New Fridge Freezer delivered with a 2 pin plug

molerat

john1 said:

Bubbles19680102 said:

I've recently bought a new american style fridge freezer from an online retailer (based in the uk) delivered to myself in the UK.  When it was delivered it was fitted with a 2 pin European plug. 

American style plus 2 pin plug  ?? check for correct UK voltage 

Why would an item with a factory fitted EU plug need the voltage checked ?

CardinalWolsey

Wanting to avoid a quick and easy fix via a conversion plug sounds more like buyers remorse and thinking that picking up on the plug issue is a zero-cost return option for them.

screech_78

I’ve seen this happen before with the company I work for.

It’s a simple case of an error within the distribution network. The supplier has sent an appliance to the UK when it was meant for the European market.

I agree they should be covering the costs of you returning it though. I don’t see why you would be liable, unless you bought an item described as having a 2 pin plug. 

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

CardinalWolsey said:

Wanting to avoid a quick and easy fix via a conversion plug sounds more like buyers remorse and thinking that picking up on the plug issue is a zero-cost return option for them.

What difference does it make if the OP has buyers remorse and the plug is of convenience to them?

The law says certain electrical appliances must come with a 3 pin plug or an adapter than requires a tool to disconnect it, if it doesn't OP can reject the fridge as the goods are not of satisfactory quality with regards to safety. 

Personally I wouldn't be buying plugs off Amazon, if a place like Currys, Tesco or other such trusted high street retailers have them and OP wants ones that's great but buy from some seller in China and your house burns down what recourse do you have (dramatic I know but there's a load of electrical items online that are nowhere near the required safety standards). 

Bubbles19680102 said:

Sorry this is my first time posting and not sure how i reply to a particular poster. It certainly didn't state that it would be delivered with a 2 pin plug, if it had i would never of bought from them.  Although it didn't say that it would come with a UK plug fitted either, I just assumed with them being Uk based that it would.
They've now sent an email saying that I need to package it up and arrange a courier to send it back to them they will check the condition on receipt.
I originally paid for the delivery men to remove all the packaging, so ive no idea how much the fridge freezer weighs but its dimensions are 179.3 high x 90.8cm wide  and 68.7 cm deep. So i can imagine the couriers wont be cheap.
I had attached a print out from the internet stating that it was unsafe to run a fridge freezer through an adaptor and that legally i thought any appliance sold in the UK had to conform and be supplied with a UK 3 prong style plug, which they have chosen not to reply to.

@Bubbles19680102 can you tell us where you purchased from please, you only have a duty to return if agreed (by way of T&Cs), otherwise they need to collect. 

400ixl

zoob said:

MeteredOut said:

km1500 said:

spend the £2 and buy a conversion plug. 

there can be problems buying stuff from websites and this is one of them

zoob said:

More and more appliances come now with eu plugs but normally supplied with adaptor plugs and they work fine, the supplier is obliged to supply the adaptor but for the sake off £6 to buy one on amazon it would be silly to sent the f/freezer back with all the hassle 

And here's me hearing on the news that inflation has fallen!

This is the adaptor im thinking off, ive not seen then as cheap as £2 before but i could be wrong
Lots off major brands use these now

Do not use an adapter like that on an appliance like a fridge freezer. If that the caught fire, you would likely find that your house insurance would not pay out.

It needs to have a proper UK plug fitted with the right fuse rating etc at the very least.

bluelad1927

CardinalWolsey said:

Wanting to avoid a quick and easy fix via a conversion plug sounds more like buyers remorse and thinking that picking up on the plug issue is a zero-cost return option for them.

Doesn't sound like buyers remove at all. I imagine there are a lot of people who would not be happy running a big appliance off an adaptor bought off amazon as suggested. I'd certainly be considering the impact on my house insurance in the event of it not going to plan

mikb

user1977 said:

eskbanker said:

I was under the impression that all domestic appliances sold in the UK must have three-pin plugs*?  If this is the case, then one sold without these isn't compliant with the relevant regulations and you'd have the right to reject it accordingly (at no cost) - if it's still within the 14 day window you'd have the right to cancel a distance sale without having to give a reason anyway, but might be on the hook for return costs only if this has been specified correctly.

* except electric shavers, toothbrushes, etc.

Well, yes, you could reject it. Or you could just chop off the plug and fit a new one, like all consumers were deemed capable of doing themselves until the 1990s...

Obviously a 2-pin plug would provide nothing to connect an earth to, so hopefully this f-f has been designed to be double-insulated? Hope so! On a practical level, this is what I would do too (and have done at least twice when a company supplied me something with a power adapter with 2-pin EURO plug and clunky massive crapdapter, or worse, an illegal, UNFUSED "undersized" 13a 3-pin plug ...). "American Style" -- next thing you'll find is it runs on 110v!

35har1old

Bubbles19680102 said:

I've recently bought a new american style fridge freezer from an online retailer (based in the uk) delivered to myself in the UK.  When it was delivered it was fitted with a 2 pin European plug. When i have contacted their customer services all they have advised is that i purchase an adaptor.  After researching running a fridge freezer 24/7 with an adaptor being an increased risk of fire i have declined and asked them to send someone out to fit a UK 3 pin plug. They have refused to action this.  If i return the item it will be at my expense and considering it is a very large fridge freezer it will be costly. Can anyone advise my rights on this matter? Or if ai pay for a qualified electrician to remove the 2 pin socket and fit a UK approved 3 pin socket will it cancel any warranty??? Thank you for any advice. 

What voltage is it ?
Does it have three wires to fit to a three pin plug?
Travel adapters should not be used long term
Need a suitable conversion plug

user1977

35har1old said:

Bubbles19680102 said:

I've recently bought a new american style fridge freezer from an online retailer (based in the uk) delivered to myself in the UK.  When it was delivered it was fitted with a 2 pin European plug. When i have contacted their customer services all they have advised is that i purchase an adaptor.  After researching running a fridge freezer 24/7 with an adaptor being an increased risk of fire i have declined and asked them to send someone out to fit a UK 3 pin plug. They have refused to action this.  If i return the item it will be at my expense and considering it is a very large fridge freezer it will be costly. Can anyone advise my rights on this matter? Or if ai pay for a qualified electrician to remove the 2 pin socket and fit a UK approved 3 pin socket will it cancel any warranty??? Thank you for any advice. 

What voltage is it ?
Does it have three wires to fit to a three pin plug?

The voltage isn't going to be different if it has a Euro plug, and if it has two wires then it's double-insulated.

35har1old

molerat said:

john1 said:

Bubbles19680102 said:

I've recently bought a new american style fridge freezer from an online retailer (based in the uk) delivered to myself in the UK.  When it was delivered it was fitted with a 2 pin European plug. 

American style plus 2 pin plug  ?? check for correct UK voltage 

Why would an item with a factory fitted EU plug need the voltage checked ?

How do you no its a EU plug?