The effect of inter-dot many body interactions on the transport properties of coupled dots connected to leads is studied. Results are obtained by exactly diagonalizing a cluster composed by the double-dot and its vicinity, which is then connected to the leads. We analyse two configurations: coupled dots aligned and perpendicular to the leads. We show that in the weak coupling limit they present quite different conductance features as a function of gate potential. In the strong coupling limit they show qualitatively similar behaviour. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.