Samsung Note 7 – Full recall – what to do now

Samsung as of early September 2016 has issued a FULL recall on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, due to fire hazards linked to overheating of the battery inside of the Note 7. What’s your next move if you have a Note 7?

Effective immediately Samsung has requested that ALL Note 7s be turned off and not used for safety reasons. Sales of the Note 7 were halted last week in 10 countries: the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, the UAE and Korea. Phones in China don’t appear to be affected because they have a different battery.

“We are asking users to power down their Galaxy Note 7s and exchange them as soon as possible,” Koh Dong-jin, Samsung’s mobile president, said in the statement. “We are expediting replacement devices so that they can be provided through the exchange program as conveniently as possible.”

Samsung says they know of at least 35 incidents involving the overheated batteries causing damage to a Note 7. The Note 7 went on sale in August. Customers are advised to contact their local call centers or visit the retail location where the phone was purchased. In the U.S., customers can call 1-800-SAMSUNG or 1-800-726-7864.

Consumers can visit Samsung’s service centers to receive rental phones for temporary use. Samsung plans to provide Galaxy Note 7 devices with new batteries in South Korea starting Sept. 19, but schedules for other countries vary.

Customers have the option to replace their phone with the Galaxy S7, the Galaxy S7 Edge or a different device and receive reimbursement for the difference.

Note 7 users can take their phones on board airplanes but the phones must be powered off and cannot be connected to a charging device. However, the phones should be carried onto the plane and not stowed in checked luggage, according to guidance from airlines around the world.

Note 7 accessories can also be returned for a refund and Samsung is issuing a $25 gift card, in-store credit or bill credit to users for the inconvenience. Full details from Samsung on the Samsung Note 7 exchange program can be located Here.