Phone chargers sold by Amazon, B&Q and eBay pose fire and electric shock risks, Which? investigation finds

Consumers face serious safety risks from phone chargers sold online by major retailers such as Amazon, B&Q and eBay, the consumer watchdog has warned.

Which Investigation? It revealed that a large number of USB phone chargers on these platforms could cause electric shocks or even explosions to users.

Which? He purchased 15 USB phone chargers from seven different online marketplaces for testing to assess their safety and legality for sale in the UK.

The findings were alarming; Nine of the chargers were so poorly manufactured that they posed an immediate risk of electrocution to anyone using them.

These dangerous products were purchased from Amazon, including Amazon Haul, as well as AliExpress, B&Q Marketplace, Debenhams Marketplace and eBay.

Further analysis showed that eight of these faulty chargers also presented significant fire and explosion hazards. Most importantly, all 15 chargers have been reviewed by Which? The absence of the required information on the packaging, the device itself or the accompanying documentation makes it illegal to sell these devices in the UK.

One of the chargers sold on eBay as an “Apple” USB-C 35W Power Adapter charger for £11.99 and marked with the Apple logo has been found to be a dangerous fake.

Arcing noises that could cause a current to jump between two parts of the electrical circuit, causing a fire, product explosion, or electric shock, were detected from the product after a 10-second electrical strength test.

Which? Researchers opened the charger’s casing and found a piece of modeling clay inside, believed to have been used to give the charger a heavier, more solid, and more real feel.

A customer who purchased the charger posted that the charger was overloaded and their iPad and phone broke and both stopped charging.

Two unbranded phone chargers, purchased from eBay sellers for £2.10 and £2.80, both posed a risk of fire, explosion and electric shock. Which one? to create.

Which’s research has been expanded to include Amazon’s low-cost platform, Amazon Haul; that platform was selling a USB-C charger for £6.99 that had failed electrical safety tests and posed a risk of electric shock and fire.

The 2-1 Super Fast Charger, priced at £10.99 from a seller on B&Q Marketplace, also failed safety tests and had the potential to explode, cause a fire or electrocute users.

The Dual Port 35W charger, purchased from Debenhams marketplace for £9.99, also failed all Which?’s electrical safety tests and was weighted down with modeling clay inside.

Two chargers purchased from sellers on AliExpress for £1.30 and £5.69 had multiple faults that could cause an explosion, fire or electric shock, while chargers purchased from sellers on Temu and Shein passed Which?’s safety tests but were missing the necessary markings on the product, including details of the UK importer.

Which? Sue Davies, Head of Consumer Protection Policy, said: “Poorly designed electrical devices such as these can have life-changing or even fatal consequences. “Online markets have known about the danger of faulty chargers for the last decade, but consumers continue to be put 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 to ensure the safety of products sold through third-party sellers, with tough sanctions for those who fall short.

“By making online marketplaces legally liable for unsafe products, the government can set a world-leading standard for product safety in the digital age.”

Lesley Rudd, CEO of Electrical Safety First, said: “Counterfeiting is a very deliberate act. The driving force is often simply to maximize profits and in doing so cut corners on safety.

“Our own investigation into counterfeit Apple chargers revealed criminals were filling them with metal weights to mimic the feel of genuine products. This presented a serious risk of electric shock.

“While we welcome the government’s initial plans to regulate online markets, a clear and legal duty of care must be imposed on these companies. This must be backed by strong enforcement and meaningful penalties that reflect the real risks that millions of UK shoppers are exposed to every day.”

All retailers involved said they removed the listings in question, either proactively or as a result of Which?’s findings.

All said they prioritize customer safety.