Whirlpool set to recall unmodified tumble dryers from homes
Whirlpool is to issue a recall of tumble dryers not yet modified from consumers’ homes, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has announced.
Last month, the Government said it would issue a recall notice for 500,000 dryers that could potentially be a fire risk.
Under the recall, consumers with an unmodified, affected tumble dryer will be entitled to a new replacement machine.
This will be delivered and installed, with the old one removed, all at no cost.
The OPSS said Whirlpool had also agreed to deliver wide ranging publicity of the product recall aimed at reaching affected consumers and driving up awareness, guarantee no charges for delivery, installation or removal of machines and provide the OPSS with “timely” reporting of progress.
According to current advice, owners of unmodified, affected tumble dryers should unplug them and contact Whirlpool.
Consumer Affairs Minister Kelly Tolhurst said: “The UK has some of the toughest consumer protection laws in the world.
"Our intervention demonstrates that we will take all the necessary steps to keep consumers safe.
“I want to reassure consumers that we are doing everything to ensure consumers with unmodified machines are made aware and have their tumble dryer replaced.
“Consumers with an unmodified machine should contact Whirlpool to arrange a free replacement.”
In a statement Jeff Noel, Whirlpool's Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs said: "Safety is Whirlpool’s top priority.
"That’s why we have been working with the Government for some time to reach today’s agreement to launch an enhanced campaign that will offer customers who own a tumble dryer that has yet to be modified to the highest safety and quality standards the opportunity to have it replaced free of charge.
‘’We’ve always put customer safety first, that’s why we voluntarily approached Trading Standards immediately after we purchased Indesit in 2015 and became aware of a potential concern with two types of tumble dryers manufactured between 2004 and 2015.
"The extended recall programme announced today will offer consumers several options that include replacement, deeply discounted exchange as well as flexible free of charge in home modification that has been available since 2015."
The announcement comes after Whirlpool admitted to MPs last week that the number of faulty tumble-dryers in homes across the country could be far higher than first thought.
Executives from the company told the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee that the true number could be 800,000 and it was working hard to modify those affected.
Whirlpool also revealed that in recent years, it had logged 54 fires in its tumble dryers and admitted that three of those were models that had already been updated.
MPs were taking evidence over the scandal that has seen 1.7 million products modified.
One witness Jemma Spurr, a victim whose modified dryer caught fire, told politicians she was asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement about the incident, which MPs said was used for “shutting people up”.
She was given an apology by Whirlpool’s communications chief Jeff Noel. Turning to Ms Spurr, he said: “I apologise to you for whatever distress this situation has caused to you, to your family, to your loved ones and your neighbours.”
Anyone with an unmodified tumble dryer should contact Whirlpool on 0800 151 0905 or visit their website