Wickes Wallpaper Steamer

LeckieCJ

Hi all,

My Wickes £14.99 wallpaper steamer literally burst into flames whilst I was using it...

I first noticed thick smoke inside the container and then a small hole was melted in the bottom and water poured out, all over my carpet! My carpet was damaged by both the water and the melted plastic.

It did not run out of water and the 'safety cut out' did not operate. I had to unplug it at the wall and then shake it to put out the fire inside it.

Water / electricity mix !

Anyway, the manufacturers suggest it's our fault! Has anyone had any similar experiences with Wickes steamers - I would be very interested to hear from you if you have.....

Any ideas how to prove otherwise? Stupidly I gave the faulty one to their store manager - Doh!

Thanks !

olly300

LeckieCJ wrote: »

Hi all,

My Wickes £14.99 wallpaper steamer literally burst into flames whilst I was using it...

I first noticed thick smoke inside the container and then a small hole was melted in the bottom and water poured out, all over my carpet! My carpet was damaged by both the water and the melted plastic.

It did not run out of water and the 'safety cut out' did not operate. I had to unplug it at the wall and then shake it to put out the fire inside it.

Water / electricity mix !

Anyway, the manufacturers suggest it's our fault! Has anyone had any similar experiences with Wickes steamers - I would be very interested to hear from you if you have.....

Any ideas how to prove otherwise? Stupidly I gave the faulty one to their store manager - Doh!

Thanks !

Do you have a link to the exact model?

Anyway I suggest you contact your local trading standards (in case there are other complaints) and BBC Watchdog.

LeckieCJ

Hi Olly,

The link is http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/610001

I will certainly do that - thanks!

paddy's_mum

That was almost certainly made by Earlex of Guildford, Surrey. 01483 454666. A quick call to their quality control department may get you an explanation of what could have caused the steamer to catch fire - a very rare occurence.

Unless you have somehow managed to get something (a screwdriver perhaps)into the water container and physically damaged the heating element, or perhaps dropped the steamer on the end where the lead plugs in, I'm not sure how anyone could claim that it is your fault. Having said that, you would be amazed at the weird and wonderful excuses some people give when claiming that damage they have done is somehow the manufacturer's fault! (no offence intended to you)

However, your contract is with Wickes and it is them that you need to pursue to resolve this. It is unfortunate that you no longer have the machine but if you kick up enough of a stink, you might just get lucky and obtain some compensation. A frightening experience just the same and I wish you luck in dealing with Wickes.

LeckieCJ

paddy's_mum wrote: »

That was almost certainly made by Earlex of Guildford, Surrey. 01483 454666. A quick call to their quality control department may get you an explanation of what could have caused the steamer to catch fire - a very rare occurence.

Unless you have somehow managed to get something (a screwdriver perhaps)into the water container and physically damaged the heating element, or perhaps dropped the steamer on the end where the lead plugs in, I'm not sure how anyone could claim that it is your fault. Having said that, you would be amazed at the weird and wonderful excuses some people give when claiming that damage they have done is somehow the manufacturer's fault! (no offence intended to you)

However, your contract is with Wickes and it is them that you need to pursue to resolve this. It is unfortunate that you no longer have the machine but if you kick up enough of a stink, you might just get lucky and obtain some compensation. A frightening experience just the same and I wish you luck in dealing with Wickes.

:T Thanks very much Paddy's Mum.

Like my wife said.... even if you swung it round your head it should not burst into flames. (NOT TO BE RECOMMENDED OF COURSE!). I will be persuing this, as I happen to be an electrical engineer....;)

paddy's_mum

Leckie - glad to have been able to help. I have sent you a PM with a little more info that may be of use to you.

LeckieCJ

Thanks again for that :j

Chris