A LETTER from a leading charity is urging Robert Halfon MP to back its online shopping campaign as it warns local residents remain at risk from highly dangerous electrical products sold online.

As more people continue to turn to online marketplaces in search of bargains the charity is warning local residents that they risk being duped by potentially dangerous gadgets.

Online marketplaces such as Amazon Marketplace, eBay and Wish.com are not bound by the same laws as high street retailers, leaving shoppers exposed to substandard and illegal electrical products that can cause fires and electric shock. The Charity is urging Robert Halfon MP to back its campaign to close this unjust loophole in the law.

A recent investigation by Electrical Safety First has uncovered a number of highly dangerous, faulty devices, purporting to save consumers money on their energy bills, being sold on the online marketplace eBay. These devices lacked basic safety components, with some even exploding during specialist testing.

Previous investigations by the charity have found potentially lethal phone chargers, counterfeits, hair dryers and extension leads that pose a serious risk of electric shock, all being sold via online marketplaces. Independent testing by the charity has shown how popular electrical products fail legal safety tests, resulting in hair dryers bursting into flames and phone chargers exploding, as some ruthless third party sellers take no care for the safety of products sold via online marketplace platforms. 

As a result, Electrical Safety First, is calling on Robert Halfon MP to support their Online Safety Campaign to close this loophole in the law that leaves online marketplaces exempt from laws that govern the high street.

Lesley Rudd, Chief Executive of Electrical Safety First commented: “It is imperative that the UK government holds online marketplaces to the same standard as it holds High Street retailers. Gaps in the law allow for opportunistic merchants to take advantage of lax regulations. This is why we are calling on Robert Halfon MP to ensure that the residents of Harlow are given adequate protection from purchasing potentially harmful electrical goods on online marketplaces.”

The Charity has produced an online petition which has secured more than 35,000 signatures.

Local residents can support the campaign by signing the petition here