BENNETT READ PRODUCTS ARE A FIRE HAZARD!! DON'T BUY UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO RISK YOUR LIFE!!

I purchased my Bennett Read Zoom vacuum cleaner in October 2019. Less than 5 months later, I was using it to suck up regular household dust when there was a sudden loud pop and the vacuum cleaner burst into flames. Fortunately, the vacuum cleaner tripped the electrical supply to the plugs, causing the flames to die down, but there was a great deal of smoke and my entire house smelled like burning plastic. I am still in complete shock that this can happen to an appliance. It was fortunate that no-one was standing close enough to the vacuum as it could have caused severe burns to anyone nearby. It is also fortunate that the flames died quickly and nothing else caught on fire. I shudder to think that what would have happened if the fire got out of control or spread to my carpets. My entire house could have burnt down with myself and my children in it. After an internet search I found that other people had experienced the same thing with the same model vacuum cleaner, as well as with other Bennett Read appliances! I contacted the company about this and they requested that I return the product. It was collected from me on 23rd March. I have yet to be refunded and have not heard from the company despite sending several emails. I understand that there could have been a delay due to lockdown, but surely there would be at least some admin staff available to reply to emails. Now that we are in level 3, there is no excuse. They should be operational now that their hazardous products are available for purchase again. But still, no response to my emails! I don't expect to receive a response here either, but I am writing this more to warn others. Bennett Read appliances are dangerous!