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INQUIRY: RECALL NOTICE THAT WASN'T NOTICED
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Ken,
    My company has encountered a product recall situation that we find baffling, disappointing and unacceptable. It is also going to cost us at least $10,000.00 out of pocket, unreimbursed, to correct.
    It started at the end of March, 2014 when our favored Interlogix smoke detector was unavailable from our distributors. We were told that it was unavailable because of an “engineering hold”.  Since then, we have been using other products out of necessity. Periodically, we have asked both our distributor and our Interlogix technical field rep for updates on what is going on. The most that we learned during that time was that there was some sort of issue with units manufactured within a supposedly small time frame. Just last week, we put more pressure on the technical field rep for answers. The next day, he provided us with a “Product Notice” published by Interlogix on August 13, 2014; “Interlogix ESL 400 and 500 Series Detectors, Safety Recall Bulletin”. http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/ESL-Interlogix-Hard-Wired-Smoke-Alarms-Recalled/#remedy. That was nine months ago! It describes our favored smoke detector as being one of thirty-three smoke detectors being recalled for a safety defect. The recall notice covers units manufactured between March, 2013 and February, 2014. Supposedly, this recall was news to the Interlogix field rep. We can find nobody at our distributor who knew about this recall before we told them. How can this be? The first thing I would like to know from your readers is whether or not anybody else was made aware of this recall. If so, how were they notified? If notified, what did they do about it? The biggest question is if most dealers got no notification, why not?
    The next issue concerns product return and product credit for replacement costs incurred. Interlogix has offered a paltry $30.00 for each unit replaced and returned. Because of the long period of manufacture and the absence (not just delay) of any direct notification of this issue, our technicians will need to visit many more customers than those who actually have these smoke detectors installed. It is our conservative estimate that even after reimbursement for these defective units, we will lose over $10,000.00, not to mention a significant disruption to our operations during our busiest time of the year. 
    Any help from your readers on this matter would be appreciated.
For obvious reasons, 
Anonymous
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RESPONSE
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    Anyone using this product needs to review it's records, locate the affected subscribers, notify them that the smokes need to be replaced, and then replace them.  If the subscriber doesn't want replacement be sure to document and retain your notice and the subscriber's response.  If you installed the product it's your obligation to notify the subscriber it has been recalled.  It's not reasonable to expect your subscriber to know the make and model number of the installed smoke.  Don't risk a lawsuit for a detective smoke detector