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Team 10 results: Scripps Ranch woman receives refund over Samsung refrigerator

Posted at 11:31 AM, Oct 04, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-04 21:00:43-04

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A Scripps Ranch woman who contacted Team 10 about problems with her Samsung refrigerator is now receiving a full refund after Team 10’s story aired.

Stephanie Nivinskus bought her Samsung french door refrigerator in December 2014. It cost her nearly $2,000. She said she had issues roughly six months after she bought it.

"It's been a headache since the beginning," Nivinskus told Team 10 in September.

The first problem was the ice maker does not function properly, according to Nivinskus.

"The ice just gathers and collects up there. It makes it so it doesn't work," Nivinskus said.

She also has issues with the temperature of the refrigerator. The FDA says a safe temperature inside a refrigerator is 40 degrees or below. During the initial interview with Team 10, the thermometer inside of Nivinskus' refrigerator read about 56 degrees.

"Having spoiled food is a real problem," she said.

RELATED: Samsung customers upset over broken ice makers and high temperatures on fridges

Nivinskus said a Samsung representative called her after Team 10’s first story. Shortly after, a full refund for her refrigerator was processed.

“Thank you so much for helping us because fighting by myself, I was getting a whole lot of nowhere,” Nivinskus said.

Samsung is currently facing a class-action lawsuitregarding the broken ice makers.

There are also more than 5,400 people in a Facebook group demanding a recall of Samsung refrigerators.

In an email, a Samsung spokesperson told Team 10 in response to the initial story: "At Samsung we stand behind all of our products, including our refrigerators, and want to ensure our customers are completely satisfied. If a customer encounters any problem with their product or service, we encourage them to reach out to us directly at 1-800-SAMSUNG so we can provide assistance."

Nivinskus said she spoke to customer service before contacting Team 10. She is encouraging other customers dealing with similar problems not to give up.

"Keep fighting,” she said. “They need to take responsibility for this and you need to get what you paid for."