A consumer watchdog has issued a stark warning after discovering that more than half of phone chargers purchased from major online retailers like Amazon, B&Q, and eBay pose serious risks of electrocution, fire, and explosion. Which? tested 15 USB phone chargers from seven online marketplaces and found that nine were so poorly manufactured that users faced potential electric shocks. Eight of these also presented fire and explosion hazards.
Dangerous Findings
Which? bought chargers from Amazon, including its low-cost platform Amazon Haul, as well as AliExpress, B&Q Marketplace, Debenhams Marketplace, and eBay. All 15 chargers lacked essential safety information on packaging, the product itself, or accompanying documentation, making them illegal for sale in the UK. One charger, sold as an "Apple" USB-C 35W Power Adaptor for £11.99 on eBay and bearing the Apple logo, was a dangerous counterfeit. Researchers opened its case and found a lump of modelling clay inside, likely to give it a heavier, more genuine feel. After just 10 seconds of an electrical strength test, arcing sounds were heard, indicating a risk of fire, explosion, or shock.
Customer Complaints
A customer who bought the counterfeit charger reported that it overloaded and ruined their iPad and phone, both of which stopped charging. Two unbranded chargers from eBay sellers, priced at £2.10 and £2.80, also posed risks of fire, explosion, and electrocution. A USB-C charger from Amazon Haul for £6.99 failed safety tests and was deemed a shock and fire risk. The 2-1 Super Fast Charger for £10.99 from B&Q Marketplace and a Dual Port 35W charger for £9.99 from Debenhams marketplace also failed all tests, with the latter weighted with modelling clay.
AliExpress and Others
Two chargers from AliExpress, costing £1.30 and £5.69, had multiple failings that could cause explosion, fire, or shock. Chargers from Temu and Shein passed safety tests but lacked required markings, including details of the UK importer.
Expert Comments
Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy at Which?, said: "Badly designed electricals like these can have life-altering – even fatal – consequences. Online marketplaces have known about the danger of knock-off chargers for the better part of a decade, but consumers continue to be placed at risk. The Government must urgently use its new powers under the Product Regulation and Metrology Act to update product safety legislation and impose a clear legal duty on online marketplaces for ensuring the safety of products sold through their third-party sellers, with tough enforcement for those that fall short."
Lesley Rudd, chief executive of Electrical Safety First, added: "Counterfeiting is a very intentional act. The driving force is often solely about maximising profit and, in doing so, cutting corners on safety. Our own research into counterfeit Apple chargers found criminals filling them with metal weights to mimic the feel of genuine products. This introduced a serious risk of electric shock. Whilst we welcome the Government's initial plans to regulate online marketplaces, a clear and legal duty of care must be placed upon those companies. This must be backed by robust enforcement and meaningful penalties that reflect the very real risks millions of UK shoppers are exposed to every day."
Retailer Responses
All retailers involved said they had removed the listings in question, either proactively or as a result of Which?'s findings. They all stated that customer safety is a priority.
