‘Faulty Hotpoint washing machine set fire to my kitchen during lockdown’
Dear PL,
What a hideous ordeal you have endured. Lockdown has been hard to bear even for those in more fortunate circumstances, so I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for you, dealing with a fire and the fallout.
I’ve had many dealings with Whirlpool over the years, thanks to various scandals over its faulty appliances. I must say that I’ve rarely come across a company that appears to care so little about its customers.
In the past it has refused refunds to customers whose faulty tumble dryers have exploded, fobbing them off with repairs or replacements. It has even used non-disclosure agreements to stop customers telling their stories. But this American white goods giant was not going to get away with treating you this way – not on my watch.
Whirlpool confirmed that your washing machine was indeed on the “faulty” list. I asked you to supply me with a catalogue of evidence of the damage it caused to your kitchen, including photos, which you provided. I shared this with Whirlpool, advising it that, as you did not have contents insurance, it would have to foot the bill for the damage. Even if you had had insurance, you should not have been expected to claim under these circumstances.
