Hoverboard sold at Currys recalled over fears the plug could cause a fire while charging
A HOVERBOARD sold at Currys PC World is being recalled after it was discovered that a fault with the plug means it could spark a fire when it's being charged.
Shoppers who have the iconBIT Mekotron 6 Hoverboard HB-0060 at home are being urged to stop using it immediately.
The retailer has issued the warning after it was discovered that the earth pin does not meet British Standards.
The earth pin is the top pin on a plug, often coated in plastic, and is designed to protect a person from being electrocuted if a product turns out to be faulty.
If a wire becomes loose, it sends the electric current to the ground instead of through the person touching the faulty plug.
The earth wire on the hoverboard plugs is too long to meet regulations and can cause damage to the mains socket or to the power supply and start a fire.
Your product recall rights
PRODUCT recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods.
As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action.
But it's often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk.
If you are concerned about the safety of a product you own, always check the manufacturer’s website to see if a safety notice has been issued.
When it comes to appliances, rather than just food items, the onus is usually on you - the customer - to register the appliance with the manufacturer as if you don't there is no way of contacting you to tell you about a fault.
If you become aware that an item you own has been recalled or has any safety noticed issued against it, make sure you follow the instructions given to you by the manufacturer.
They should usually provide you with more information and a contact number on its safety notice.
In some cases, the manufacturer might ask you to return the item for a full refund or arrange for the faulty product to be collected.
You should not be charged for any recall work - such as a repair, replacement or collection of the recalled item.
The plugs have a model code of HLT-118C-4200800, which can be found on the label stuck to the inner-side underneath the pins.
The toy was sold in stores and online between September 2018 and January 2019.
Customers who bought the hoverboard are advised to return it to your local Currys store in exchange for a full refund.
You don't have to bring any proof of purchase either.
Worried shoppers can also contact Curry's customers services team for free on 0800 169 1755 from the UK or 1800 206943 from Ireland.
In a statement in the recall notice, the manufacturers, iconBIT said: "iconBIT apologises for any inconvenience but trusts that you will understand your safety is our highest priority."
No other iconBIT hoverboards are known to be affected by the fault.
In January, firefighters issued a warning to parents by sharing a video of the moment a hoverboard exploded into flames and thick smoke while it was charging.
Last year, we reported how one mum was forced to leap from her burning car after a faulty Argos hoverboard "blew up".
A motorcycle racer was also banned from the road for six months after riding an uninsured hoverboard in the street.
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