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

SPONSORED , B&Q and eBay, a consumer watchdog has warned. An investigation by Which? revealed that numerous USB phone chargers available through these platforms could electrocute users or even explode. Which? purchased 15 USB phone chargers from seven different online marketplaces for testing, aiming to assess their safety and legality for sale in the UK. The findings were alarming, with nine of the chargers being so poorly manufactured that they posed an immediate risk of electric shock to anyone using them. These dangerous items were acquired 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. Crucially, all 15 chargers examined by Which? lacked essential information on their packaging, the device itself, or in accompanying documentation, rendering their sale in the UK illegal. One of the chargers, sold as an “Apple” USB-C 35W Power Adaptor charger for £11.99 on eBay and marked with the Apple logo, was found to be a dangerous fake. Arcing sounds – when a current jumps between two parts of the electrical circuit, which could cause a fire, lead the product to explode or cause an electric shock – were picked up from the product after 10 seconds of an electrical strength test. Which? researchers opened the charger’s case and found a lump of modelling clay inside it, which they believe was used to give the charger a more weighty, robust and genuine feel. One customer who bought the charger posted on the listing to say that it had overloaded and ruined their iPad and phone, both of which had stopped charging. One charger had a lump of modelling clay inside it, which researchers believe was used to give the charger a more weighty, robust and genuine feel (Which) Two unbranded phone chargers bought from eBay sellers for £2.10 and £2.80 both posed risks of fire, explosion and electrocution, Which? found. Which?’s investigation also extended to Amazon’s low-cost platform Amazon Haul, which sold a USB-C charger for £6.99 that failed electrical safety tests and was found to be a shock and fire risk. The 2-1 Super Fast Charger costing £10.99 from a seller on B&Q Marketplace also failed safety tests and had the potential to explode, cause a fire or to give users an electric shock. A Dual Port 35W charger for £9.99 from Debenhams marketplace also failed all of Which?’s electrical safety tests and was weighted inside with modelling clay.