Dell refund consumer in China for marketing error

Dell, the second biggest PC maker in China after Lenovo Group Ltd., was sued by 19 people on Tuesday in Xiamen in the eastern province of Fujian, China Daily reported on its Web site on Friday. In July, a case was brought in Shanghai.

Both filings allege that customers were sold Dell laptops with Intel Corp. processors that have fewer features than the advertised models they believed they were buying, China Daily reported.

Dell spokesman Jess Blackburn blamed the problem on a "marketing error" and said the company was offering full refunds. In marketing materials, "someone retained some language that no longer applied to the particular model," he said.

"We've acknowledged the mistake and have been in contact with customers and are working with them," Blackburn said.

Dell, after being hit with consumer complaints in the United States, is investing $100 million and hiring 2,000 people to improve its customer service. Customers had complained about long telephone wait times and inferior service.