AQW 3480/17-22 Written question to the Minister for the Economy
To ask the Minister for the Economy what steps her Department is taking to advise consumers regarding ongoing recalls by Whirlpool of washing machines and tumble dryers.
Asked by John Blair MLA on 10 March 2020
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 10 March 2020
- Answer due by
- 26 March 2020
- Answered
- 5 May 202056 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for the Economy
- Priority question
- No
Answer
My Department does not have direct responsibility for Product Safety as it is a reserved matter, on which the Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) liaises directly with Environmental Health Services in local Councils.
The Trading Standards Service’s Consumerline, based in my Department, however, provides civil law advice to consumers regarding exercising their statutory rights in relation to faulty products. In circumstances where a potential product safety issue is identified by Consumerline staff, the consumer is referred to their local Council’s environmental health service as the appropriate body to deal with product safety issues.
Consumerline can give general advice on consumer rights relating to the sale of goods that are not of satisfactory quality or fit for purpose:
• The Consumer Rights Act 2015 states that products must be of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose, which includes that they be safe and durable. If a washing machine or dryer doesn’t meet these standards, consumers have a right to redress with the retailer that it was bought from.
• If the manufacturer repair programme is taking an unreasonable amount of time and causing significant inconvenience, consumers can reject the washing machine or dryer and ask for a repair or replacement from the retailer who sold it. If the retailer is unable to repair or replace it, the consumer can also ask for a refund.
• Consumers can also claim for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of not being able to use the washing machine or tumble dryer, from the retailer who sold it, as long as those expenses are reasonable and foreseeable.
• Where a washing machine or tumble dryer is more than six months old, consumers may be only be entitled to a partial refund, and there may be a deduction to cover wear and tear. A partial refund may not cover the cost of a new washing machine or new dryer.