The Real Cost of Counterfeit Electrical Items

Counterfeit electrical items are again in the news, as members of the public are still tempted by cheap electrical items which in most cases are not genuine. Counterfeit electrical items can be found easily on line and also in the high street. Counterfeit items can cause electrical injury, death and house fire. They can also cause extensive damage to the electrics in your home. At Fulcher Edwards, we are seeing increasing cases of electrical damage caused by counterfeit electrical products.

What electrical products can be counterfeit?

All electrical appliances and gadgets can be counterfeit. This is where an electrical item can look like the real thing (sometimes the outer casings are almost identical) but inside the wiring is dangerous and many safety features are missing, leaving the user at risk of electrical shock.

It is not just electrical products though that are causing the problem. Counterfeit electrical items such as cable, plugs and even circuit breakers (for fuse boards) have been faked.

What to look for

It is important to check all electrical items are genuine before plugging them in.

• Box – all electrical products should be boxed with the product matching what you've brought.

• Instructions – instructions should always be supplied and written in English. There should also be details of the guarantee in the box too.

• Casing – check the casing of the product carefully – look out for poor finishes or gaps in the casing which shouldn't be there.

• Wires – check that no damage to the cable is present and there is no bare wiring showing.

• Plug – make sure there is a fuse and the plug is firmly attached to the cable

The problems counterfeit electrical products cause

Unfortunately householders don't check the product before plugging them in. Counterfeit products often have little or no safety features that protect the user or home from serious injury or fire. Around £30 million counterfeit products enter the UK every year, and these items do not comply with strict UK or European safety legislation.

Incorrect or faulty parts that make up these products often overheat or break within days of purchase, which in turn increase the risk of fire and electric shock. In fact every year 70 people are killed and 350,000 are injured by faulty electrics and electrical equipment in the UK. Counterfeit products almost certainly contribute to this figure.

As electricians in South East London we have carried out electrical work particularly repairing damage to wiring in walls and sockets that have overheated. Some of the most common things we find are hair dryers, hair straighteners and curling tongs as well as chargers for devices like smartphones and tablets and gaming consoles.

Fires where sockets and cable overheat begin undetected in walls damaging cable. In some cases a partial rewire may be needed – that is an expensive remedy for a £1 phone charger! The initial bargain price can soon cost far more than the purchase of the genuine product.

How to avoid counterfeit electrical products

The best way is to carry out some research on line to find out how much you should expect to pay for the product you are looking for. Many people are tempted by the cost of counterfeit items believing them to be the genuine item. If an item seems much cheaper than other seemingly like for like models, this would be a concern.

Try to purchase from reputable outlets on the high street or via their websites. Avoid purchasing from unknown outlets or from somewhere where you can't return the item if there’s a problem.

If you've been a victim of a counterfeit electrical product

Always inform your local trading standards office immediately if you've been a victim of counterfeit electricals. We also recommend that you contact a qualified and registered electrician to carry out some electrical safety checks in your home to ensure it has not caused any damage to the wiring in your home.

As NICEIC electricians in London we are determined to keep the dangers of counterfeit electrical products in the spotlight. If you are concerned about the safety of any electrical appliance, please unplug it and contact us for advice.