Fire-risk Whirlpool machines on sale despite bosses knowing of danger
Fire-risk Whirlpool washing machines were still on sale on the day British retailers were told to remove them from stores despite company bosses knowing about possible danger two months ago
- Whirlpool told its American investors two months ago that it was setting aside £80million to deal with a recall of 519,000 Hotpoint and Indesit appliances
- But British retailers were not told to remove them from sale until Tuesday – the same day customers were warned to stop using them
- The company continued to sell them despite the fact they had been implicated in at least 79 fires and ten injuries dating back to at least 2016
Washing machines that pose a fire risk were still on sale this week – even though the maker knew they were dangerous.
Whirlpool told its American investors two months ago that it was setting aside £80million to deal with a recall of 519,000 Hotpoint and Indesit appliances.
But British retailers were not told to remove them from sale until Tuesday – the same day customers were warned to stop using them.
Whirlpool told its American investors two months ago that it was setting aside £80million to deal with a recall of 519,000 Hotpoint and Indesit appliances (stock)
The company continued to sell them despite the fact they had been implicated in at least 79 fires and ten injuries dating back to at least 2016.
The revelation raises serious questions as to why the US giant put British families at risk by delaying the recall and failing to alert stores such as ao.com, Argos and John Lewis.
All three retailers confirmed that the first time they knew about the recall was on Tuesday. Both ao.com and Argos removed the washing machines from sale straight away, while John Lewis did not have any stock. Currys PC World, which sold the machines, confirmed last night that the first it knew of any problem was on Tuesday. It would not say if the machines were still available this week.
Sue Davies, of the consumer group Which?, said: ‘It’s alarming that Whirlpool investors were told almost two months before consumers and retailers about these fire-risk machines.
‘There needs to be a thorough investigation into what Whirlpool knew and when about these safety concerns with washing machines that have been on sale for over five years.
‘The company should offer refunds to the many customers who cannot wait months for a repair or replacement, or who simply may not want a machine from the tainted Whirlpool brand in their homes.’ Whirlpool is in the dock over a series of scandals linked to its appliances. The firm gave the impression that its recall of the washing machines was a voluntary measure to protect consumers.
But it has emerged that it was forced to act by a government watchdog, the Office for Public Safety and Standards, which said: ‘This safety announcement and recall follows urgent action by the regulator.’
The firm will not deal with requests to replace machines or offer repairs until January 9.
Whirlpool vice president Jeff Noel said: ‘Claims that Whirlpool delayed notifying customers about this safety issue are entirely false.
‘At the time of our earnings report in October, the full extent of the issue had not been established. A reserve was established in case investigations identified a need to take action.
‘This is a complex issue and it has required weeks of rigorous analysis to confirm which models are affected. Whirlpool proactively notified the UK product safety regulator and… proposed and committed to a nationwide product recall at the earliest opportunity.’
Full list of recalled Whirlpool and Indesit branded washing machine models
Here is a full list of the models involved in the Whirlpool recall of fire-risk Hotpoint and Indesit branded washing machines.
The models are listed by their commercial code, followed by the brand name.
FML 742P UK Hotpoint
WMAOD 743G UK Hotpoint
WMAOD 743P UK Hotpoint
WMAQB 721P UK.M Hotpoint
WMAQC 641P UK.M Hotpoint
WMAQC 741G UK Hotpoint
WMAQC 741P UK Hotpoint
WMAQC 741P UK.M Hotpoint
WMAQF 621G UK Hotpoint
WMAQF 621P UK Hotpoint
WMAQF 641 P UK.M Hotpoint
WMAQF 721G UK Hotpoint
WMAQF 721P UK.M Hotpoint
WMAQL 621G UK Hotpoint
WMBF 742G UK Hotpoint
WMBF 742K UK Hotpoint
WMBF 742P UK Hotpoint
WMBF 742P UK.M Hotpoint
WMBF 763P UK Hotpoint
WMEF 722 BC UK Hotpoint
WMEF 742 P UK Hotpoint
WMEUF 722P UK Hotpoint
WMEUF 743G UK Hotpoint
WMEUF 743P UK Hotpoint
WMFG 741P UK Hotpoint
WMFG 741P UK.M Hotpoint
WMFUG 742 P UK.M Hotpoint
WMFUG 742G UK Hotpoint
WMFUG 742P UK Hotpoint
WMFUG 842P UK.M Hotpoint
WMJLF 842P UK Hotpoint
WMJLL 742P UK Hotpoint
WMSAQG 621P UK Hotpoint
WMXTF 742G UK Hotpoint
WMXTF 742K UK Hotpoint
WMXTF 742P UK Hotpoint
WMXTF 742P UK.M Hotpoint
WMXTF 842P UK.M Hotpoint
WMYL 7151PS UK Hotpoint
XWA 81252X K UK Indesit
XWA 81252X W UK Indesit
XWD 71452X K UK Indesit
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