Toy recall helpline crashes
Mattel’s UK customer helpline crashed today after being inundated with enquiries about its toy recall.
Thousands of parents have contacted the firm since it pulled two million products in Ireland and the UK on Tuesday.
Mattel’s customer careline went down several hours ago.
The firm ordered a massive global recall of 18 million toys because they posed a safety hazard.
In Ireland and the UK, 1.9 million magnetic toys were recalled because the magnets could come off and be dangerous to youngsters.
Mattel also recalled 49,000 Chinese-made die-cast toy Sarge cars because of safety concerns about high levels of lead in their paint.
Parents are urged to take products which may be affected away from youngsters and contact Mattel for a full refund.
The firm’s UK public relations manager Sarah Allen today said: “Through the sheer volume of calls we have been receiving the system has gone down, so we are trying to correct it as quickly as we can.”
“The best thing consumers can do if they think they have got affected toys is to take them away from their child, contact us by email or bear with us on the phone lines, and we will get the phone lines up as quickly as we can.”
In total, 69 different magnetic toy product lines across the Polly Pocket, Doggie Day Care, Batman and Barbie brands were pulled in the UK and Ireland.
Customers in Ireland and the UK should contact Mattel’s helpline on 01 628 500 303 or email HelplineUK@mattel.com or visit the company’s UK website at www.service.mattel.com/uk/
