MSE News: EE recalls ALL power bars in new safety alert

Pixeltash

Just to add my experiance.

I returned 2 power bars to the EE store. One was mine well used and one was my Mums never left the box - sigh.

I just handed them over and was given back the micro to usb cables of both, they asked were we on PAYG and when I said yes they just handed over 2 vouchers. They then looked at the power bars and commented that these were 01 models and were the good ones. I was miffed at this and asked why they were recalling them, they shrugged and were as baffled as I was about it all. (I suspect its the swapping them out model that isn't working/profitable).

I have just used the vouchers to order two mains chargers - for my Mum as she didn't use the power bar and needs a second mains charger and a Kit 4000 power bank for me. No problems using the voucher codes.

I notice someone upthread was complaining that they want an emergency charger with a light - well thats what I ordered :-)

https://accessories.ee.co.uk/product/pwrb4whkt/kit/universal_power_bank_with_led_flashlight_4,000mah/

Zebrdee

Pixeltash wrote: »

Just to add my experiance.

I returned 2 power bars to the EE store. One was mine well used and one was my Mums never left the box - sigh.

I just handed them over and was given back the micro to usb cables of both, they asked were we on PAYG and when I said yes they just handed over 2 vouchers. They then looked at the power bars and commented that these were 01 models and were the good ones. I was miffed at this and asked why they were recalling them, they shrugged and were as baffled as I was about it all. (I suspect its the swapping them out model that isn't working/profitable).

I have just used the vouchers to order two mains chargers - for my Mum as she didn't use the power bar and needs a second mains charger and a Kit 4000 power bank for me. No problems using the voucher codes.

I notice someone upthread was complaining that they want an emergency charger with a light - well thats what I ordered :-)

https://accessories.ee.co.uk/product/pwrb4whkt/kit/universal_power_bank_with_led_flashlight_4,000mah/

How many items did you 'order' with your two vouchers? EE are recalling them because of a potential fire risk. Once EE have them all back and checked they're sending those out again later under a similar offer, EE told me.

I now have two of the 4,000 mAh Kit power bars, apart from being slightly bigger and heavier, they're OK. Zero cost, P&P included using the vouchers, quick delivery too. These only became available a few days ago, on the EE accessories site.

DavidP24

Only just heard about this, what a complete and utter balls up by EE.

First they take one of THE most valued promotions in the Country (Odeon offer) and they replace it with some tacky USB charger they say is worth £20 but can be got on eBay for a couple of quid.

Then they screw up on the delivery of this naff device and can't keep up with demand.

Then customers find that the device is not being given to them at all, it is on some weird HIRE agreement, did they know it was faulty or as the conspiracy theorists suggest does this device install a rootkit in your device to allow government spying?

Then they send out more and again screw up on the delivery and can't keep up with demand.

Then they have a recall for a "batch of units"

Then there are more reports of overheating and fire risk, so they recall the lot.

Then they fail in getting the word out, they know who has them so they should be able to tell us how many have not been returned.

To top it all EE offer a pathetic £20 voucher againsts over priced accessories for SELECTED eligible customers (no detail on who is eligible). This was really dumb, if this device is a fire risk and people are told they MIGHT get a refund then they will not bother.

Considering tha HASSLE of having to register to get one, having to go into a store to get it, sometimes on two or more occastions with parking and petrol costs, would it not have been a more genuine thing to just offer to apply a credit to the customers account or give them a credit voucher that could be used on their account.

The way EE have handled this promotion should be taught in Business School in the module " how to upset customers and ruin your reputation"!.

DavidP24

I forgot to mention that EE were warned the product was unsafe BEFORE they were given to customers

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/08/07/ee_power_bars_safety_risks_company_warned_april/

"Last month, 26-year-old medical student Katy Emslie suffered burns to her hands and spent five hours in A&E and had plastic/reconstructive treatment after her Power Bar, which was charging from her laptop, exploded in the middle of the night while she slept."

If I was Katy Emslie I would be getting hold of some top london lawyer to sue the pants off EE.

These items are still being sold on eBay!

I do not think EE is doing enough to get these dangerous products into their possession.

Does someone have to die in a fire before they will take this seriously?

EE can always sue the supplier as Amstrad did Western Digital many years ago.

usejean

Bit of an update from me ..... took the power bar back, got a voucher but voucher doesn't work due to me not being an EE customer! So off back to the shop today as on the advice of their Customer Services staff if I take along proof of purchase ie, emails and my cc statement showing the charge they will refund me. Something tells me this isn't going to be that easy .....!

DavidP24

#worthless EE

There is not much more I can say, just disgusting that all they can do after endangering hundreds of thousands of people is some paltry offer that they do not even honour.

I hope BT sack all the management of EE

Swipe

DavidP24 wrote: »

#worthless EE

There is not much more I can say, just disgusting that all they can do after endangering hundreds of thousands of people is some paltry offer that they do not even honour.

I hope BT sack all the management of EE

They didn't endanger anyone, there was nothing wrong with the chargers. It was a knee jerk reaction to cover their !!!!!!. In fact, there's 2 videos below where both the 06 batch and others were torn down and examined and they were determined to be of quite a good design with all the necessary overcharging measures present.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-1U_S1w00E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB7LEoWsuW8

usejean

usejean wrote: »

Bit of an update from me ..... took the power bar back, got a voucher but voucher doesn't work due to me not being an EE customer! So off back to the shop today as on the advice of their Customer Services staff if I take along proof of purchase ie, emails and my cc statement showing the charge they will refund me. Something tells me this isn't going to be that easy .....!

I was right, they refused to refund me in store. Rang Customer Services for me who told me to go back to the store where I returned the power bar in exchange for the voucher (not possible as this is nowhere near where I live as I did it on a weekend away) or buy a £1 SIM card which makes me an account holder and then they will refund me. Didn't do this because quite frankly I am not convinced they would actually refund me. Hence a very long complaining email is being sent. Watch this space!

DavidP24

Swipe wrote: »

They didn't endanger anyone, there was nothing wrong with the chargers. It was a knee jerk reaction to cover their !!!!!!. In fact, there's 2 videos below where both the 06 batch and others were torn down and examined and they were determined to be of quite a good design with all the necessary overcharging measures present.

Nonsense, tell that to the lady who was burnt!

Also you can't possibly say who was endangered.

The simple fact is they were warned and they still sent them out

blink18

DavidP24 wrote: »

Nonsense, tell that to the lady who was burnt!

Also you can't possibly say who was endangered.

The simple fact is they were warned and they still sent them out

she was only burnt because she picked up a flaming ball of lithium

but it just like pretty much any electronic device ever made, who hasn't had something that's not gone pop at one time or another? its just when dealing with these types of batteries there's more to go bang when they do go off.

taking it down to something everybody uses every day, a light bulb, when one blows do you demand a recall from the company?