**I saw a Facebook posting that said you should never vacuum or sweep up broken CFL bulbs, the energy efficient ones we’re increasingly urged to use. I’m told you have to use rubber gloves, etc. This came as a surprise to me. In fact, these bulbs seem quite dangerous when broken. Is this correct?
Fay, via email**
Yes, it is. Mercury from the bulb can vaporise at room temperature. I recommend any reader to Google “broken CFL clean-up” to get the full details from Consumer NZ, and other reliable agencies, about what needs to be done. Meantime, here’s a brief rundown if you break a CFL light bulb. Ventilate the room. Turn off all heating/air conditioning units, heat pumps and dehumidifiers. Don’t use a vacuum or broom to clean up, as this could vaporise the mercury and spread it through the room. Sweep up the big pieces of glass with stiff paper or cardboard, wrap them in newspaper, and place in a plastic bag. Use sticky tape to clean up the smaller pieces; also wrap these in newspaper and put in a plastic bag. Wipe down the area with damp paper towels and throw these and your rubber gloves in the plastic bag. Store the bag outside until the next rubbish collection. You’re probably wondering if it’s all worth it. I must say when I read all this I thought much the same. But then, I don’t think I’ve ever broken a CFL bulb. They seem tougher than the others.
All revved up
We recently bought a car in a private sale. After the purchase, I noticed that the vehicle was in the name of a company. I called the seller who said the vehicle just happened to be registered in his company’s name and not to worry. He said the company address was the same as the address I’d bought the car from. Should I be concerned? How should you buy a car from a company?
Angela, via email
You probably have no need for concern. Many company directors register their vehicles in their company’s name. Before buying a vehicle, you should check who the registered owner is and whether there’s any debt owing on it. This is vital in a private sale. For a small price you can go to one of the many companies online that offer this service. If the car is registered to a company, check that the person selling the car owns the company or is a director – go to the Companies Office online. Strictly speaking, you would do well to contact one of the other directors to make sure the person selling you the car has the company’s permission to do so – there may have been a bust up
in the firm and the other directors would want the proceeds of the car sale to go to the firm, not the other director. A simpler alternative is to insist payment goes into the account of the company that’s registered as owner, not the personal account of the person selling the vehicle. If paying by cheque, make it a non-transferable cheque to the company. Too late but, as I say, you should be fine.
Do you have a consumer question for Kevin? Email [email protected], or post to Weekly Consumer, PO Box 90119, Victoria St West, Auckland 1142.
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