ASDA George Home Toaster (Marble Effect)

K9Jennie

In late July I purchased from my local ASDA store one of their own brand 4 slice toaster.  On 3rd August, I was toasting 2 crumpets, the eject lever popped up but only one of the crumpets came out yet the other continued to cook. I had to power off the toaster to stop the cooking process and remove the remaining crumpet.  This toaster was returned to the ASDA store on 4th August.  I was provided a same model replacement.  On the 6th August,  2 slices of bread were put into the toaster and switched on, setting 3-4.  I walked away for what, less than a minute, only to return to find the toaster in flames, flames lapping up onto my kitchen cabinet.  I managed to power off the mains, used a damp towel to extinguish the flames.  I could still see flames inside the toaster so I removed it to my garden for safety.

I made contact with ASDA Customer Service, details of incident were taken and I was given a reference number.  I returned the toaster to my local store with the reference number. They said they would investigate and come back to me.  I accepted another replacement but a different manufacturer, but this had to be returned the next day as it wasnt working and I received a full refund.

Last week, I received a letter from ASDA Product Quality Team, in that letter they state the toaster has been examined and they confirm the toaster is in good condition.  They make note that there was carbonised bread inside the base and slots.  Of course there would be I left it as it was after the fire was put out.
They also state in the absence of any manufacturing issue or evidence of melted parts or packaging they can only conclude this issue has arisen as an act of misfortune.  They then waffle on saying they will be keeping an eye on the product.

What should my next move be please? 

KatrinaWaves

What do you want them to do? If you’re the only person who has had an issue they’re not going to issue a recall if their investigations don’t show a fault. 

Aylesbury_Duck

Have cereal for breakfast?

ssparks2003

They have investigated and found no issue.  You have your money back. What else do you want? What else do you think you deserve? 

K9Jennie

There is damage to the kitchen unit that was above the toaster.  

Spank

There is probably something in the instructions about not leaving it unattended whilst in use

KatrinaWaves

How much damage happened when you left for less than a minute (assuming it burst into flames the minute you left the room)

have you asked Asda for money to fix the damage? You didn’t mention the damage or anything about it in the first post... 

Aylesbury_Duck

Spank said:

There is probably something in the instructions about not leaving it unattended whilst in use

And perhaps something about not using it on surfaces underneath kitchen cupboards, or at least allowing a minimum clearance above it.

KatrinaWaves

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Spank said:

There is probably something in the instructions about not leaving it unattended whilst in use

And perhaps something about not using it on surfaces underneath kitchen cupboards, or at least allowing a minimum clearance above it.

Also initially it says a different replacement was accepted... so why the damage wasn’t sorted at this point I don’t know... 

Aylesbury_Duck

Excerpt from typical toaster instructions:

• Do watch your appliance during use.

• WARNING: Do not touch the top of the appliance or other

hot parts during or after use, use handles or knobs.

• WARNING: Do not wrap the cable around the main body of

the appliance during or after use.

• WARNING: Do not use under cupboards.

• WARNING: Do not insert oversize foods, 

Worth checking if these or similar warnings are in your manual.  If they are, then I can't see Asda are responsible for consequential damage as you left it unattended and seemingly underneath cupboards.

Manxman_in_exile

Oh God!!!  I'm going to have to move our toaster!