exploding duracell battery and acid burn...

pulliptears

Hope she's healed for the wedding. Sounds very nasty indeed.

Can I also say how refreshing it is not to read 'It could have been a child!' on one of these threads. One of the few threads I've read on here where I feel an OP genuinely does deserve compensation.

Keep us updated OP.

shaun_from_Africa

Whatever you decide to do, don't automatically assume that the batteries were at fault and start using the paint pod again.

There is a possibility that there is a problem with it which was causing an excessive current to be drawn from the batteries, causing 1 or more of them to heat up and explode.

arcon5

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

Whatever you decide to do, don't automatically assume that the batteries were at fault and start using the paint pod again.

There is a possibility that there is a problem with it which was causing an excessive current to be drawn from the batteries, causing 1 or more of them to heat up and explode.

Very good point indeed. If the batteries are being used in a way not intended then liability for the defective product could indeed be with Dulux.

Another reason why a professional opinion is essential.

mikey72

It could be a wrongly inserted battery, if the terminal at the top shorts to the side, because it's caught wrongly across the terminal in the paintpod, it could be a defective terminal in the paintpod causing a short, or could one battery have been out in the wrong way round? All will cause the battery to overheat.

paddyrg

Yep, photograph everything and everyone to excess, paint pod, paint, batteries, mrs, all the packaging, all the battery dates and batch numbers, everything. And log an exact timeline with the exact order of everything. May seem like overkill now, but if this drags on for a couple of years, you will be glad you did it.

Just for the record and for precision's sake, they are chemical burns, or alkali burns, not acid burns. I would suggest using the term 'chemical burns' as a clear catchall and not let anyone get caught up in semantics.

eilidh_s

To be honest I would go and see a solicitor and chase up Tesco, Dulux and Duracell. If you kept the battery then I would think Duracell should be able to prove if it was a fake or a real one and then take it from there. Also I would tug on the heart strings a little and mention the wedding. Oh, and make sure you have reports from A&E as well.

super_dad

thanks for all the help and advice....

I phoned duracell this morning and made the complaint. They have a procedure for such complaints, but admit it's rare.

They want me to send the batteries in to them - which I will do. I have lots of good quality images stored in 3 different places so I am satisfied that even if they "go missing" then I can back up what I say.

I have also asked a neighbour (respectable medical professional) to verify that the batteries went into an envelope - and that they are those seen in the images I took (that make sense?!)

Also taken lots of photos of the Mrs' face and injuries.. as well as pictures of the eye drops she was given ... etc etc. she has simple access to her own medical records as she is a pharmacist at the local hospital. (although I dare say there are procedures for getting to them... as there is with any sort of thing in the NHS...)


to their credit - duracell have called us twice since our initial complaint (just to ask how she is and to ask if they can get a medical report from A&E.. which of course they can)....

so, watch this space i guess - they seem to be taking it very very seriously.

Will keep updated

shaun_from_Africa

It might be worth contacting Duracell again and asking if they could possibly arrange for the batteries to be collected from you instead of having to post them.

This is really for 2 reasons.
It's unlikely, but if the package did go missing, you might find that you have a hard job proving who was at fault, but the more important reason is that as the batteries have started leaking, they shouldn't be sent through the post as the electrolyte in them is highly corrosive, and any chemical such as this is prohibited from the mail.

super_dad

yes... sorry - they are sending out a courier to collect the items. i mis-worded in the thread

thanks

CoolHotCold

Props to Duracell, so far they have done everything right.

Protecting their brand image I suppose. Plus it sounds like they are staffed by people who care.