Samsung recall: What to do if you have a Galaxy Note 7
Do you have a Samsung Galaxy Note 7? Nearly all of the new smartphones are subject to a recall announced by U.S. safety officials Thursday, following growing concerns about the risk of their batteries overheating and catching fire.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says there have been 92 reports of the phones' lithium-ion batteries overheating nationwide. That includes 26 reports of burns and 55 reports of property damage, including to cars and a garage.
The agency is urging consumers who own one of these phones to exchange or return the device because of the risk of fire. Here’s what you need to know about the recall:
Who is affected?
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says the recall covers about 1 million Note 7s sold in the U.S. through Sept. 15.
How do I know if my phone is part of the recall?
U.S. officials say about 97 percent of Note 7s sold in the U.S. are affected.
To confirm if your phone is one of them, look for an IMEI number on the back of the phone or on the phone’s packaging. You can also find it in the phone’s settings by going to “About Phone” or “General Management” and then hitting “Status.” Enter that number at samsung.com/us/note7recall or call Samsung’s recall hotline at 1-844-365-6197.
What are my options?
You can get a replacement or a full refund. For replacements, consumers can choose a new Note 7 with a safer battery, or a Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge with a refund of the price difference. Samsung expects replacement Note 7s to be available by Wednesday.
Those who bought their Note 7 directly from Samsung should contact the company at 1-844-365-6197 to request a replacement or refund.
Consumers who bought the phone through a wireless carrier or major retailer should contact the merchant directly. The Consumer Product Safety Commission provided the following contact information:
- AT&T - phone: 1-800-331-0500; AT&T web link
- Best Buy - phone: 1-888-237-7289; Best Buy web link
- Sprint - phone: 1-888-211-4727; Sprint web link
- T-Mobile - phone: 1-844-275-9309; T-Mobile web link
- U.S. Cellular - phone: 1-888-944-9400; U.S. Cellular web link
- Verizon - phone: 1-800-922-0204; Verizon web link