POWER CUT Is food safe / can I get compensation?

Question

I (and many other residents nearby) had a power cut on Monday lasting around 2 hours, then another one today.

I don't know when today's one started, I was out from around 11.30am, I returned at about 2.30pm to no electricity.

I have no insurance of any kind, but I have a fridge and large freezer full of food. I have a disabled daughter and a 3 year old son, I can't take chances with food!

My electricity went on again at about 5.45pm.

I am worried about the "shelf life" of my food now, after power cuts of about 2 hours on Monday and then at least 3, possibly 5 1/2 hours today.

I am on a tight budget but don't want to poison my kids!!!

Anyone know what my chances are of getting either formal compensation or a customer services "goodwill" type of payment?

Thanks in advance xx

Answer 1

If your freezer was full of food and the door/lid wasn't opened, then it won't have defrosted in the time the power was off.

It is unlikely that your fridge food will have been affected but if you are worried, why not knock off a day from the BBF/use by dates which usually err on the generous side anyway so that there is no risk of come-back from customers.  Just think how your parents and grandparents managed without any fridges and freezers.

You could seek advice from Citizen's Advice Bureau about claiming for spoilt food in your fridge.

Answer 2

Contact your power company to see what they can do for you.

Answer 3

u won't get anything from them..

has to be off hhm 7 or 8 hours..

should be fine as long as you kept the doors shut..

Answer 4

If you didn't open your freezer at any time while the power cuts were on, your frozen food will be fine. And as long as the temperature in your fridge didn't get above about 3 degrees, that'll be fine too. But certainly contact your supplier to find out why it happened and if it's likely to happen again and you could then mention compensation for any damaged food.