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Power Strips and Extension Cords

CPSC Recall #01-036b - November 20, 2000

Recall Summary

Recall Number01-036b
Recall DateNovember 20, 2000
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedAbout 17,500 power strips and about 10,000 extension cords
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

Discount stores in the eastern United States and Puerto Rico sold these products from September 1998 to September 2000.

Product

Power Strips and Extension Cords

Description

PRODUCT: Power Strips/Extension Cords - The Howard Berger Co. Inc., of Brooklyn, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 17,500 power strips and about 10,000 extension cords. The power strips have a 2-prong plug with a plastic base containing 6 outlets and are not labeled. The extension cords are about 6 feet long with a 2-prong plug and are not labeled. The extension cords sold for less than $1 and the power strips sold for about $2. Both were made in China. Discount stores in the eastern United States and Puerto Rico sold these products from September 1998 to September 2000. PROBLEM: The power strips have undersized wires, lack over-current protection and grounding, and the plastic case is flammable. The extension cords have undersized wires and lack over-current protection. Both the power strips and the extension cords can overheat, presenting electrocution, shock and fire hazards. INCIDENTS/INJURIES: None reported. WHAT TO DO: Consumers should stop using these products immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund. For more information, call Howard Berger Co. Inc. at (800) 221-6895 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. 

Hazard

The power strips have undersized wires, lack over-current protection and grounding, and the plastic case is flammable. The extension cords have undersized wires and lack over-current protection. Both the power strips and the extension cords can overheat, presenting electrocution, shock and fire hazards.

Incidents & Injuries

None reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using these products immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund. 

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly, either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund) at no cost to you.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident, they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney, parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.

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