Jingle Bell miniature Christmas lights and icicle-style lights

CPSC Recall #00-036 - December 16, 1999

Recall Summary

Recall Number00-036
Recall DateDecember 16, 1999
Remedy TypeRefund, Replace
Units AffectedApproximately 100,000
ManufacturerJingle Bell Enterprise Inc., of Philadelphia Pa
Manufactured InChina

Where It Was Sold

Hardware and garden stores sold the light sets mainly in Pennsylvania
Delaware
New Jersey and New York from November 1999 through December 1999 for between $5 and $8.

Product

Jingle Bell miniature Christmas lights and icicle-style lights

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Jingle Bell Enterprises Inc., of Philadelphia, Pa., is recalling approximately 100,000 sets of miniature Christmas lights and icicle-style lights. These lights have undersized wires that can easily pull out of the plugs and individual light sockets, posing fire and shock hazards. CPSC and Jingle Bell Enterprises have not received any reports of injuries or incidents involving these light sets. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury. The recall involves sets of 100 clear lights in both traditional and icicle styles. The icicle lights have white wires and sockets, and no labeling on the light set. They are packaged in red boxes labeled in part, "100 Icicle Lights," "Manufactured to Previous Approved Specification" and "JINGLE BELL." Printed on the back of the package is, in part, "Made in China for Jingle Bell Enterprise Inc. Philadelphia Pa." The traditional string light sets have either white or green wiring and sockets, and no labeling on the light sets. They are packaged in red boxes labeled, in part, "100 Christmas Lights," "STRING-A-LIGHT," and "Manufactured to Previous Approved Specifications." "Made in China for Jingle Bell Enterprise Inc., Philadelphia Pa" is printed on the back of the packaging. Also on the back of the packaging is one of the following item numbers: 00450 through 00455, 00491, 11491 and 11451. Hardware and garden stores sold the light sets mainly in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and New York from November 1999 through December 1999 for between $5 and $8. Consumers should immediately stop using these lights, and return them to the store where purchased for either a refund or a replacement set of lights. For more information, call Jingle Bell Enterprises at (800) 334-9627 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Jingle Bell brand light sets that have a Underwriters Laboratories' (UL) label are not part of this recall.

Hazard

These lights have undersized wires that can easily pull out of the plugs and individual light sockets, posing fire and shock hazards.

Incidents & Injuries

CPSC and Jingle Bell Enterprises have not received any reports of injuries or incidents involving these light sets.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop using these lights, and return them to the store where purchased for either a refund or a replacement set of lights.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund, 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 (Refund, 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.