticing requirements which will take many weeks) (3) then actually hire someone to go out to the residence with the sheriff (and even still, it's unclear whether the writ of possession would allow "forced" entry into the residence if no one is home). (4) then factor in that they have no idea the condition of the item (5) then, once they actually get the property, they have to sell a "used" item. And unlike cars, where there are established markets...there really is no such reliable market for consumer products.

When you factor all that in...repo of consumer products almost never happen.

Thus, with consumer product collections...they are almost always bluffing.

[In the Process]

I have 3 computers with Dell with a $1735. balance. My attorney called and asked me if I wanted to redeem and how much I was willing to pay. I told him $200.00 if I had to, but 2 of the 3 are not functioning properly. I filed June 11, 2008 and 341 meeting in Aug. Am I tied into the $200. amount? Will Dell be at the 341 meeting? What happens with them at this point, and after the 341?

[JRScott]

The computer is 18 months old and was a low end computer at that time. Basic worth of the computer is probably less than 200 dollars. The video camera not sure as you don't list when you got it or how much it was worth then. I'm sure it is for the whole bill not just the computer.

DELL never came and got mine. We listed it as surrender , and they never came got it . As HHM says it is extremely rare for companies to come and take consumer electronics, furniture and the like as the resale value is next to nil.

[PaKettle]

I totally think HHM gave you the best advice:
First of all, buy a small external drive and BACK UP your photos. If they're that important to you, you MUST have a back up of them! All drives die and so you need to back them up NOW. I just bought a 250gig external Westertn Digital "Passport" drive for $100 at Best Buy so I'm sure you can get a decent one to back your stuff up for $50 or so if you look around.

Secondly, again HHM is right: the chances of them taking your computer back is about the same as being struck by lightning. So just back your stuff up and don't answer Dell's threats. I would bet they're just trying to play you for a fool. But back your stuff up, anyway, please!

[MajorMike]

http://www.cheapstingybargains.com/25107/dell-dimension-e521-desktop-w-amd-athlon-64-3200-449/

[AngelinaCatHub]

Freshstart32:

First this is my gig. I do computer for 40 years now. From eloctomechanical, relay logic, mainframes, and micros. Your computer right now is obsolete. You can actually buy an emachine for 269.00 that equals your unit. Why you purchased that so high in price and then accumulated extreme charges is a mystery to me? All above are correct, nobody wants a computer over a year old as technology is blooming by the day. Purchase that hard drive for sure and BACKUP.

Tell you a story: One of my friends/customers digitized all his pictures to make CD’s for his family and clean out the place so he burned the originals. GUESS WHAT, his hard drive bellied up. He was in tears. With special software and 20 hours of work and wait, I was able to retrieve 90% from his crippled drive. You don’t know how he appreciated that, as he is in his 80’s and his whole life was in those pictures. The first extra bucks you get buy that external drive and put it into an ammo can (purchased at Army-Navy stores) and put it into the trunk of your car, not your house. WHY? Theft or fire. Keep the backup off site. ‘Hub