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| Whirlpool names date for washing machine recall | Whirlpool names date for washing machine recall |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The recall of Hotpoint and Indesit washing machines will start on 9 January, according to owner Whirlpool. | The recall of Hotpoint and Indesit washing machines will start on 9 January, according to owner Whirlpool. |
| Owners of the affected machines who register on a dedicated website will be asked from that date whether they want a repair or a replacement. | Owners of the affected machines who register on a dedicated website will be asked from that date whether they want a repair or a replacement. |
| Whirlpool has been forced to recall about 500,000 appliances after it was discovered some were a fire risk. | Whirlpool has been forced to recall about 500,000 appliances after it was discovered some were a fire risk. |
| However, customers were unable to check the safety of their machines online because of technical difficulties. | However, customers were unable to check the safety of their machines online because of technical difficulties. |
| Whirlpool has been criticised for the chaotic way in which the programme was launched. | Whirlpool has been criticised for the chaotic way in which the programme was launched. |
| The company revealed on Tuesday that more than half a million washing machines built between 2014 and 2018 would have to be recalled because of a fire risk. | The company revealed on Tuesday that more than half a million washing machines built between 2014 and 2018 would have to be recalled because of a fire risk. |
| But the special recall website crashed immediately and only got back up and running on Wednesday afternoon. | But the special recall website crashed immediately and only got back up and running on Wednesday afternoon. |
| At the same time, customers have been struggling to get through to the company's helpline. | At the same time, customers have been struggling to get through to the company's helpline. |
| 'Unfortunate situation' | |
| Whirlpool's vice president of communications and public affairs, Jeff Noel, said: "It has been an unfortunate situation. It is not the way that any of us would want to start a recall, especially something so important during the holidays. | Whirlpool's vice president of communications and public affairs, Jeff Noel, said: "It has been an unfortunate situation. It is not the way that any of us would want to start a recall, especially something so important during the holidays. |
| "But it is such that we have done everything we can to resolve it. We've done everything we can to improve." | |
| Half a million appliances need to be fixed or replaced as the door locking system can overheat. | Half a million appliances need to be fixed or replaced as the door locking system can overheat. |
| Whirlpool said it had recorded 79 incidents in which washing machines had caught fire because of the electronic door. | Whirlpool said it had recorded 79 incidents in which washing machines had caught fire because of the electronic door. |