Samsung has scrapped the Galaxy Note 7 – can I get my money back?
The tech giant was forced to discontinue the model after worldwide reports of exploding phones
SAUMSUNG has announced it will scrap its Galaxy Note 7 model after worldwide reports of exploding phones, as thousands of frustrated owners wonder if they are entitled to a refund.
Earlier today the company took the extraordinary step of asking owners of the £750 handset to immediately turn their phone off because of fears the device may catch fire.
Customers have been left in the lurch by Samsung, who have so far declined to give details on whether they will be refunding customers.
But consumer experts Which have reassured Galaxy 7 owners they will be covered as Samsung has admitted the fault.
The South Korean tech giant had already said it would halt in sales and production of the model while it investigated reports of phones exploding.
And a Samsung spokeswoman this morning confirmed the company "has permanently discontinued the production of Galaxy Note 7", hours after billions of dollars were wiped off the tech firm's stock market value.
For customers who have already shelled out hundreds of pounds on the device, worries will be less about Samsung's share price and more about their consumer rights.
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Last month the tech firm announced an "exchange programme" for customers in the UK and Ireland who had already purchased the phone, after reports of the device's lithium-ion battery catching fire.
Offering the replacement handsets, Samsung said it was "fully confident the battery issue had been fully resolved".
Your consumer rights
- According to the Consumer Rights Act 2015, you are legally entitled to a full refund on goods that that are unsatisfactory or unfit for purpose, as long as do so within 30 days
- After that period, you are not legally entitled to a refund if the product becomes faulty, althouth sellers can use their discretion with extended refund periods
- You are also able to request a digital product (such as a smartphone) to be repaired if it develops a fault. If this is not possible, you are entitled to a price reduction
- Outside of the 30-day refund period, you have to give the retailer one chance to replace any faulty products (Samsung could claim to fulfilled this request through last month's exchange programme for Galaxy Note 7 owners)
- If you discover a fault within the first six months of owning the product, it is presumed to have been there since you bought it - unless the seller can prove otherwise
- If a repair attempt has failed (eg replacement phones catching fire) consumers are entitled to a full refund
Info: which.co.uk
But there continued to be reports worldwide of exploding phones, terrifying owners.
In the company's home country, South Korea, a Burger King diner had their meal interrupted when their replacement Galaxy Note 7 burst into flames in dramatic scenes later uploaded to YouTube.
Airlines have also been warning travellers to switch off their phones while flying.
Hopes of a straightforward product recall for UK consumers appeared to be dashed after Royal Mail and ParcelForce refused to ship the device, even if they are being returned to Samsung.
Samsung's spokeswoman this morning was unable to confirm what plans were in place for reimbursing customers affected by the exploding phone debacle.
But according to consumer rights experts at Which.co.uk, customers who bought the Galaxy Note 7 should be entitled to a refund, because Samsung has recognised an issue with the model.
Those who have pre-ordered the handset from a UK retailer are able to cancel the order and get a refund at any time up to 14 days after the phone is delivered.
In a statement this morning, Samsung advised Galaxy Note 7 owners to "power down and stop using the device and take advantage of the remedies available".
Any owners concerned about their phone should phone Samsung on 0330 726 7864.
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