One must-have Christmas present should be thrown away before the wrapping has come off.
Amazon in the U.K. has sent emails to customers who bought hoverboards saying they are too dangerous to keep.
“Please dispose of this product [to a recycling center] as soon as possible,” Amazon said. It promised customers a full refund.
Hoverboards are at risk of catching fire because the plugs don’t meet safety standards. That means the batteries can overheat and catch fire.
Stores around Britain have already stopped selling the boards, and many varieties are no longer listed on Amazon.
They’re also getting harder to find in the U.S.
At least 12 reports of hoverboard fires in 10 U.S. states are being investigated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
News of the probe comes as Amazon halted the sale of almost every model of hoverboards.
in the U.K., Argos is giving customers a full refund and has temporarily stopped selling them.
And Costco Wholesale U.K. has sent new plugs to buyers of some Air Runner boards, saying “there could be a risk of electrocution.”
U.K. authorities seized 15 thousand hoverboards at ports through October after they said 90% had faulty plugs that could lead to fires.
U.S. airlines are banning passengers from bringing them on board for the same reason.
London police said in October that hoverboards were not permitted for use on streets and sidewalks, and could only be ridden on private property.
New York State has banned them as well.