Would you let someone into your home if there was a chance that they could injure or even kill you and your family?
If the answer is no, then why are 76% of people in the UK bringing electrical appliances into their homes without registering them?
“But isn’t product registration just a marketing scheme to get my personal details?” we hear you cry.
Nope, not a single junk email in sight. Just simple electrical safety.
There are a few misconceptions about this topic floating around, so we’ve answered some of the most common questions about product recalls and registration to help shed some light on how important (and easy!) it really is.
Why should I register my electrical products?
Registering your product makes it possible for the manufacturer to easily get in touch with you if it turns out that the item you’ve bought is somehow faulty or dangerous.
Electrical products are recalled more regularly than you might think, but typically only 10-20% of these recalled products are actually returned and/or repaired.
This is largely down to the fact that the manufacturer often has no way of directly contacting those who purchased the item in question. Consequently, each year millions of potentially unsafe appliances remain in use.
Still not convinced? Consider the fact that thirteen fires a day across the UK are caused by faulty and recalled electrical goods. These incidents could so easily be avoided with just a few minutes of your time.
How do I register my electrical products?
The easiest way to register your product is to visit our Product Registration page, which has links to all of the major electronics manufacturers. It should take just a couple of minutes - a worthy investment of your time given the long-term peace of mind it provides!
In order to register your product, you’ll usually need:
- The brand name
- The model (usually either a name or a number)
- The serial number
- The date of purchase (or as near to it as you can remember)
See? Easy!
What kind of products should I be registering?
Anything and everything electrical! This includes large household appliances such as tumble dryers and dishwashers, smaller products like toasters and kettles, right down to your trusty hair straighteners and electric shaver.
Basically, if it uses electricity in any way - register it!
What should I do if I receive a recall notice?
If the manufacturer gets in touch with you, their notification should give you details of what to do next. If no details are shown, you should contact either the seller or Citizens Advice.
If you purchased the item from a UK seller and need further advice, Citizens Advice can help. If you bought your product from a company based inside the EU, European law will protect you. Contact the UK European Consumer Centre for more details. If you bought your product from a company outside the EU it is unlikely that UK or EU law can assist you.
Have any of my appliances been recalled in the past?
If you’re worried that you could have a faulty appliance lurking in your home, visit electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/recall to check whether a specific electrical item has been recalled in the past.
Our product checker contains the details of electrical products that have been recalled since 2007. If you’ve searched for a specific product and it is not listed, this means that it has not been recalled and should be safe to use. However, if you do have concerns about its safety then contact the retailer or manufacturer to alert them to a potential problem.
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