Have a Galaxy Note 7? Here's what to do

CTV National News: Galaxy production halted After weeks of botched recalls and replacements, Samsung has finally halted production on the Galaxy Note 7. Jill Macyshon reports.

Samsung announced Tuesday that it will permanently halt production of Galaxy Note 7 phones due to public safety concerns after numerous reports of the devices overheating, catching fire and exploding.

The announcement comes a day after the beleaguered Korean electronics company stopped selling the devices worldwide.

But what does that mean for Canadian consumers who bought the defective phone?

CTV News reached out to Samsung to clear up outstanding questions about how the new development affects phone owners.

I bought a Galaxy Note 7. What now?

First things first: the company is urging phone owners to immediately power down their devices and stop using them due to safety concerns.

So do I get a new phone?

Yes. Samsung says phone owners with one of the models can exchange their device at the store where they purchased it for a Galaxy S7 or a Galaxy S7 Edge phone.

What if I want my money back instead?

That’s fine too. Samsung says consumers are entitled to a total refund for device hardware. That refund can also be processed in the store where the phone was purchased.

I bought my phone online. What should I do?

Samsung Canada has said it will “be in touch” with customers who purchased the phone online to explain full details of the return process. For those who bought a Galaxy Note 7 from Samsung’s website, the company says a refund will be issued upon the receipt of the recalled devices.

What about my $50 Galaxy Note 7 phone case?

The company says it will also refund “Note 7 specific” accessories. However, Samsung has not released a list of exactly which accessories will be eligible for return.

What was the source of the problem?

Samsung points to a malfunctioning defect in Note 7 batteries as the root of the issue. The company had taken steps to ship new Note 7 devices that they hoped were safer, but the company scrapped that plan after reports that the improved devices were also catching fire.

It’s still unclear what went wrong with the rejigged replacement phones. A South Korean safety official told The Associated Press that the new phones may have had a different problem than the earlier Note 7.

Is Samsung doing anything to stop this from happening again?

Yes. The company says it has launched a global investigation into what went wrong with the phones. China has launched its own investigation, too, through its General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

With files from the Associated Press