According to the buyer group Which?, many Christmas lights sold online may not comply with UK electrical safety regulations, making them not only dangerous but additionally illegal.
Which? Tested lights from 4 retailers – eBay, Amazon, Wish and AliExpress. Shockingly, 10 of the 12 kits tested failed to satisfy UK safety regulations. With the value of every set of lights dropping below £15, there may be concern that their affordability could allow more consumers to buy lights with electrical faults or those who don’t meet regulatory standards.
All the businesses have now removed the lights from their web sites, which suggests that they take security very seriously. Two kits from eBay and Amazon failed the compliance check. They were missing key safety markings or didn’t include instructions.
The consumer group is now calling on online marketplaces to take more responsibility. Actually which one? It suggests taking obligation to stop the sale of illegal and dangerous products to consumers.
Risk
According to Berkshire Fire and Rescue, roughly 60% of home fires are attributable to faulty electrical appliances.
Some of the lamps tested by Which? found to have easily exposed wires posing a risk of electrical shock in addition to being a fireplace hazard. The same lights, sold by retailer Wish, were also advertised as waterproof, but with no evidence found by Who? to back this up, the concept of false and misleading promoting on the subject of electrical safety is a particularly disturbing prospect.
Which? Recommend people buy Christmas lights on high streets or directly from a retailer they know.
How to remain secure
Which? listed below are some great tricks to stay secure online:
- Check that the lights will not be damaged when unpacking the decorations.
- Look for things like loose wires, broken bulbs, or a broken control box.
- If your lights need bulb alternative, ensure you employ the identical type when replacing bulbs.
- Turn off the lights if you exit and go to bed.
- Keep lights away from anything that may burn easily.
- If your lamps appear to be they’ve seen higher times, recycle them and buy a brand new set from a web based retailer or a retailer you trust.
Sue Davies, head of Consumer Protection Policy, said:
“Cheap Christmas lights may be tempting for a lot of us attempting to lower your expenses amid the associated fee of living crisis – but our latest research shows that buyers could also be putting themselves in danger because online marketplaces don’t take safety seriously.
“The government must make online marketplaces legally accountable for dangerous and illegal products sold through them so persons are higher protected.”
