Thousands of travel adaptors sold through online marketplaces may pose serious safety risks, according to an investigation by Electrical Safety First. The charity found multiple products that failed basic safety checks and warned consumers about potential electrocution and fire hazards.
Investigation Finds Unsafe Travel Adaptors Online
The charity Electrical Safety First tested 14 travel adaptors listed on platforms including AliExpress, eBay, TikTok Shop and Amazon Marketplace. The investigation found that several products failed safety requirements, with some creating a risk of serious electric shock and possible electrocution.
The charity estimates that at least 10,000 devices matching the affected products may have been sold to UK consumers. Following the findings, the marketplaces removed the identified adaptor listings. AliExpress and eBay also said they would carry out additional checks to identify similar products.
Safety Failures Found in Multiple Products
The testing focused on universal travel adaptors and basic travel adaptors commonly used by holidaymakers travelling abroad. Among the eight universal travel adaptors tested, six were found to present a serious electric shock risk. The charity said some devices could expose multiple live pins at the same time during use.
The organisation warned that contact with exposed electrical parts, particularly in situations involving water or moisture, could result in severe injury. The plug pins on all eight universal adaptors also failed required standards relating to size and mechanical strength. This creates a risk that parts of the plug could break inside a socket, potentially exposing users to live electrical components.
Fire Risks Also Identified
Further testing found problems with six basic travel adaptors, including missing safety shutters, missing fuses, oversized plug openings and designs that allowed three-pin plugs to be used without an earth connection. According to Electrical Safety First, these faults increase the risk of electric shocks and fires.
Four universal adaptors and two basic adaptors were also examined in a specialist laboratory to assess the fire resistance of their plastic materials. All six products failed those tests.
Online Marketplaces Face Consumer Safety Questions
Giuseppe Capanna, product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, said consumers should not have to question whether everyday electrical products bought online are safe. The charity said the findings highlight continued concerns about unsafe goods being sold through online marketplaces.
Sue Davies, head of consumer protection policy at Which?, said poorly designed electrical products could have serious consequences and called for stronger protection for consumers purchasing goods online. The investigation adds to ongoing concerns about the ability of online marketplaces to identify and remove unsafe products before they reach households.
Consumers planning to travel are advised to check the safety of adaptors before use and avoid products that lack clear manufacturer information, safety markings or reliable testing details.
