British holidaymakers are being urged to check their luggage after a consumer charity found that thousands of travel adaptors sold on major UK online marketplaces pose a serious risk of electrocution.
Investigation uncovers lethal flaws
An investigation by Electrical Safety First revealed that adaptors bought on Amazon Marketplace, eBay, TikTok Shop and AliExpress failed to meet basic UK safety standards. In laboratory tests, 14 devices failed to meet those standards, with the most severe cases potentially proving fatal if used with wet hands.
Testing on universal travel adaptors exposed alarming flaws. Six of the eight universal adaptors tested left multiple live metal pins exposed during use, creating an immediate risk of electric shock. Every universal adaptor also failed strength tests, meaning pins could snap off inside live wall sockets and electrocute users trying to remove them.
The plastic casings of the adaptors also failed basic flammability standards, significantly increasing the risk of house fires. Additionally, basic adaptors lacked essential safety shutters, fuses and required earth connections.
Safety warnings from experts
Giuseppe Capanna, product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, warned consumers to stay vigilant. “Shopping for your holiday getaway should be an enjoyable experience, not one that puts you at serious risk,” he said. “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.”
Consumer champion Which? also criticised online retailers for allowing the items to reach unsuspecting shoppers. Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy at Which?, said: “Badly designed electricals can have life-altering – even fatal – consequences. It’s appalling that online marketplaces continue to fail to prevent dangerous products from reaching consumers.”
Dangerous listings removed
Following the investigation, Amazon, eBay, TikTok Shop and AliExpress confirmed they have removed the dangerous listings from their platforms. Both eBay and AliExpress stated that they are conducting further sweeps across their sites to purge any remaining hazardous electrical items.
Safety experts have advised anyone who has recently bought a cheap, unbranded travel plug online to stop using it immediately and dispose of it safely.
