Whirlpool ‘taking advantage’ of families desperately trying to find out about fire-risk dryers
Appliance firm blasted after signing up families to marketing lists when they call for help over dangerous goods
WHIRLPOOL was last night blasted for taking advantage of families desperately trying find out about fire-risk tumble dryers - by automatically signing them up to marketing lists when they call for help.
It was one of a string of failings by the firm in dealing with more than 5million customers stuck with faulty machines.
Whirlpool is in the process of fixing an estimated 5.3 million faulty tumble dryers - under brand names Hotpoint, Indesit, Creda and Proline - across the UK after finding a safety defect in October.
It emerged in April that it could take as long as three years to fix the problem - accumulation of excess fluff in the filter which is then set on fire by the nearby heating element.
Now a probe by consumer group Which? - based on undercover researchers contacting the firm plus speaking affected customers - outlines the chaos customers face.
Their research found unnecessary delays and confusion among customers, Whirlpool withholding information.