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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/dec/23/consumer-group-challenges-peterborough-over-potentially-dangerous-tumble-driers
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| Consumer group challenges Peterborough over potentially dangerous tumble dryers Consumer group challenges Peterborough over potentially dangerous tumble dryers | |
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| A consumer group is seeking a judicial review of Peterborough Trading Standards’ handling of the “fiasco” of potentially dangerous tumble dryers, claiming that it has failed millions of consumers across the UK by not enforcing product safety laws. | A consumer group is seeking a judicial review of Peterborough Trading Standards’ handling of the “fiasco” of potentially dangerous tumble dryers, claiming that it has failed millions of consumers across the UK by not enforcing product safety laws. |
| The trading standards arm of Peterborough city council has been dealing with the alert – which involves an estimated 5.3m faulty dryers made by Whirlpool brands Hotpoint, Indesit and Creda – because its UK head office is located there. | The trading standards arm of Peterborough city council has been dealing with the alert – which involves an estimated 5.3m faulty dryers made by Whirlpool brands Hotpoint, Indesit and Creda – because its UK head office is located there. |
| Which? is taking the unusual step – the first time it has made a formal legal move involving trading standards – in order to assess the lawfulness of its decision to allow householders to continue to use faulty machines, despite the risk of them bursting into flames. | Which? is taking the unusual step – the first time it has made a formal legal move involving trading standards – in order to assess the lawfulness of its decision to allow householders to continue to use faulty machines, despite the risk of them bursting into flames. |
| Almost a year after the fire safety issue affecting millions of consumers was announced in November 2015, an investigation by the London Fire Brigade concluded that an Indesit tumble dryer was to blame for a serious blaze in an 18-storey tower block in Shepherd’s Bush, west London. | Almost a year after the fire safety issue affecting millions of consumers was announced in November 2015, an investigation by the London Fire Brigade concluded that an Indesit tumble dryer was to blame for a serious blaze in an 18-storey tower block in Shepherd’s Bush, west London. |
| The fire chiefs – along with Which? and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute – urged Whirlpool to change its advice to customers so that any dryers waiting to be modified are not used – advice rejected by the company. They also warned of the lack of a robust national system of product recalls in emergency situations. The judicial review will ask the high court to assess whether Peterborough Trading Standards’ handling of the case since the London Fire Brigade’s report has been lawful. | The fire chiefs – along with Which? and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute – urged Whirlpool to change its advice to customers so that any dryers waiting to be modified are not used – advice rejected by the company. They also warned of the lack of a robust national system of product recalls in emergency situations. The judicial review will ask the high court to assess whether Peterborough Trading Standards’ handling of the case since the London Fire Brigade’s report has been lawful. |
| “We believe that the way Whirlpool has handled the tumble dryer safety issue is absolutely appalling and to add insult to injury Peterborough Trading Standards has failed to do its duty to protect consumers” said Alex Neill, managing director of home and legal services at Which? “We have decided to step in and take legal action because we want Peterborough Trading Standards to properly protect Whirlpool customers and carry out its role as an enforcer of product safety laws.” | “We believe that the way Whirlpool has handled the tumble dryer safety issue is absolutely appalling and to add insult to injury Peterborough Trading Standards has failed to do its duty to protect consumers” said Alex Neill, managing director of home and legal services at Which? “We have decided to step in and take legal action because we want Peterborough Trading Standards to properly protect Whirlpool customers and carry out its role as an enforcer of product safety laws.” |
| Which? has published a list of the 127 affected tumble dryers – which include certain models of Hotpoint, Indesit, Creda, Proline and Swan machines – along with consumer advice for those who find they have a faulty model. Owners are invited to apply for modification of their machines or the opportunity to buy a new machine at a discounted price. | Which? has published a list of the 127 affected tumble dryers – which include certain models of Hotpoint, Indesit, Creda, Proline and Swan machines – along with consumer advice for those who find they have a faulty model. Owners are invited to apply for modification of their machines or the opportunity to buy a new machine at a discounted price. |
| The consumer group claims that Peterborough Trading Standards has failed consumers by not properly carrying out its role as an enforcer of product safety laws. It believes that the handling of this case highlights problems with the current product safety system and the difficulties local Trading Standards branches face standing up to big business as effective enforcers. | The consumer group claims that Peterborough Trading Standards has failed consumers by not properly carrying out its role as an enforcer of product safety laws. It believes that the handling of this case highlights problems with the current product safety system and the difficulties local Trading Standards branches face standing up to big business as effective enforcers. |
| Legal papers have been filed against Peterborough city council in the high court to kick-start the process. If the high court grants Which? permission to proceed with its judicial review, a court hearing is expected to begin in 2017. | Legal papers have been filed against Peterborough city council in the high court to kick-start the process. If the high court grants Which? permission to proceed with its judicial review, a court hearing is expected to begin in 2017. |
| “Every responsible safety body from the London Fire Brigade to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute thinks Whirlpool and the government have got it wrong in saying these dangerous machines can continue to be used,” said Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith and in whose constituency the fire broke out. “I hope this legal action by Which? will now force them to do the right thing.” | “Every responsible safety body from the London Fire Brigade to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute thinks Whirlpool and the government have got it wrong in saying these dangerous machines can continue to be used,” said Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith and in whose constituency the fire broke out. “I hope this legal action by Which? will now force them to do the right thing.” |
| A Peterborough city council spokesman said: “An independent review, which began earlier this month, is currently taking place and we would expect the company to fully comply with the outcome. We will strongly defend our position if Which? is granted a judicial review and bearing in mind the ongoing independent review we consider that this action is premature.” | A Peterborough city council spokesman said: “An independent review, which began earlier this month, is currently taking place and we would expect the company to fully comply with the outcome. We will strongly defend our position if Which? is granted a judicial review and bearing in mind the ongoing independent review we consider that this action is premature.” |