SHOPPERS IN SUNDERLAND are being reminded of national warnings about the latest ‘must have’ toys.
Anyone who has bought one of the self-balancing scooters being internationally marketed as ‘Hoverboards’ is urged by Sunderland City Council Trading Standards to heed the possible dangers of using them.
This follows a national alert regarding the imported product, after quality tests revealed serious safety flaws in both design and manufacture, particularly the plugs and charging equipment which can pose a fire risk.
The ‘Hoverboards’ are also made by a range of manufacturers, not all of whom comply to the expected quality standards,
In Sunderland, Trading Standards Officers have been looking for self-balancing scooters for sale in city shops. As a result, locally, four retailers and an importer have withdrawn their hoverboards from sale.
Trading Standards is also conducting on-going investigations into the safety of products still on sale at some other local retailers and online sellers.
Shoppers are also being reminded be aware that it is illegal to use hoverboards on pavements or roads. Hoverboards can only be used legally on private property with the consent of the owner.
Portfolio Holder for City Services, Councillor Michael Mordey said: “Our officers are here to help protect consumers where there are concerns about the standard, quality and safety of any goods or services that they have received.
“On occasions like these when colleagues have raised serious safety concerns after testing imported products, then our Trading Standards carry out inspections and investigations to ensure dangerous products are removed from sale locally.
“They can warn people through the council website www.sunderland,gov.uk and social media, search for the products still on sale in shops or online and ask retailers to withdraw them from sale.”
Consumers who have concerns about a hoverboard that they have purchased should first contact the retailer that they bought it from.
Should they be dissatisfied with the response they receive, then they should contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506 for further assistance.
Information on recalls of these products is also available on the Chartered Trading Standards Institute website: http://www.tradingstandards.