Beko issued an important safety notice regarding some of its frost free fridge freezers. Beko have said that, “in a very small number of cases it could result in overheating”.
The defrost timer is the problem, whose job it is to trigger a heating element to defrost.
However, within several weeks of posting this warning things have escalated to such a serious degree that this safety warning is on the National news. The phrase, “could result in overheating” should now be read as, “could result in a serious fire producing an enormous amount of toxic smoke.” According to one newspaper these fridges have so far caused at least 20 fires in London alone and one death.
There is a free modification to the defrost timer, which any owners of the fridges should definitely get sorted out asap.
Use this link to check with Beko Please check your Beko Fridge Freezer Now
What Beko advise
Currently, they say over 500,000 of these appliances have been sold and only a very small fraction have been affected. They are assuring their customers that if the appliance is working ok, with no symptoms of any faults then it is safe to keep using until they can get to it.
What if you don’t believe them?
This is a decision only you can make. If your model is on the list – contact Beko asap using the link above. If you decide to unplug the fridge freezer – especially if it’s been playing up recently. Food will be wasted if you have nowhere to transfer it to, but if you genuinely believe it poses a serious risk to you and your family there isn’t much choice and how could anyone morally deny that?
If you did unplug it you might be able to contact Beko before the food defrosts (don’t open the door) and plug it back in if that’s what they advise and can convince you it’s safe to do so.
You have a responsibility to try and mitigate any food loss though. You shouldn’t just deliberately let it go off if you can salvage some, use some of it before it goes off, or transfer some to another freezer if possible.
If you do have to let the food go off take a note of all items, photograph them or save the packaging too and add up the cost. You can then try to claim compensation from the manufacturer or the retailer as “consequential loss”.
However, don’t be surprised to meet resistance from Beko or the retailer to the idea of compensating anyone for food loss or even time off work.
That doesn’t mean you have no right to compensation, but unless they comply you will have to fight for it and maybe even have to take them to the small claims court. Get official consumer advice.
What did London fire brigade advise?
Having said all that, a representative of London Fire brigade on Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine programme has said there’s no need to stop using one because he believes people who’s fridge freezers have caught fire suffered some intermittent fault prior to the fire. Therefore if your Beko fridge freezer is apparently working perfectly ok he doesn’t think there’s a risk of imminent fire.
Beko says the risk to consumers is extremely low and it is advising customers with the affected fridges to continue using them unless they notice anything unusual ”
My personal thoughts on this are as follows – It seems that Beko are insisting that unless anything unusual is happening with an affected fridge freezer it’s impossible for one to catch fire. Presumably one can’t catch fire until it’s been doing something unusual for some unspecified time as the spokesman for the London fire brigade also advised on radio 2. I hope for everyone’s sake that is the case!
If you do unplug it and lose food the retailer may try to claim you didn’t need to and the loss was avoidable therefore denying your claim for consequential loss.
I think a small claims court judge may well accept that having heard on the news of 1 death, and 20 fires, and then finding out your fridge freezer has the same fault, that it was reasonable for people to immediately unplug the appliance rather than risk leaving it plugged in until something was resolved.
Especially if despite your best efforts you could not get through to Beko, which I know many have experienced. That’s only my opinion though. However, you have a responsibility to mitigate the risk. That is you can’t just unplug it and let the food spoil expecting to get compensation. You would need to try everything you can to save the food or use it up before it goes off.
Always register any white goods appliance you buy. Send off the registration card or go online to do it. If ever a serious safety issue arises the first thing a manufacturer needs to do is to contact all the people registered on its database.
These people are the first to get their appliance modified. If you haven’t registered you may not find out about it and could suffer a serious incident or tragedy.
Check if your fridge freezer is affected with Beko’s web site tool
Please check your Beko Fridge Freezer Now
UPDATE:
I just read this news article –
Some faulty Beko fridge-freezers began catching fire as long ago as 2007, the BBC has learned
G. Harvey says
My Fridgefreezer appears on your list of appliances at risk.
CDA539FW
Please advise on what to do next.
G. Harvey
Mrs v hills says
Hi I have two of your fridgefreezers CA7015FFS and CDA539FW please advise if there is a problem
thanks
viv hills
Barbara McKeown says
How frustrating is this manufacturer? They give a phone number which they urge their customers to use and it is constantly engaged – no music and no voice to say call held in queue – just constantly needing to redial. Seems to me they really do not want you to call them – leave the phone off the hook.
I have checked my appliance number against the list provided and do not see it hopefully therefore we are in the clear.
ole elholm says
I have just heard that there is a safty issue with Beko fridge freezers, we have a Beko CG975FFW, and it does have a tendency to get VERY wet – I clear the drain hole very now and again, but a few days later I have to take the boxes out and soak up the water..
We are going on holiday to-morrow for 3 weeks , is there a risk that the freezer will shortcircut?
regards,
ole elholm
g peckham says
i saw the recall notice on the tv this morning and i have been trying to get through with
the number that was shown on the tv to no avail . as this is an important and i consider
an urgant matter to people like me that have one of the fridge freezers that appear to
have the serial numbers printed on your list there should have been other methods
of contact to open to us to use . is there not another way that we can be reasured that
ours is not affected
yours sincerly g peckham
Washerhelp says
Hello Ole: Your model is not on the list. All the models affected are listed on my article above although I can’t vouch for the accuracy of this list as it was copied from the trading standards safety recall site several weeks ago.
I’m sure you can understand I’m not in a position to say for definite whether it could be affected – only that it’s not on the list of fridge freezers that have been published as affected. The appliances affected where manufactured between 2000 and 2006 so the strong implication is that if yours is fairly new it shouldn’t be affected but if in any doubt please contact Beko themselves.
Washerhelp says
G. Harvey: The article explains what to do and gives Beko’s contact link.
Anyone else: If your model is on the list in my article above – contact Beko asap using the link (also in the article). Please re-read my article as I’ve amended it now to include whether or not to unplug the appliance.
Washerhelp says
g peckham: Unfortunately with all this publicity they are likely to be overwhelmed. The problem is that everyone with a Beko fridge freezer, possibly even just a fridge, or separate freezer is likely to want reassurance and will be phoning Beko.
I’ve found this tool on Beko’s web site, hope it helps – Please check your Beko Fridge Freezer Now
lynda oldfield says
my fridge/freezer is CDA648 F not FS are FW
is my model ok it was bought 2009
c redfern says
Ive learnt of the recall on the fridge freezers, i checked my instructions manual where luckily i had filled in the back page with the details of model no, serial no, retailer and date of purchase and although purchased in november 2005 i was surprised my CSB4606FFW is on the list, Its times like this im glad im so organised and have a filo fax where i keep all my purchase info and manuals. I have tried ringing beko on 0800 009 4837 and i get a short message” were currently experiencing very high demand you may have to wait longer to speak with an advisor alternatively you may wish to call back later” then you get cut off or get the engaged tone. i have been on the beko website and you can contact them via email leaving your phone number and they will contact you. I have not done this as i personally would feel better talking to someone as it puts you at ease! and you can get all the information you need and all your questions answered so i guess il be spending the rest of my day(s) trying to get through.