Hotpoint urgent tumble dryer recall

Zandoni

I know someone who had the repair done today. The machine had a new back cover and a small post attached to the drum which supposed to keep the fluff off the seal.

GNL

I bought mine in 2013 with a 5 year guarantee. I received an email today with a link to the repair status, stating the repair/modification was scheduled for NOVEMBER! I therefore cannot leave the dryer on unattended for over 9 months. This is unacceptable (and being attended won't guarantee it's safety anyway) . There was also an alternative option for me to purchase a new dryer at a reduced price but as my current dryer has a 5 year guarantee, I should be offered a free replacement. I cannot afford to pay for another one even at the reduced price and don't see why I should have to. Other people have been given a free replacement so I have emailed them to ask for a free one as well.

masterlumps

I have tried to contact them on numerous occasions to no avail. My drier was new in September. I got 10 weeks out of it before this came to light. I have been waiting over 10 for them to respond to me registering my details.

AJXX

GNL wrote: »

There was also an alternative option for me to purchase a new dryer at a reduced price but as my current dryer has a 5 year guarantee, I should be offered a free replacement. I cannot afford to pay for another one even at the reduced price and don't see why I should have to. Other people have been given a free replacement so I have emailed them to ask for a free one as well.

Why should you be offered a free replacement just because you have a 5 year "guarantee"? I think you'll find that any "guarantee" you have will allow for repairs before replacements are made - not that the guarantee likely covers safety modifications anyway.

Other people (at least on here) have been given a free replacement because either their existing machine was too old to repair or they've had a genuine grievance/complaint.

By all means there is no harm asking for a free dryer, but I certainly don't think you're automatically entitle to one.

As for the issue of safe or not to use, it's certainly not unacceptable having to wait for the repair, after all there are thousands of people in front of you - Hotpoint have said it's safe to use if you're vigilant and clean the filters and trading standards seem happy to back them up.

masterlumps wrote: »

I have tried to contact them on numerous occasions to no avail. My drier was new in September. I got 10 weeks out of it before this came to light. I have been waiting over 10 for them to respond to me registering my details.

Have you tried a letter in the post? this seems to be the best way to go at the moment as the phone lines are constantly clogged up.

I'm not sure what you mean by "got 10 weeks use out of it", Hotpoint have said the machines are safe to use in the meantime and this is backed by trading standards. If you don't feel safe using it, then don't, but the advice is it's okay to use.

wealdroam

GNL wrote: »

I bought mine in 2013 with a 5 year guarantee. I received an email today with a link to the repair status, stating the repair/modification was scheduled for NOVEMBER! I therefore cannot leave the dryer on unattended for over 9 months. This is unacceptable (and being attended won't guarantee it's safety anyway) . There was also an alternative option for me to purchase a new dryer at a reduced price but as my current dryer has a 5 year guarantee, I should be offered a free replacement. I cannot afford to pay for another one even at the reduced price and don't see why I should have to. Other people have been given a free replacement so I have emailed them to ask for a free one as well.

Does your current dryer have a five year parts and labour guarantee or just a five year parts only guarantee?

wealdroam

masterlumps wrote: »

I have tried to contact them on numerous occasions to no avail. My drier was new in September. I got 10 weeks out of it before this came to light. I have been waiting over 10 for them to respond to me registering my details.

You've been waiting how long?

Ten minutes is nothing.

Zandoni

AJXX wrote: »

As for the issue of safe or not to use, it's certainly not unacceptable having to wait for the repair, after all there are thousands of people in front of you - Hotpoint have said it's safe to use if you're vigilant and clean the filters and trading standards seem happy to back them up.

Depends if you trust Whirlpool or Electrical Safety First. If you do have a fire will your insurance pay out?

Electrical Safety First does not share this view. If you have an appliance that has been recalled we advise you to stop using it until it has been inspected and declared safe to use by a manufacturer's engineer.

http://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/product-recalls/2016/02/hotpoint,-indesit-and-creda-tumble-dryers/

GrannyDish

Yes, I agree with you, and I am on the point of accepting their offer. I was just curious about the discrepancy in the offers from Hotpoint. I can't be waiting until December. Thank for your post

AJXX

Zandoni wrote: »

Depends if you trust Whirlpool or Electrical Safety First. If you do have a fire will your insurance pay out?

Electrical Safety First does not share this view. If you have an appliance that has been recalled we advise you to stop using it until it has been inspected and declared safe to use by a manufacturer's engineer.

http://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/product-recalls/2016/02/hotpoint,-indesit-and-creda-tumble-dryers/

I find it hilarious that this same website advises NOT to leave dryers unattended in general under any circumstances (including overnight and going out and leaving them on).

Don't leave appliances like washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers running during the night or when you are out. If you do not have an RCD in your fusebox, use a plug-in RCD for these items.

Therefore if you follow the above advice not to use the dryer until it has been modified by Hotpoint and are one of the (seemingly many) people who leave your dryer on unattended during normal use then you're a bit of a hypocrite.

Busybee5186

Hotpoint Dryer cause a fire after repair- hotpoint fobbing me off.

Hello,

I am at a lost. I bought one of the faulty Hotpoint dryers in July 2015 via AO. When we got the AO email about the possible fault, we registered for the engineer vistit which was due in May 2016.

The site clearly said the dryer was safe to use with a link to how to clean the filter, which my husband and I did after every drying cycle anyway.

However Monday 15th Feb, the dryer tripped the power, called hotpoint could not get through on the dryer line, several times.

Called AO who put me through hotpoint and got an appointment for Wednesday 24th, yesterday. An all day slot. So my husband had to take a day off work and wait in. We never got the text with a 3hr time slot as promised.

Dryer repair man turned up around 1pm ish, and did his thing. He did not test the dryer. When my husband asked he said the glue he used needs to cure, we need to wait 3-4hrs before turning it on.

Around 9pm we turned it on to test, within 10min approx it shorted the power again AND THE PLUG BURST INTO FLAMES!!

Luckily the fire died off but the burning stench is still very strong today! As you can imagine, I was shocked, shaking specially as I have young children in the house.

Tried to call hotpoint dryer line again today, get put on hold with a horrible beeping noise then it cuts off AGAIN.

Called AO who washed their hands off and passed me to Hotpoint. Was told I can only book another engineer visit which will be next Wednesday at the earliest, again another full day slot. I do not want this fire hazard fixed, I want it out of my home. But an engineer need to confirm the fault first before they take the next step.


Now as you can imagine, I cannot afford for my husband or I to take yet another day off work. They refused to give a shorter slot or do anything else.

So I am stuck without a dryer, with a fire hazard that has caused a fire. And short of 1 day's pay and no way to get another dryer.

Don't get me wrong, I understand they need to check it, etc. But how can they justify not giving a shorter slot so we can plan it and not end out more out of pocket as we already paid £234.98 for the dryer, lost £70 pay and have no working dryer.

Please, any suggestion of what next step I need to take will be gratefully received.

Isn't AO the people who need to refund me as I purchased from them? The dryer is 7 months old.

We cannot afford to replace it. I live in a small flat with little drying space and have young children which made having a dryer a necessity.

TIA