Australia’s consumer watchdog – the ACCC – is not happy with the makers of Thermomix, after the company dragged its heels in reporting multiple cases of faulty products causing horrific burns for users.
In May 2016, consumer advocacy group Choice found dodgy Thermomix machines had resulted in a shocking 87 burns cases of which 18 needed treatment, and eight people needed to be hospitalised – some of which were in the special burns unit for up to three weeks.
At the time Choice’s Tom Godfrey said: “A responsible company should have acted quickly to address any dangers with products but based on consumer reports Thermomix Australia took more than a year between initial notification and recall.”
The makers of the hi-tech $2089 food processor are now facing legal action, following months of investigation by the ACCC which claims the company took longer than the required two days to report the incidents.
“The law requires that suppliers must act to notify the ACCC as soon as they become aware of any person who has suffered a serious injury associated with the goods they have supplied,” ACCC acting chair Delia Rickard said in a statement.
Thermomix is also being pursued over claims it forced affected consumers to sign a non-disclosure agreement before being offered a refund. The ACCC also alleges the company continued to sell the TM31 model, which was recalled in 2014, despite being made aware of safety concerns prior to its recall.
“Suppliers must act swiftly to notify their customers as soon as they learn of a potential safety hazard with their products,” Ms Rickard said.
The ACCC filed its suit against Thermomix in the Federal Court today (June 6, 2017) and the matter will be heard on July 21. The consumer watchdog is seeking declarations, pecuniary penalties, injunctions, corrective publication orders, compliance program orders and costs.
