Check your tumble dryer (fire-risk)

4068ac1elhodqr

In the news today, numerous models affected, still usable (with precaution).
The Service Engineers will be busy for a good few months anyway. More info here.

Following Whirlpool's acquisition of the Hotpoint/Indesit brands, Indesit Company has closely reviewed the safety of its product portfolio.

As part of this review we have identified a potential concern with two types of tumble dryers manufactured between April 2004 and September 2015. In some rare cases, excess fluff can come into contact with the heating element and present a risk of fire.

We are activating an extensive consumer outreach and service action plan in order to provide our consumers with products that are updated to higher safety and quality standards. We will arrange a visit from an engineer, free of charge, to modify your appliance. The service call will take approximately one hour. The improvements we believe are necessary will further enhance the safety and quality of your dryer.

In the meantime consumers may continue to use their products, provided that appliances are not left unattended whilst operating. We also remind customers of the need for proper cleaning and maintenance, as outlined in the user manual.

Condenser and vented dryers affected:

• Hotpoint
• Indesit
• Creda

Euro-wide Model checker (for all affected brands) http://safety.hotpoint.eu/match.jsp

The model number should be on the front, else on the inside door of the appliance.

L1011

If you clean the fluff filter after every go this shouldn't be much of an issue. My partner, however, needs to be nearly shot to take the sodding fluff out and I had to do a severe extraction when I found out they hadn't done it much so will definitely be checking the model number at home; as it is an Indesit.

dubscottie

The London Fire Brigade posted up a link on twitter that lets you check most product recalls.


http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/product-recalls.asp

Lots of tumble driers going up recently..

4068ac1elhodqr

The LFB site looks a bit dated, best to run dryer model number through the 'official dedicated site': http://safety.hotpoint.eu/

Affected dryer models were sold on both the Ire & UK marketplace, bought between April 2004 and October 2015.
The company said that the tumble dryers could still be used but should not if they were left unattended.
Probably involves 100's of thousands of models, someone called it the 'vw scandal equivalent' within the white-goods world.

Cheap replica iPhone chargers are of common knowledge as being fire-risks, but hoverboards were just added this month also as very hazardous during charging, Dublin port this week turned away hundreds of them. Seen a few bearded hipsters out on them last week, do look handy for whizzing around the place.

Jamakazi

I have one of the dodgy ones, typical!
Got the news when I checked the above Hotpoint site, having read about the problem on a news site. They advised by email that they will be in touch within 5 weeks and that it's safe to use the appliance once you continue to clean the filter after every use, which I do anyway, and never leave it unattended.

Annoying, though, it does make me feel like it's a bit of a liability.
I bought mine around this time last year in Currys/PC World in Blanchardstown, so obviously it's going to be a big issue in Ireland too

Cabaal

To be honest leaving a tumble dryer on while not in the house (or while asleep) and never cleaning a filter is a silly thing to do,

Jamakazi

There is still an issue with these though even if you do everything right so you can use them with caution but must register with the site for an engineers visit.
From what I read there's a problem with lint getting into the motor so it sounds like a design flaw.

4068ac1elhodqr

Mention in today's paper of problems with them even when switched off after use, whereby heated lint near the heating elements can ignite.

Responsible for x750 house fires over the last 11yrs in the UK. No soup / end of year bonus times for the QA team.

Stinicker

I recently took apart my own dryer to fix a noisy bearing on the motor, they are built so cheaply and they are very shoddy. I gave it all a decent hoover out but after what I saw inside with the bad design and potential risk there is a new rule in our house that the dryer is not to be left on unless someone is at home at all times. I'll move the bloody thing out into the Garage after the new year alongside the washing machine which I threw out of the kitchen due to the noise it made spinning last year.

jimmycrackcorm

Cabaal wrote:

To be honest leaving a tumble dryer on while not in the house (or while asleep) and never cleaning a filter is a silly thing to do,

The filter in my dryer has gaps letting fluff through

4068ac1elhodqr

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

The filter in my dryer has gaps letting fluff through

Same here, the mesh barely lasted 1yr, before holes appeared. Hope the chap in the service van has plenty of spare parts when he 'eventually' calls round.

Have smoke, extinguishers and Co2 alarms around garage just in casey.

L1011

If its a drum-out job I'm tempted to give him the new spindle/washers/etc I have left over from the bearing kit I had to fit and get the lot done...

Extremely cheaply built kit; but then again it was extremely cheap.

mickdw

We have a Phillips tumbler that was bought slightly used 35 years ago.
It go a new belt about 5 years ago.
No other issues.
They don't build them like that anymore.

_Whimsical_

A few months ago details were released of a serious fault with some Indesit, Hotpoint and Creda driers that can lead to fire and are unsafe to leave alone while in operation. At the time they offered to fix that fault for people affected who register online. However now in the UK they've changed that offer and consumers who have one of these machines can avail of the chance to buy a new drier at 1/3rd of normal price. If your drier ison the older side this might be a good offer for you.
It takes upto 12 weeks after registering your drier to have your case dealt with. Might be worth regging now if you're affected.
If your drier is less than 12 months old they'll give you a new one.

You can check if your model is affected and reg on the website for the brand name you have.

4068ac1elhodqr

Anyone can haggle a good deal on a new dryer, 30% savings could probably be got on from a 'better manufacturer' during a typical sale.

I registered the fault with them in November, now they're saying I have to wait until May, for someone just to take a look at it, 7 months!
Now they want me to buy a new one from them, as if.

https://safety.hotpoint.eu/status

4068ac1elhodqr

Anyone can haggle a good deal on a new dryer, 30% savings could probably be got on from a 'better manufacturer' during a typical sale.

I registered the fault with them in November, now they're saying I have to wait until May, for someone just to take a look at it, 7 months!
Now they want me to buy a new one from them, as if.

https://safety.hotpoint.eu/status

4068ac1elhodqr

Waiting time is 7 months, seven months!
Before a technical is available to fix this fire hazard white box.

https://safety.hotpoint.eu/status

_Whimsical_

It was featured again today on This Morning. They had a story of a family who registered their dryer in Nov and were still waiting for the engineer when their house burned to the ground on Saturday from fire in the dryer. The family were in the house when it happened but the fire took hold too quick and they could do nothing. The pictures showed their home entirely burned to the ground.

There is a Hotpoint drier recall facebook group and people have rang their home insurance companies to ask if they'd be covered in the event of a fire and the answer is NO. If there is a recall due to safety you are responsible if you use the defective drier. This is probably particularly true if you've registered as there is proof you were aware of the fault. The UK electricity networks are asking that people stop using the dryers immediately for this reason.

I've tried tweeting Hotpoint Ireland but got no reply. Anyone else had any better success?

4068ac1elhodqr

Looking at a 7 month wait from Nov15 - May16.

It's probably closer to x750 house fires in the uk started by these faulty goods.

You'd be quicker getting the new filters and upgraded replacement heating elements online from amazon/china and replacing yourself, but then the warranty/insurance would then become void.

Thargor

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

It was featured again today on This Morning. They had a story of a family who registered their dryer in Nov and were still waiting for the engineer when their house burned to the ground on Saturday from fire in the dryer. The family were in the house when it happened but the fire took hold too quick and they could do nothing. The pictures showed their home entirely burned to the ground.

There is a Hotpoint drier recall facebook group and people have rang their home insurance companies to ask if they'd be covered in the event of a fire and the answer is NO. If there is a recall due to safety you are responsible if you use the defective drier. This is probably particularly true if you've registered as there is proof you were aware of the fault. The UK electricity networks are asking that people stop using the dryers immediately for this reason.

I've tried tweeting Hotpoint Ireland but got no reply. Anyone else had any better success?

Wonder what they'll do? Sue the company I suppose, any more info on this family?

jno547

Just checked mine and yep it's also on the hazard list,registered it online and am now off to where I bought it to let them know also.

_Whimsical_

Thargor wrote: »

Wonder what they'll do? Sue the company I suppose, any more info on this family?

Someone on that group posted this to facebook which is a recording of the piece that was on TV this morning.People outside the UK can't see This Morning videos online it seems. You can hear it but can't see the full extent of the damage. The presenter of the piece explains the gravity of the situation well though. It's only 4 mins.

https://www.facebook.com/tgarnham1/videos/10153518589647517/

Seems now on the fb page some insurers are saying they'll cover it, some are saying no and others are saying if you have legal assist as an extra on your policy they'll "aid" you taking a case against Hotpoint but won't cover your damage themselves.

Someone else had a fire this weekend waiting for their repair and posted the photo too :

L1011

Had to open mine to replace the spindle and bearing at the rear - another severe design fault as it eats through them.

Fluff had entered the heater element and had burnt; just not enough to set a full fire. Cleaned out fully and the OH has been shouted at for never cleaning the damn filter properly.

Cheap heap was being replaced this year with a better built and better featured unit even before I saw how hideously cheap it was inside; slightly accelerating that now!

jno547

Email from Hotpoint saying I'll be contacted within 8 weeks to arrange a repair visit.

8 weeks for a potential fire hazard!!!!!
8 hours would seem too long for me if this was being taken seriously.

_Whimsical_

L1011 wrote: »

Had to open mine to replace the spindle and bearing at the rear - another severe design fault as it eats through them.

Fluff had entered the heater element and had burnt; just not enough to set a full fire. Cleaned out fully and the OH has been shouted at for never cleaning the damn filter properly.

!

Might not be your OHs fault as some people who have cleaned and hoovered the filter and the gap it goes in everyday have had fires!Fluff in the element is the issue.

They think one may be linked to a fatal fire now. :mad:
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/tumble-dryer-suspected-causing-fatal-10856139

4068ac1elhodqr

jno547 wrote: »

Email from Hotpoint saying I'll be contacted within 8 weeks to arrange a repair visit.

8 weeks for a potential fire hazard!!!!!
8 hours would seem too long for me if this was being taken seriously.

8 weeks to get a response or update perhaps, it may be more like '6 months' to actually get someone in a van to visit and spend 20mins replacing the faulty parts. They'll only do this when they're designated in a particular area so could be a bit of a postcode/area lottery really.

jno547

Lucian Unkempt Mobster wrote:

8 weeks to get a response or update perhaps, it may be more like '6 months' to actually get someone in a van to visit and spend 20mins replacing the faulty parts. They'll only do this when they're designated in a particular area so could be a bit of a postcode/area lottery really.

Was afraid of that.

_Whimsical_

Having had a look on the Irish hotpoint twitter account they seem to be offering just repair to us. In the UK repaired dryers have caught fire. Might be a good idea if we could all hassle them on twitter or facebook and make them feel some heat? (irony duely noted).

_Whimsical_

So after being a bit of a nuisance on twitter I got a call offering me the new dryer for 99 pounds. Anyone else ?

Lumi

Thanks _Whimsical_
Mine is on the hazard list too. I've just started to pester them on Twitter so hopefully I get a similar result.

_Whimsical_

Lumi wrote: »

Thanks _Whimsical_
Mine is on the hazard list too. I've just started to pester them on Twitter so hopefully I get a similar result.

Lumi I hope you do, however one caveat, make sure you find out what model machine they are offering you. It seems in some parts of the UK they're charging people 99 pounds to deliver an old machine that they have fixed in the same way they'd fix your machine for free if they came to your house. The old fault is still an issue however and these "new" machines are going on fire too. Also some people have had their home insurance confirm that they will not cover them in the event of a fire even if the machine is "fixed" to Hotpoint's satisfaction. The bad machines are marked with a green dot sticker so refuse to take any machine with a green dot sticker on it.
This is one is the one that's supposed to be safe that they're selling for 99 pounds : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hotpoint-TDWSF83BEP-Condenser-Dryer-White/dp/B01ABWX1PM

It's really a disgrace!

L1011

Based on their build quality, I wouldn't *want* a new one that cost me more than zero.

_Whimsical_

The latest update is that some people are having smoking with the new replacement model that's supposed to be fresh off the production line! Not only that when engineers are called they're telling people it's "safe smoke"...you know when an electrical appliance just starts smoking for the sheer hell of it. I wouldn't touch one now either.

If you've paid by credit card or debit card there's a chance of refund via you card company
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/section75-protect-your-purchases

I'm going to give it a try anyway. Seems some people have already been successful.

Cherrycola

Just a word of warning for anyone registering their appliance, make sure to use your postcode!!! I registered last november online, didnt use my postcode and the form still went through, received an automated email saying i would be contacted in 5 weeks, heard nothing! Received a letter this morning asking me to register my applicance! Did it again, didnt put postcode again(we are moving home soon), new email said contact in 10 weeks! Rang the number on the letter, bounced around from billy to jack, no one could search my previous registration as they can only search via postcode apparently, and I should have received a customer number but didnt so looks like the original registration never even went through. And by registering again this morning, it would have bumped me back to the end of the q again anyway!
Must add that all this was done via the uk customer service as no one was picking up in the irish office(if it even exists) so the girl couldn't really give me any info re ireland at all!
Absolute sham!
The number on the letter was freephone 1800 804 320, but either it redirects straight to registration dept in the UK if not answered in ireland or there is no irish number really and all calls go to the uk.

Does anyone have any sort or irish contact number or email address? As i need to make some serious complaints!

Cherrycola

Lucian Unkempt Mobster wrote: »

Anyone can haggle a good deal on a new dryer, 30% savings could probably be got on from a 'better manufacturer' during a typical sale.

I registered the fault with them in November, now they're saying I have to wait until May, for someone just to take a look at it, 7 months!
Now they want me to buy a new one from them, as if.



https://safety.hotpoint.eu/status

Can I ask, did you use your postcode when you registered? I also registered last November and heard nothing from them at all, never received a customer number. After receiving a letter today asking me to register my tumble drier, I rang, and after much bouncing back and forth it seems if you don't use your postcode the registration doesn't go through!
I can't remember if I used mine, but they can only search the database with postcode and surname and couldn't find anything relating to me.
Also it was the uk I was out through to, so don't know if there's a separate Irish database or if all calls go to the uk

Lux23

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

A few months ago details were released of a serious fault with some Indesit, Hotpoint and Creda driers that can lead to fire and are unsafe to leave alone while in operation. At the time they offered to fix that fault for people affected who register online. However now in the UK they've changed that offer and consumers who have one of these machines can avail of the chance to buy a new drier at 1/3rd of normal price. If your drier ison the older side this might be a good offer for you.
It takes upto 12 weeks after registering your drier to have your case dealt with. Might be worth regging now if you're affected.
If your drier is less than 12 months old they'll give you a new one.

You can check if your model is affected and reg on the website for the brand name you have.

Surely they should be replacing the drier for free if the item is faulty?

VincePP

Lux23 wrote: »

Surely they should be replacing the drier for free if the item is faulty?

They are repairing free of charge, but also offering a discount if you don't want a repair. Once the repair fixes the issue, then that's good.

Not sure if the OP meant 30% Off RRP, or 30% of RRP.

30% of RRP would mean a €200 dryer for €60 (excellent deal)
30% off would mean €140 (not great)

4068ac1elhodqr

You're right it's a sham of a company [Hotpoint, Indesit, and Creda] (Whirlpool owned) are likely responsible for x750 house fires (source: Which?) over in the UK 2004-2015 inc. Hotpoint models accounted for the highest number of dryer-related fires with 410 in a three-year period.

They still haven't classed it as a product recall which it should obviously be.
Wouldn't want a new discounted version of their poorly-built machines neither.
Even if you manage to get an email reply, may have to wait +6mths for technician.



http://www.itv.com/news/2016-02-12/plan-for-automatic-recalls-after-tumble-dryer-fires/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34901765
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/victims-sue-tumble-dryer-makers-7348113
http://www.which.co.uk/news/2016/02/whirlpool-still-advising-consumers-to-use-fire-risk-tumble-dryers-432969/
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-3330462/Fire-risk-forces-maker-Hotpoint-Indesit-Creda-recall-appliances.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3440084/Nearly-one-blaze-day-blamed-tumble-dryers-figures-show.html

dudara

Threads merged

dudara

_Whimsical_

Did anyone see the case featured in the media this week of a lady whose house burned down while using one of these dryers on safety alert ? She has 5 young children and they're all now in tempory accommodation from the council. Her home insurance won't cover it as it is a faulty product. She got this letter today from Hotpoint offering her 175 pounds as a goodwill gesture on condition she give them the burned out dryer!!

This is her home now.



This is the only contact from Hotpoint

Lumi

Cherrycola wrote: »

Just a word of warning for anyone registering their appliance, make sure to use your postcode!!! I registered last november online, didnt use my postcode and the form still went through, received an automated email saying i would be contacted in 5 weeks, heard nothing! Received a letter this morning asking me to register my applicance! Did it again, didnt put postcode again(we are moving home soon), new email said contact in 10 weeks! Rang the number on the letter, bounced around from billy to jack, no one could search my previous registration as they can only search via postcode apparently, and I should have received a customer number but didnt so looks like the original registration never even went through. And by registering again this morning, it would have bumped me back to the end of the q again anyway!
Must add that all this was done via the uk customer service as no one was picking up in the irish office(if it even exists) so the girl couldn't really give me any info re ireland at all!
Absolute sham!
The number on the letter was freephone 1800 804 320, but either it redirects straight to registration dept in the UK if not answered in ireland or there is no irish number really and all calls go to the uk.

Does anyone have any sort or irish contact number or email address? As i need to make some serious complaints!

That number redirects to a call centre that Hotpoint have outsourced the admin to. It's not their actual customer service department and it's a waste of time ringing them unless you already have a customer number.

I got the same runaround - no postcode so no record of my registration and no customer number, hours on hold, automated responses on Twitter, Facebook and from their Contact Us facility etc.
I then emailed every address I could find online for Hotpoint/Indesit/Whirlpool
I got an immediate response from Eileen Quinn, the corporate secretary of the Whirlpool group
corporate_secretary@whirlpool.com

I was issued with a customer number and was contacted by Indesit UK customer relations the next day. They've arranged for an engineer to call on Wednesday to inspect the dryer and fit the new back and lint trap and they'll call me again on Thursday.

My 10 week wait dropped to four days so It might be worth dropping her an email Cherrycola

_Whimsical_

I'm a little suspicious of them giving people the run around with the whole postcode business. When they rang me I just gave them my name over the phone and the man I spoke to found me in their system immediately based on my reg. I didn't use a postcode either.

L1011

I'm currently planning to buy a completely new, non indesit, dryer and then take a small claims case for the cost of the clearly dangerous wreck. These are obviously dangerous enough that they need a hard stop order made. I've seen scorched lint in the heater element of mine when fixing another design fault and feel lucky it didn't go up.

VincePP

L1011 wrote: »

I'm currently planning to buy a completely new, non indesit, dryer and then take a small claims case for the cost of the clearly dangerous wreck. These are obviously dangerous enough that they need a hard stop order made. I've seen scorched lint in the heater element of mine when fixing another design fault and feel lucky it didn't go up.

Taking a scc case? Do you have any knowledge of the scc process?

Your case won't even be looked at.

My guess is you're just grandstanding

_Whimsical_

VincePP wrote: »

Taking a scc case? Do you have any knowledge of the scc process?

Your case won't even be looked at.

My guess is you're just grandstanding

Why would the case not be looked at?

The OP bought a dryer that had an inherent fault that rendered it in contravention of a central tenant of the sale of goods act, ie that it be fit for purpose. Anything that can't be completely safely operated surely is not fit for purpose.The only remedy available to him at present is wait until the dryer is fixed by hotpoint which will likely be quite a bit off. There's much evidence online suggesting the fix doesn't prevent fire, some home insurers are even unwilling to cover fire arising from a faulty dryer that's been fixed. I would think he would have a decent chance of success with scc, is there something I'm missing?

L1011

VincePP wrote: »

Taking a scc case? Do you have any knowledge of the scc process?

Your case won't even be looked at.

My guess is you're just grandstanding

I do - I suspect you don't. Firstly, every case is looked at - if you think they aren't you don't know what you're talking about.

Device is inherently faulty and they're making no moves to properly repair

4068ac1elhodqr

In London, Leigh Day (lawyers) have taken on x13 cases which may end in payouts of up to £300,000 each. But this is for damage caused by these machines that the insurers refused to pay out on. This could set some precedence.

Ideally the NSAI (National Standards Authority of Ireland) and the TSA (Trading Standards) in the UK, should just class it a full immediate 'product recall' on the basis of safety. Not just a product 'alert'. White goods (excluding cooking equipment) should not require full and continuous attendance when operating.

VincePP

L1011 wrote: »

I do - I suspect you don't. Firstly, every case is looked at - if you think they aren't you don't know what you're talking about.

Device is inherently faulty and they're making no moves to properly repair

Have you requested a repair via the retail store you purchased the item from
Have you exhausted all avenues with the retail store.

No? - then no case possible.

Any court action is as a last resort - not a first option and would be against the retailer, not the manufacturer

Your case will be regarded as invalid based on taking it against hotpoint.

L1011

VincePP wrote: »

Have you requested a repair via the retail store you purchased the item from
Have you exhausted all avenues with the retail store.

No? - then no case possible.

Any court action is as a last resort - not a first option and would be against the retailer, not the manufacturer

Your case will be regarded as invalid based on taking it against hotpoint.

I'll be going against the retailer - DSG. They've refused as "its out if warranty"

I know what to do here, thanks. Don't need to be lectured about a very well known procedure.

mitch61

Our dryer which is 10 months old is on the famous list for modifcation but im insisting on a replacement as it still new we are getting the run around from harvey norman and hotpoint anyone else try for replacement

_Whimsical_

mitch61 wrote: »

Our dryer which is 10 months old is on the famous list for modifcation but im insisting on a replacement as it still new we are getting the run around from harvey norman and hotpoint anyone else try for replacement

Ive seen some people on this facebook page with dryers less than a year old get refunds and replacements from Hotpoint. They've been hard won. It's taken harrassing on twitter and facebook but it is happening for people with dryers less than one year old. Definitely don't give up and accept modification. Harvey Norman should by my understanding on the Sale of Goods act help you though. I'd print out articles of homes going on fire while people wait for modification, bring them down and raise a bit of hell if I was you.