These Chargers Are Being Recalled From Target And Amazon Because They’re Burning People’s Skin
March 17, 2023 by Marissa Matozzo
Portable chargers are incredibly convenient and prevent those dreaded, scary moments where one might have to deal with a dead phone while out and about. That is, of course, if they work well and don’t overheat!
Target and Amazon shoppers, take note— as a charger (from electronics company, Anker) that you might be familiar with is currently being recalled due to 10 incident reports of overheating, one of which resulted in “minor injuries.” Here’s what we know:
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced on March 9th that U.S. distributor Fantasia Trading voluntarily recalled Anker 535 Power Banks (PowerCore 20k) due to incidents of overheating and burning the skin of some customers. (Yikes!)
As written in the notice, these power banks came in a variety of colors and charged “multiple devices” such as laptops, tablets, and phones. The Anker products also came with two USB charging cables to connect devices to the chargers.
As Best Life reports, the recall “affects chargers with model number A1366,” which customers can find printed on the back of each device. Another way to identify a recalled Anker product is to check its size, the outlet adds, as the power banks are “compact, measuring about three inches wide, six inches long, and one inch deep.” On the front of each product, “Anker” is written vertically.
The publication also points out that approximately 42,000 power banks were “sold online via Anker, Amazon, and eBay, as well as in Target stores nationwide,” from October 2022 to January 2023. The CPSC notes that around 620 were also sold in Canada. These chargers retailed for roughly $70 each.
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Officials ask anyone who might own one of these power banks to not only stop using them right away, but to also follow specific steps when throwing them out. The CPSC explains that because their lithium-ion batteries are “potentially hazardous,” they need to be handled with care and should not be thrown away with regular trash or recycling.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adds that if these chargers are thrown out with regular trash, lithium-ion batteries can create a fire hazard if they are damaged or crushed during transport or from sorting equipment.
The CPSC warns, “Recalled lithium-ion batteries should be disposed of in accordance with any local and state ordinances, following the procedures established by your municipal recycling center for damaged/defective/recalled lithium batteries.” Anker’s recall page lists additional resources related to the proper disposal of lithium batteries.
To initiate a refund from Anker, as Best Life notes, you can submit a refund request on the company’s website. It’s important, the publication stresses, to include your proof of purchase or receipt to get your money back.
Fantasia Trading is also notifying retailers about the recall and contacting known purchasers, according to the CPSC. For more information, consumers can call Anker at 800-988-7973 or email support@anker.com. Per the recall page, be sure to include “535 Power Bank Recall” in the subject line of your email.