[bosley]

Back in january a new oilheater I bought to heat our mobile home exploded showering the space with a fine mist of oil. I sent the heater back to the manufacturer who got an independent laboratory test done on it and amazing they sent the result back to me. In short it says that the heater had 3 safety components, all had failed, a thermal link, internal thermostat and element cut-out. The Lab had said that they were shocked at these findings.

Well alarmed at this I sent a copy to the Consumer Protection Agency, again I cut a long story short; they got the standards checked and according to them the machine complies with all the European Standards, so go away you silly man. I got the impression that as there were no other complaints listed about this product then they can do nothing. The report showed that the thermostat had not been properly fitted to the body of the heater - this could have occurred on several hundred if not thousand of these heaters, but the components not working - they didnt have a problem with this - so much for Consumer protection!

Look this may seem overly dramatic but these will be used in hundreds of houses to keep a babys room warm over the winter for example, well my exploding heater showered an area 10feet by 10 feet with boiling hot oil - imagine the consequences. I googled exploding heaters and one woman got 35% body burns from such a thing happening, so I aint imagining this.

It was on monday the CPA told me to forget it, but I can't, if anyone has bought one of these recently please take care or get rid of it better still as its in my opinion an accident waiting to happen.

[carsQhere]

Get on to the media with the story. Ring the news desks, e-mail the report with photos. It'll be sure to take hold somewhere. What make/model?

[RubberBullet]

carsQhere, on 26 August 2010 - 10:40 PM, said:

Get on to the media with the story. Ring the news desks, e-mail the report with photos. It'll be sure to take hold somewhere. What make/model?

+1 - and hopefully will damage the manufacturer's business which in turn should assist you in acquiring moneys for the damage.

There's some shower of fookers out there, who couldn't care less about consumers until the money has changed hands.

How severe is the damage?

Dave

[Tripleman]

RubberBullet, on 27 August 2010 - 12:03 AM, said:

+1 - and hopefully will damage the manufacturer's business which in turn should assist you in acquiring moneys for the damage.

There's some shower of fookers out there, who couldn't care less about consumers until the money has changed hands.

How severe is the damage?

Dave

Gently point out to the papers that kids could have been showered with hot oil and breathed a toxic mist and let them do the shock horror bit.

This post has been edited by Tripleman: 27 August 2010 - 07:26 AM

[kevinb99]

Surely even thouh the components were working correctly, the fact that they had been assembled wrongly still makes the manufacturer liable for this incident?
Take it to the papers or Citizens Advice!

This post has been edited by kevinb99: 27 August 2010 - 08:14 AM
Reason for edit: typo

[Yahooo]

Sealed metal container with a device for heating the oil inside...what could possibly go wrong???

I have always been extremely wary of these type of heater for fear of what has just happened to you..
For safety's sake name & shame the make and at least word of mouth through here might save someone.

[somedayisnow]

RubberBullet, on 27 August 2010 - 12:03 AM, said:

+1 - and hopefully will damage the manufacturer's business which in turn should assist you in acquiring moneys for the damage.

There's some shower of fookers out there, who couldn't care less about consumers until the money has changed hands.

How severe is the damage?

Dave

The place got covered with a film of fine oil, inside cupboards - everywhere. but this was luckily used to keep the ice from freezing in pipes over the winter in a mobile that is used mainly during the summer or when the teenagers want a parent free partyzone - no one was in the thing when this did its roman-candle job. my point to the NCA was if there had been a spark when this oil was in the air the place would have gone up in flames - vapourised oil - you get the picture.

To me its not the damage caused by it, its the attitude of the Authorities - like no one died, so what, big deal. I will go to the papers next week because no one would want to hear at a later date if someone coming to grief.

As for the report, its states that 2 of the components failed to work, the third was improperly fitted and so was ineffective - 2 out of 3 is bad - (corruption of Meatloafs song - groan).Jaysus I hate going to the papers, did it 20 years ago, got half a page spread - it was on how we were screwed by the insurance company because we werent married, thought we were insured for our house being burgled but policy was in girlfriends name (not both names) and so didnt cover my stuff - 400 albums, tv,vcr,etc - thousands they got away without paying - fcukers. You know I still think people are being caught for the same thing - so paper achieved zilch. However got burgled 6 months after that and we went to town on the wnakers - employed a Loss Assessor and let him rip - came out better that time.

By the way if anyone has problems with their insurance company and are not up to the fight, employ one of these, they are out to make as much money for themselves and so are in your corner. They are expensive but they screw the insurance company and if it is a big claim can be worth it, you dont have to deal with the insurance co. at all - this can be stressful as they set out to settle for as little as possible. I got the Assessor working on the mobile claim for a 'no foal no fee' basis - these fcukers are going to pay him a big fat cheque - I'll get the satisfaction that they aint going to walk away from this easily.

[Tripleman]

somedayisnow, on 27 August 2010 - 11:30 PM, said:

The place got covered with a film of fine oil, inside cupboards - everywhere. but this was luckily used to keep the ice from freezing in pipes over the winter in a mobile that is used mainly during the summer or when the teenagers want a parent free partyzone - no one was in the thing when this did its roman-candle job. my point to the NCA was if there had been a spark when this oil was in the air the place would have gone up in flames - vapourised oil - you get the picture.

To me its not the damage caused by it, its the attitude of the Authorities - like no one died, so what, big deal. I will go to the papers next week because no one would want to hear at a later date if someone coming to grief.

As for the report, its states that 2 of the components failed to work, the third was improperly fitted and so was ineffective - 2 out of 3 is bad - (corruption of Meatloafs song - groan).Jaysus I hate going to the papers, did it 20 years ago, got half a page spread - it was on how we were screwed by the insurance company because we werent married, thought we were insured for our house being burgled but policy was in girlfriends name (not both names) and so didnt cover my stuff - 400 albums, tv,vcr,etc - thousands they got away without paying - fcukers. You know I still think people are being caught for the same thing - so paper achieved zilch. However got burgled 6 months after that and we went to town on the wnakers - employed a Loss Assessor and let him rip - came out better that time.

By the way if anyone has problems with their insurance company and are not up to the fight, employ one of these, they are out to make as much money for themselves and so are in your corner. They are expensive but they screw the insurance company and if it is a big claim can be worth it, you dont have to deal with the insurance co. at all - this can be stressful as they set out to settle for as little as possible. I got the Assessor working on the mobile claim for a 'no foal no fee' basis - these fcukers are going to pay him a big fat cheque - I'll get the satisfaction that they aint going to walk away from this easily.

Don't get mad, get even.

[bosley]

hey RubberBullet whiskey, and late hour caused me to post under Somedayisnow - dangerous using the mrs laptop but she wont know if noone tells her

[bosley]

Tripleman you said it; 5 years ago a digger hit my shed and split the gablewall on it. gave me the finger and said sue me when I pointed it out to him, well got the most expensive engineer in the area to get quotes on fixing it - to cut along story short, on the way out of court (having won of course) the wnaker was stuck with my engineers bill of $4000, his and my solicitors bills and damages of course - wait for it $3500. oh it was worth the wait of a year to see his face that day - about $12000 to be paid instead of the $500 my mate would have charged to do the job revenge is a dish best served cold.

[bosley]

bosley, on 27 August 2010 - 11:35 PM, said:

hey RubberBullet whiskey, and late hour caused me to post under Somedayisnow - dangerous using the mrs laptop but she wont know if noone tells her

Well, that Noone DID tell me - Grrrrr!

[somedayisnow]

bosley, on 27 August 2010 - 11:55 PM, said:

Well, that Noone DID tell me - Grrrrr!

Two can play at this - identity theft is rife!

[bosley]

Well here I am up-dating this post over a year later. yep a year later it has been resolved.

Since that time of letters and failed attempts to even get the importer to admit liability I decided to go to a solicitor for advice. She said take it to the small claims court - sue the shop and let them foot the bill. As we were in court since last year with another case (daughters dog bite) I just didnt have the stomach for 2 cases at once so waited until the other was settled - done in September

Anyhows soon as that put to bed I put in a claim, cost €15!, plus engineers report, plus my photos and an account of what happened.simples.

That was less then 5 weeks ago, yet last week the importer was on the phone apologising for it taking so long - in other words the shop told him - you sort this pal or you dont do business with us or Expert ever again. So along old wait.

I had asked the importer for €400 for cleaning up costs and replacing the heater and the damn inconvenience - he said he wanted 3 quotes etc.etc. and then just ignored me and the loss assessor I put on to him.

So I was left with 2 choices , walk away from someone who had totally pished on me from a height or go to court - no.2 won.

Today I gladly lodged the €1,400 I sued him for in court, I got the dearest quotes for cleaning the mobile, shampooing the furniture and replacing the kitchen unit that was soaked in oil. The mobile cost me €900 4 years ago

I feel sooooo bad doing it to him - not!

What is wrong with people? I warned him dont do this to me, I said I wont let this be because now it is a point of principle thingy. He laughed as if he had been there before, people (customers) are full of hot air in his opinion - well maybe it has taught him a lesson and left me with a warm feeling of revenge - I know I'm bold but jaysus how else is the fella going to learn?

Tonite I will be celebrating

[pugwash]

Result...ding dong

[gttc16]

Well done you.Really annoys when people do that to you, but hit them in the pocket, that's where it'll hurt most and make them sit up and think for a change.

This post has been edited by gttc16: 13 October 2011 - 12:43 PM