Electrical Safety First tested 14 devices from Ali Express, eBay, Amazon Marketplace and TikTok Shop and said they all failed basic safety tests
Brits who are going abroad this summer have been warned not to buy “highly dangerous” travel adaptors that could cause electric shocks or electrocution.
Electrical Safety First tested 14 devices from Ali Express, eBay, Amazon Marketplace and TikTok Shop and said they all failed basic safety tests. The charity warned that more than 10,000 of the unsafe adaptors may have already been sold to unsuspecting customers.
In multiple travel adaptors tested, the group found more than one set of plug pins could be exposed and live at the same time. If someone were to touch the pins with wet hands, the consequences could be fatal, Electrical Safety First said.
It also found the plug pins could break off inside a socket in some of the examples it tested. Other travel adaptors were found to be missing either their safety shutters or fuses, while others had oversized plug pin holes, making it easier to come into contact with live electrical parts.
Giuseppe Capanna, product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, said: “Shopping for your holiday getaway should be an enjoyable experience, not one that puts you at serious risk.
“Shoppers in the UK shouldn’t have to question whether the products they buy might put them at risk, yet our investigation shows that dangerous electrical goods are still finding their way into people’s homes through online marketplaces.
“What looks like a bargain could come at a much higher cost. We urge Brits heading abroad this summer to think before they buy and only purchase travel adaptors from reputable retailers they know and trust, so they can travel with confidence and avoid taking a potentially dangerous device away with them.”
A spokeswoman for AliExpress said: “We have removed the three travel adapter listings identified by Electrical Safety First and are contacting affected customers to initiate a recall through our established channels.
“We have also launched a wider review of universal travel adapter listings where all plug pins are shown extended at the same time. Any listing with this unsafe characteristic will be restricted from sale until the seller takes corrective action.”
A spokeswoman for eBay said: “We have removed the listings identified by Electrical Safety First and we’re carrying out wider checks to find and remove any similar listings.”
An Amazon spokesman said: “The products identified have been removed from sale.” TikTok also removed the listings.
Andrew McConnell, spokesman for the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “The findings by Electrical Safety First are a useful reminder that travellers should take care when buying electrical products and accessories for use on holiday.
“Whether it’s a travel adaptor, power bank or vape, using trusted products and following guidance can help reduce safety risks.”
