The consumer watchdog is worried at the slow pace the Infinity cable recall is setting

A RECALL on dodgy electrical cabling has made little progress, with nearly 13,000 homes still facing increased fire and electrocution risks. What is being done?

FACING a deadline in the true sense of the word, consumer cops are “extremely worried” about their lack of progress in the nation’s largest-ever electrical cable recall.

Seven months into the $100 million recall of 4000km of Infinity and Olsent cable — and with just seven more before it becomes a potentially lethal fire or electrocution risk — just 224 of 13,000-plus affected homes have been made safe. That’s less than 2 per cent.

“It’s just too slow,” Australian Competition and Consumer Commision deputy chairwoman Delia Rickard told News Corp Australia. “We are extremely worried.”

Concern about slow progress on recall ... ACCC deputy commissioner Delia Rickard.

Nearly half the cable was sold in NSW, from 2010 to 2013. Close to a quarter of the wiring was purchased in Victoria in 2012 and 2013. Seventeen per cent of the cable was sold in Queensland in 2012 and 2013. Four per cent was sold in the ACT, between 2011 and 2013. Just one per cent of the wiring was sold in South Australia, in 2012 and 2013.

Next month the ACCC will begin an advertising campaign in a bid to prompt more consumers to get electricians to check work to see if Infinity or Olsent cable was used.

“It needs to be located and made safe before it poses a serious danger to the community next year,” Ms Rickard said.

Unaware ... Vivian Hibic, who had Infinity cable in a property she owns but did not know . Picture: Hamish Blair

A check would likely cost $100 and be refundable if the offending wiring was found. Consumers also do not face the bill for fixing the problem.

The cable — meant to last decades — can break down after just five years, exposing live wires.

Vivian Hibic is one of the very few people affected by the recall whose property has been made safe.

In 2012, a split-system airconditioner was installed in a rental property she owns on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. She had no idea the electrician had used Infinity cable.

It was only when she received a phone call last year from Woolworths-owned Masters — the hardware chain that sold the electrician the cable — that she realised there was a problem.

“I wouldn’t have known any different if they hadn’t contacted me to tell me there was something wrong and they needed to change it,” Ms Hibic said.

Cable girl: Lu Luo imported the faulty cable into Australia and is now facing a criminal charge. Picture: Facebook

Lu Luo, sole director of the now-defunct Sydney company that imported the cable, is defending a criminal charge arising from the scandal.

For more information go to the ACCC recall notice here or ring the ACCC on 1300 302 502.

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Originally published as The consumer watchdog is worried at the slow pace the Infinity cable recall is setting