Charging Cable for Relay Screenless Communication Devices

CPSC Recall #20-139 — June 17, 2020

Recall Summary

Recall Number20-139
Recall DateJune 17, 2020
Remedy TypeReplace
Units AffectedAbout 15,000
ImporterRepublic Wireless Inc., of Raleigh, North Carolina
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

Relay devices packaged with recalled charging cables were sold at Relaygo.com
Target
and Amazon beginning in May 2018 for between $49 to $100.  Individual recalled cables were sold on Relaygo.com for about $15.00 from May 2018 through May 2019.

Product

Charging Cable for Relay Screenless Communication Devices

Description

The recalled charging cables were sold individually and with some Relay Screenless Communication devices.  The cables are three feet long with a USB Type-A male connector on one end and a charging head on the opposite end.  The charging head has a 5 pin pattern (5 in-line “pogo” pins) that allows it to charge Republic’s Relay device.  The charging head has a magnet that aids in mating the pins on the charging head with the contacts on the device. Affected charging cables do not have the Relay logo on the back of the portion of the charging head that connects to the Relay device.  This recall only applies to cables sold with some Relay devices and cables sold separately from May 2018 through May 2019.  After October 2018, Relay devices were manufactured and packaged with cables containing additional circuitry in the charging head to address the overheating risk.

Hazard

The charging cable can overheat and partially melt, posing a burn hazard.

Incidents & Injuries

Republic has received two reports of incidents of the charging cable overheating.  No injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled charging cables and contact Republic Wireless for a free replacement charging cable.  Republic Wireless is contacting consumers of affected products who have active accounts to provide free replacement cables.  Customers who purchased a Relay device but do not currently have an active account can contact Republic Wireless to determine if they have an affected product and to obtain a free replacement.

What Should You Do?

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

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 (Replace) 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.