Watchdog names affected sofas
The number of people pursuing compensation through the High Court for skin injuries caused by their sofas has now topped 5,000, making it the largest UK consumer injury claim of all time.
The cause of the problem has been traced to sachets of a fungicide (dimethyl fumarate), placed in the sofas to avoid mould growth in transit or storage.
It had been believed that all affected models were made by one Chinese manufacturer, Linkwise. However, in October, Watchdog broke the story that a new manufacturer's labels have been found on affected models - those of Chinese manufacturer Eurosofa.
Now, the three main retailers involved in selling the affected sofas (Argos, Land of Leather and Walmsleys) have released details of all the models and batches they believe might have contained these sachets. And for the first time anywhere, Watchdog is publishing that list.
Read the list of affected sofas.
See the Watchdog report on the sofa story, which was broadcast on Monday 13 October.
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i was trying to find out ways how to get my kitchen or money back from mfi and then i came across the leather sofas comments. i feel very upset and disturbed to read and learn that the leather sofa i have bought from lol may be the cause my 18 year old nephews painfull rash. he had been staying over to lookafter my son who was very ill and now my nephew has this really bad rash and has been to doctors and a and e so many times past 8 and is still taking so many different pain relives and anti allergy medicines. do we get intouch with the solicitors and also let the doctors know may be they can give him better medicine. has affected people got better if yes after how long? do i need to get in touch with land of leather . please help.
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Re the Leather sofa scare.
Have any scientific trials been done to show that the anti mould sashes containing DMF are responsible for the allergic skin reactions many people are apparently experiencing?
I have every sympathy for people who suffer with skin conditions. However,
couldn't there be a simpler explanation. Sitting on a leather sofa for long periods of time causes you to sweat. On areas where your skin is sweaty, skin conditions such as psoriasis are likely to develop. I say this because my son had experienced a dreadful skin reaction, with weeping sores, when wearing his new trainers. The problem was cured by wearing 'wicking socks' and finally by buying new breathable trainers. I'm not intending to sue the shoe manufacturer.
The point I want to make is, that I feel the BBC is leading a campaign against leather sofas which may be founded on a false premise.
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Deanorash, All trials have been done and cause established and admitted!! I personally was covered in chemical burns from head to toe, along with fluid build up that led to me putting on almost 3 stone. It was absoloute agony for 3-4 months. For over a month I couldn't even go to bed or simply lay down as apart from the burns the pressure by the swelling led me to either stand or kneel. So believe the storys when you read them as there is nothing 'false' about any of it. And to wonder if this was a 'sweat rash' is an insult to everyone that experienced this episode. I can still remember the intense itching and burning as if it were yesterday!!!
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Dear Watchdog, what company or companies can you recommend for testing for dimethyl fumarate? (the fungicide allegedly causing these skin allergies)
It is not something trivial to test for, and I cannot find a company in the UK that is able to do it.
Your help would be much appreciated, as I have a sofa not on the list [Personal details removed by Moderator] but have suffered with all sorts of strange problems such as nausea, hives, itching, and other unexplained rashes a few months after buying it. I want to be sure that the sofa isn't the cause.
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Dear watchdog,thanks to your report on leather sofas my pain is now over but not before I had many vist to my G.P and a skin specialist.It was my sister who brought it to my attention after she watched you report. I found gel like packs stabled to the inside of my sofa and both of my reclinders.I will never forget the pain and discomfort that I was subject to. Thank you again.
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I have 2 leather sofas from china and have found sachets of silica gel. How do I find out if they contain Dimethyl Fumarate?
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i have just checked the list from land of leather of which batches were affected. the suite of furniture that i purchased in December 2008 is listed. Should i contact land of leather directly or who do i speak to in theis case1 Have our furniture to be recalled????
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I puchased a sofa from [retailer removed] March last year, by September I was seriously ill not by burns but I surrered an uncontrolable itchy rash all over my body. My whole body swelled up, my breathing became very shallow I was covered in huge hives and could barly walk because of the pain. I visited my doctors and also my local hospital who gave me steroids.Then it got even worse with sickness and uncontrolable dihorrea and was sent to hospital again and discharged. 2 days later I woke up and my face was like a balloon and I could not breath.Another hospital visit but this time more serious I had stopped breathing and was resusatated in the ambulance, I had to be resusatated twice more during my stay in hospital.
My sofa is not on the list
as with many other people that have suffered the same affects as myself so at the moment I am left with a sofa that so nearly left 4 children motherless.
Possibly No chance of a fefund or replacement either. So what do I do next
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My husband is having trouble with rashes and terrible itching on his legs and arms, our sofas were bought from a retailer who just uses initials! Could it be possible that there could be sachets inside, and if so could we remove them ourselves, or is not advisable??
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Dear watchdog,
I purchased a sofa from a large retailer in March 2008 and my son has come out with Hives and swelling to his face.He has suffered this for 5 months and am awaiting a hospital appointment for him. Do you think it is possible that the sofa is the cause?
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I cannot get the Pdf up to look at the list of affected sofas, I bought a linkwise SAVILLE/CAMEO SUITE AND PURCHASED 5 YEAR WARRENTY, CAN I REQUEST IT BE REPLACED IF AFFECTED.DOES ANYONE KNOW. LUV FIBROBABE
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Have also noticed a rash on my arms since purchasing this sofa. My son has also had outbrakes of hives.
However the sofa type is not mentioned on the list;
It is [product details removed], purchased from [retailer removed] in October last year (08).
I too noticed the packets, stashed in the grooves of the sofa, thought they were slicia gel (never looked at them properly) and threw them out.
Just wondering, if this, 'toxic'(?) chemical would have any affect on pregnant woman in relation to the developing fetus. I'm amazed no-one's mentioned this yet!
Hope there can be some compensation, as we've paid for goods that havent fully lived up to our expectations!
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Hello Watchdog can you please help? We bought an Italian Sofa in 2007. My partner has been suffering with a severe skin infection. Today we went to see a Consultant and my partner has to go into Hospital tomorrow for skin tests. We have taken the sofas out of our lounge because I think they could be affected. Can you tell me how I can get them tested? I know of FIRA but they charge 275.00, can you please help.
Thank You.
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hi Fibroblade,,
I have looked on the list of names for you, and yes it seems that yours is on there.
hope this helps..
x
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I also bought a sofa from Land Of Leather three years ago but until i watched tonights re-run of Watchdog, did I didnt know why I had this awful sore itchy rash on my leg... now I do ! Could someone please advise me on how to make a claim against them. I know that this may not get me any compensation but there is always a chance that Zurric may change their mind. Many thanks in advance
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
I have not long been aware of this issue - somone told me when i mentioned my little boys strange blistery/rash that randomly appears in places. i bought a leather sofa from LOL in 2006 i cannot find its name on the effected list but i wonder if its one of the ones which just have numbers - i no longer have any paperwork to the sofas and there are no labels what so ever attached to them to say who or where they were made - i'm really not bothered about compensation i just want to know if i should be replacing them or not - they were named 'janet' does anyone know if they are on the list or who could i contact for further information seeing as the company has gone into administration now?
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