With official charging plugs from the likes of Apple starting at £20, it's no surprise that consumers start shopping around for a cheaper way to recharge batteries.Unofficial plugs can be grabbed for under £8 on online marketplaces such as Amazon - that's well under half the price of heading into an Apple or Samsung store.Although that low cost is clearly tempting, buying cheap plugs comes with a worrying new warning.
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Read our Privacy PolicyConsumer group Which? says people are putting themselves at risk by not sticking to premium accessories made by trusted manufacturers.To highlight the dangers, Which? said it purchased a number of chargers from places such as Amazon (including Amazon Haul), AliExpress, B&Q Marketplace, Debenhams Marketplace and eBay.Article continues below ADVERTISEMENTThe team says they were shocked to discover nine of the battery boosters were so badly manufactured that anyone using them was at risk of receiving an electric shock.
Eight of the chargers also posed fire and explosion risks.In another worrying development, Which? bought an ‘Apple’ USB-C 35W Power Adaptor charger for £11.99.The consumer group said the box was marked with the famous Apple logo, but testing revealed that it was a cheap and dangerous fake.Other concerns include chargers that lacked the required safety markings for use in the UK, as well as others whose electrical circuitry was too close together.This could lead to fires and even an explosion.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENTPhone chargers are the latest in a long line of dangerous products from online stores that Which? has exposed.The consumer champion first informed online marketplaces that they were selling dangerous chargers in 2019.Now Which? is campaigning, alongside a coalition of safety groups and responsible UK businesses, for tough new laws to make online marketplaces responsible for ensuring the safety of products that they list on their sites.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT“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," Sue Davies, Which? Head of Consumer Protection Policy, said.“The government must urgently use the new powers it has 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.“By making online marketplaces legally responsible for unsafe products, the government can set a world-leading standard for product safety in the digital age.”Apple introduce the MacBook Pro 16-inch In response to the claims, an Amazon spokesperson said: "Customer safety is a top priority at Amazon and we have partnered with Electrical Safety First to provide customers with easy-to-understand expert tips on charging devices safely."We require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws, regulations, Amazon policies, and we monitor for product safety concerns.We’ve removed the highlighted items.
We proactively monitor our store for safety alerts and product recalls and remove relevant products and email customers who purchased them.If we discover a product was undetected by our automated checks, we address the issue immediately and refine our controls.If customers have concerns about an item they’ve purchased, we encourage them to contact our Customer Service directly so we can investigate and help resolve their issue.And a B&Q spokesperson added: "We take the safety of products sold by sellers at B&Q Marketplace very seriously and proactively check to ensure no products subject to an OPSS recall are offered for sale."For now, the advice seems clear.
Only buy chargers from official sellers or trusted brands such as Apple, Belkin, Anker and Samsung.Yes, they will be more expensive, but opting for a cheaper option is not worth the risk.
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