Whirlpool recall: company urged to refund customers as recall of 500,0000 fire-risk machines begins - full list of affected models
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The company began the process of recalling the faulty machines yesterday (9 Jan), after it was found thousands of people may still have the dangerous dryers in their homes.
Money back for customers?
As many as 519,000 washing machines are being recalled, after Whirlpool announced in December last year that thousands of models sold under the Hotpoint and Indesit brands could be faulty and risk catching fire.
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Hide AdOwners of washing machines purchased between 2014 and 2018 have been urged to contact the company to check if their model is one of the affected appliances.
With the recall now under way, affected customers are being given the option of a free repair or replacement, but Which? is calling for the company to give people their money back instead.
The consumer group said conflicting advice from Whirlpool and the Government’s product safety regulator about whether the machines were safe to use at all while awaiting repair or replacement left thousands unable to do laundry over the festive period.
Which? said it has been inundated by concerns from customers since the recall announcement stating they have no confidence in the company’s advice, and have been faced with customer service problems.
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Hide AdLast year, Whirlpool eventually offered refunds of up to £150 for faulty tumble dryers following a recall, and is now urging the company to do the same for washing machines.
“Unacceptable”
Sue Davies, head of consumer protection at Which?, said it would be “unacceptable” if customers were left without adequate washing facilities in their home for many months, especially given they may have been forced to fund trips to the laundrette as a result.
Davies said: “The company should do the right thing and offer customers a refund, so people can get fire-risk machines out of their homes and quickly find a suitable replacement.
“There needs to be a full investigation about what Whirlpool knew about these machines and when.”
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Hide AdIt has been reported that Whirlpool believe issuing a refund would not ensure the fire-risk machines were removed from people’s homes - an issue that was the company’s main priority.
Whirlpool said replacing or repairing the affected machines removes the risk of the machines being sold second hand.
Full list of models affected
Customers can check their model on the Whirlpool website, or call 0800 316 1442 to find out if their machine is being recalled.
The recall applies to machines manufactured under the Hotpoint and Indesit brands between 2014 and 2018, and does not include appliances under the Whirlpool brand.
These are all the models being recalled:
Hotpoint:
FML 742P UK
WMAOD 743G UK
WMAOD 743P UK
WMAQB 721P UK.M
WMAQC 641P UK.M
WMAQC 741G UK
WMAQC 741P UK
WMAQC 741P UK.M
WMAQF 621G UK
WMAQF 621P UK
WMAQF 641 P UK.M
WMAQF 721G UK
WMAQF 721P UK.M
WMAQL 621G UK
WMBF 742G UK
WMBF 742K UK
WMBF 742P UK
WMBF 742P UK.M
WMBF 763P UK
WMEF 722 BC UK
WMEF 742 P UK
WMEUF 722P UK
WMEUF 743G UK
WMEUF 743P UK
WMFG 741P UK
WMFG 741P UK.M
WMFUG 742 P UK.M
WMFUG 742G UK
WMFUG 742P UK
WMFUG 842P UK.M
WMJLF 842P UK
WMJLL 742P UK
WMSAQG 621P UK
WMXTF 742G UK
WMXTF 742K UK
WMXTF 742P UK
WMXTF 842P UK.M
WMYL 7151PS UK
Indesit:
XWA 81252X K UK
XWA 81252X W UK
XWD 71452X K UK