Hoverboard Fire Reports Has Dallas Mom Concerned
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DALLAS (CBS11) - It's one of hottest gifts under the tree this year but concerns about hoverboards catching on fire have some wishing Santa would take theirs back.
Trudy Wilson of Dallas bough the Smart Balance Wheel for her 12-year-old daughter.
"This is the most popular item this year. She's been seeing it," said Wilson.
Wilson said she had second thoughts after seeing reports certain boards were bursting into flames.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating after 12 incidents of hoverboards catching on fire.
CPSC engineers are paying close attention to the battery packs in the electronic boards.
"I saw another video, it was this exact brand that actually caught fire in a house," said Wilson.
Wilson decided the hoverboard she bought was not getting opened Christmas morning and went back to Electro Wireless in Dallas where her husband purchased it.
Wilson said the store owner told her they have a strict no-return policy outlined on the receipt.
"I asked, how could you sleep at night knowing this particular product has caught on fire. He said, well I have insurance. I said, well how is that going to help me," said Wilson.
The CPSC said consumers should avoid buying the board from places like a mall kiosks or an online retailer-- where it can be difficult to track where the product came from.
Wilson could not find the manufacturer or an 800 number in the manual that came with her Smart Balance Wheel.
"He probably couldn't send it back to where he got it from. He said, you know what, here's my business card, take me to small claims court to get your money back," said Wilson.
Consumer Justice reached out to Electro Wireless about Wilson's concerns.
While the owner refused a return, he promised to replace the battery in Wilson's board with a Samsung.
Wilson told Consumer Justice she plans to go to the store Saturday.
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