TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Packard Bell Offers Settlement in Used Parts Flap: Packard Bell Electronics Inc. said it will pay more than $2 million in refunds and repairs to personal computer customers to settle complaints that it falsely sold its computers as new when they contained used parts. More than 1 million customers who bought any Packard Bell model between April, 1989, and May, 1995, will be eligible to apply for compensation or service under the agreement, plaintiffs’ attorney Patrick Grannan said. Sacramento-based Packard Bell is under investigation in 12 states to determine whether its sale of used parts constitutes deception under the states’ laws. The joint investigation is being led by Florida and Illinois. The company also was questioned recently by the Federal Trade Commission about its sale of computers with used parts.