Personally, I take it as a sign from above that if the handle melts it is time to get rid of the appliance. It is a safety hazard.

Here's a suggestion: Box up the crock pot along with a big sob story about how you are a single mother with smallpox and an expensive orthodontist, or better yet, how you were going to send the thing to the Consumer Product Safety Commission but wanted to see if Rival could fix it first. Send it back to them and see if they send you a replacement.

If not, no big deal, you can buy them pretty cheap at about any discount store.