Beware fake electrical products

Firefighters are warning consumers to shop carefully before Christmas and avoid fake electrical products as they present a serious fire risk.

New research carried out by the charity Electrical Safety First reveals that an estimated nine million UK consumers have purchased a fake electrical product as a Christmas gift in the past.

As the retail bonanza encourages people to shop for a festive bargain, the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people not to buy fake electrical products which could cause a serious fire in their home.

According to Electrical Safety First, online retailers account for the majority of counterfeit purchases, with three in five of all counterfeit electrical purchases taking place online. The Charity's research showed that UK consumers are more likely to use online marketplaces than buy directly from trusted retailers' websites. One in five of these shoppers admit to spending absolutely no time assessing whether an electrical item is genuine and over half presume that electrical items that they see for sale online are genuine.

Additionally, some people are knowingly buying fake electrical items. One in six consumers say they would consider buying a product they suspected was fake if it was cheaper than the original. Ten per cent said that they would buy a suspected fake if under pressure to buy it by a certain date or if it was difficult to find due to high demand.

Electrical Safety First and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service have the following tips to help shoppers avoid dangerous fake and substandard electrical products:

• Buy electrical products from reputable retailers, this way you can be assured you're buying the real thing.
• Check prices and shop around! Check online shops and if possible, visit the high street. If a bargain looks too good to be true, it probably is.
• Check that voltage is 230-240V, 50Hz and that products are fitted with a three-pin UK plug or charger.
• Look for the padlock symbol at the bottom of the screen when you are filling in your payment details.
• Beware glowing reviews, especially if the reviewers aren't verified.
• Beware of words qualifying an item's authenticity, if the seller claims the product is 'genuine', 'real' or 'authentic' double check the source. Most reputable retailers don't need to sell their products like this.
• Look for the seller's contact details, for online marketplaces. Look for a full address and not just a PO Box number. Not all websites with a.co.uk address are based in the UK.
• Read product guarantees, terms and conditions, and returns policies before you buy

People buying domestic appliances should visit the website www.registermyappliance.org.uk which is designed to provide up-to-date, accurate, contact information for owners who have acquired specific models of appliances within the last twelve years, so manufacturers can issue safety updates or repair notifications to the right homes. The website provides access to the registration pages of 47 leading brands of domestic appliances.

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