• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Argh! Defective cartridge!

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.

DeusXM

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Well, I've got myself in a bit of a pickle.

Last night I put new cart in my AccuChek Mobile and did a couple of tests. I'm away for the bank holiday so I packed it in my bag as I figured 48 tests would probably be enough for 3 days.

I've just whipped my meter out on the bus and went to do a test, only to get an 'error: defective cartridge' message. Tried all sorts of fixes and fiddles but the end result is I've got 48 tests now gone to waste plus no way of actually testing my blood sugar for the next 3 days.

I won't be anywhere my dispensing chemist for the next three days and I don't have any prescription paperwork on me. I've tried calling accu chek but the only thing they can reasonably do is post out a new meter and a replacement pack of strips which I won't get until the middle of next week, by which time I'll be home and therefore able to change the cartridge to one if my spares anyway.

Anyone got any suggestions? Could I take in my defective cart to another chemist and ask for a replacement or am I going to have to splash out on a new cart...assuming they have any in stock...
 
The chemist sounds like a good plan. You could also find out if there's a walk-in centre somewhere near where you're going. The out-of-hours GP service in the area may also be able to suggest something.
 
Can't see the chemist changing it when they didn't dispense the item, looks like its hands in the pocket time and buying a cartridge.
 
look for an out of hours service if possible.

if you were in yorkshire i could tell you to go to a hospital which has all the diabetic supplies on standby.

hope you get it fixed
 
Nightmare! Hope you manage to find a fix. If no joy at the first chemist I guess out on your freshest face and try another!

No forum members who use that meter near where you are I guess?
 
Nightmare! Hope you manage to find a fix. If no joy at the first chemist I guess out on your freshest face and try another!

No forum members who use that meter near where you are I guess?
I went away 2 Easters ago and had taken only a few strips, nowhere near enough for the weekend. Boots were able to give me some so long as I filled in a form telling who my Dr was and so forth! Deffo worth an ask.
 
I had this issue with my mobile too and it turned out to be a faulty meter. I had to send it back and they sent me a replacement. It ruined about five cartridges as every time I put a new one in I got the same fault.

When I rang up about it they asked me to try cleaning the sensor but it didn't work so that's when they sent me a new one.

They were very quick with the replacement. I got it within 4 days.
 
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. As I was in a different NHS country to my usual one and I didn't want this to screw up my weekend, in the end I just took the hit and bought some strips. I can only imagine how infuriating it must be for the T2s who have do this all the time.
 
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. As I was in a different NHS country to my usual one and I didn't want this to screw up my weekend, in the end I just took the hit and bought some strips. I can only imagine how infuriating it must be for the T2s who have do this all the time.

Indeed :( Would be interested to know what happened to the cartridge - have you returned it and got the meter working with a new one?
 
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. As I was in a different NHS country to my usual one and I didn't want this to screw up my weekend, in the end I just took the hit and bought some strips. I can only imagine how infuriating it must be for the T2s who have do this all the time.

I would ask the meter company to reimburse you. Tell them it ruined your weekend away and left you feeling very vulnerable. Besides why should you or the NHS pay for faulty goods?
 
Well, my slightly unethical master plan is to go the leading high street chemist from where I bought the replacement cart from, take in the new cart box, the receipt and the old cartridge, tell them it's defective and ask if I could just get a refund. May or may not work....
 
Well, my slightly unethical master plan is to go the leading high street chemist from where I bought the replacement cart from, take in the new cart box, the receipt and the old cartridge, tell them it's defective and ask if I could just get a refund. May or may not work....

As it came from that shop they have to replace the cartridge not to sure about the refund though.
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top