PlainRecalls

Bellman & Symfon Recalls Flash Receivers for Reduced Hearing Persons; Unit Can Fail to Alert in an Emergency

Reported: April 30, 2020 Initiated: April 30, 2020 #20114 About 450 units

Bellman & Symfon AB, of Sweden issued this CPSC recall on April 30, 2020. Classified as Moderate severity. Approximately About 450 units are affected. The recall was issued because: The back-up battery can fail to fully charge resulting in the receiver not working as intended and failing to flash to …. This recall notice is sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Below you will find the complete product description, hazard information, remedy instructions, and related recalls from the same manufacturer or product category.

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #20114) was formally reported on April 30, 2020. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. Bellman & Symfon AB, of Sweden is listed as the recalling firm. Federal records indicate About 450 units are affected.

The documented reason for this recall is: The back-up battery can fail to fully charge resulting in the receiver not working as intended and failing to flash to alert hearing-impaired persons to an emergency. Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. The remedy documented by the agency is: Consumers should immediately contact Bellman & Symfon to receive a free repair. Consumers can continue to use their Flash Receivers until they receive the free repair, but the firm advises in the mea… — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 6 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.

Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity1Class I (Critical)Class II (Moderate)Class III (Low)
Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity

Moderate

Units Affected

About 450

Related Recalls

6

0 from same agency

Product Description

This recall involves the Flash Receiver (BE1442 MHz), which is sold as a part of the Bellman & Symfon's Visit smart home system. The flash receivers are intended to assist hearing-impaired consumers by alerting them with bright flashes of light when the doorbell or telephone rings or if a fire alarm sounds. The white devices measure about six inches tall and three inches wide and sits on a white cylinder base. The Bellman & Symfon logo is printed on the front of the unit. Only Bellman & Symfon flash receivers with following serial numbers are included in the recall: Affected Serial Numbers BE1442141400001 ~ BE1442141402040 BE1442174430001 ~ BE1442174433060 BE1442186360001 ~ BE1442186362040 BE1442188570001 ~ BE1442188571020 BE1442180030001 ~ BE1442180032550 BE1442180840001 ~ BE1442180842550 The serial number is printed on the body of the unit under the battery cover. The bar code with the product's serial number is located under the batteries.

Reason for Recall

The back-up battery can fail to fully charge resulting in the receiver not working as intended and failing to flash to alert hearing-impaired persons to an emergency.

Remedy

Consumers should immediately contact Bellman & Symfon to receive a free repair. Consumers can continue to use their Flash Receivers until they receive the free repair, but the firm advises in the meantime to unplug and re-plug their units to keep them properly powered.

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the CPSC recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Severity class Moderate
Status Active
Recall number 20114
Date reported April 30, 2020
Date initiated April 30, 2020
Recalling firm Bellman & Symfon AB, of Sweden
Units affected About 450
Distribution Not disclosed

Profile values are sourced directly from the official CPSC enforcement record. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Scale of Impact

About 450 units affected — limited or regional distribution scale.

Regional (<10K units) ✓ This recall
Multi-state (10K – 100K units)
Large-scale (100K – 1M units)
Massive (≥1M units)

Bracket cutoffs follow federal recall-disclosure conventions; bar widths scale linearly within each bracket. Source: PlainRecalls analysis of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission filings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
This recall involves the Flash Receiver (BE1442 MHz), which is sold as a part of the Bellman & Symfon's Visit smart home system. The flash receivers are intended to assist hearing-impaired consumers by alerting them with bright flashes of light when the doorbell or telephone rings or if a fire alarm sounds. The white devices measure about six inches tall and three inches wide and sits on a white cylinder base. The Bellman & Symfon logo is printed on the front of the unit. Only Bellman & Symfon flash receivers with following serial numbers are included in the recall: Affected Serial Numbers BE1442141400001 ~ BE1442141402040 BE1442174430001 ~ BE1442174433060 BE1442186360001 ~ BE1442186362040 BE1442188570001 ~ BE1442188571020 BE1442180030001 ~ BE1442180032550 BE1442180840001 ~ BE1442180842550 The serial number is printed on the body of the unit under the battery cover. The bar code with the product's serial number is located under the batteries.. Recalled by Bellman & Symfon AB, of Sweden. Units affected: About 450.
Why was this product recalled?
The back-up battery can fail to fully charge resulting in the receiver not working as intended and failing to flash to alert hearing-impaired persons to an emergency.
What should consumers do?
Consumers should immediately contact Bellman & Symfon to receive a free repair. Consumers can continue to use their Flash Receivers until they receive the free repair, but the firm advises in the meantime to unplug and re-plug their units to keep them properly powered.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on April 30, 2020. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 20114.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (20114) against your product. Visit the official CPSC website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
How do I report an injury from a recalled product?
Report injuries to the issuing agency: CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem, or FDA via MedWatch. Document the product (photos, model/serial numbers, purchase receipts) and seek medical attention. Injury reports help agencies track hazard patterns and may strengthen enforcement actions.

Recall Context

Product recalls are issued when a manufacturer, distributor, or federal agency determines that a product poses a safety risk to consumers. This recall is classified as moderate severity, indicating the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences. Across PlainRecalls, we track 83,000+ recalls from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA to help consumers stay informed and act quickly when safety issues arise.

Nearby Recalls in This Category

Other recalls in the same product category — useful for spotting patterns across the same defect class or manufacturer.

Compare this recall with Endo-Model Replacement Plateau; Item Number: 15-0027/11; →

Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS federal recall databases.

  • Source: FDA — Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Enforcement API (food, drug, and medical device recalls)
  • Source: CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls API (consumer product recalls and hazards)
  • Source: NHTSA — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls API (vehicle safety recalls)
  • Source: USDA FSIS — Food Safety and Inspection Service (meat, poultry, and egg product recalls)

Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.

All federal data sources used on this page

Source: Federal recall agencies (FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS) Aggregated multi-agency recall feeds · 2024 Recall data normalized across federal agency feeds; severity classifications follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS).