Electrical Goods

A consumer's guide

All electrical goods sold in this country must be safe. The law requires that they satisfy certain safety tests, whether they are sold as new, reconditioned or second-hand. This leaflet is designed to give you guidance regarding practical steps you can take to ensure the electrical goods you buy are safe.

Are there any visual checks that can be made?

Yes. The following points are some of the most common problems trading standards officers find:

Most goods should be supplied with a plug already fitted. That plug should also comply with safety Regulations. Easy signs to look for are insulation at the base of the neutral and live pins (the bottom two on a three pin plug) and a claim of compliance with BS 1363. In this Country, plugs should have three pins. There are some exceptions, such as shavers, but they are very much exceptions
There should not be unnecessary access to hot parts of items. A fire should therefore have a guard across the heating elements. That guard should not have gaps which are large enough to allow fingers to touch the heating element
There should not be unnecessary access to moving parts. A drill could not function if the drill bit was surrounded by a guard, but something like an electric fan could if the blades were guarded. Again, any guard should not have gaps which allow fingers to touch the moving part(s)
Any flexible cable should protect you from the risk of electric shock. You should not be able to see any basic insulation - the first layer covering the metal conductor - through the cable. There should not be any joins covered by insulating tape
There should be instructions provided which tell you how to use the item safely
Any moveable parts should not cause an entrapment hazard
If the item is designed to be free standing, it should not easily tip over

Does the CE mark or a claim that the goods comply with BS 3456 mean they are safe?

If properly applied they should do, but some traders claim compliance for goods which do not comply. You are safer looking for the points outlined above. However, if there is no CE mark, you should be immediately suspicious as electrical goods are required by law to bear the mark when they are supplied as new.

Do all the rules apply to second hand goods?

Yes, except those relating to CE marking.

What other things should be done?

There are a number of additional things you can do to make life easier if something goes wrong after you have made your purchase and you find you have to make a complaint.

Always buy from a reputable trader who you will be able to find later
Try to get a receipt for your purchase and keep it safe. Although the trader is not obliged to give you a receipt and you are not required to produce it to exercise your Sale of Goods Act rights, it may ease the process to do so
If the goods cost more than £100, buying them using a credit card can give you rights against the credit card company in addition to your rights against the trader who sold you the goods
If you have to lodge a complaint, stay calm and make your points in a clear and concise way. Always note who you have spoken to
If you are not being successful with your complaint, confirm your points in writing and keep a copy of any letters. Remember to tell the other party what you expect them to do and give them a time limit, for example 14 days, to put matters right
Not all traders have a returns policy and you do not have an automatic right to a refund if you change your mind about the product. If the trader agrees to change the item if you have made the wrong purchase, get them to write it on the receipt

What if problems cannot be resolved?

If you have purchased goods that are faulty and the trader will not resolve the matter, you can contact our Fair Trading Officers who will be able to assist you. They can suggest how to word your letters and help you to complete court forms should you need to take action in the Small Claims Court. They cannot force the trader to refund your money - you would have to take Court action to do that.

If you think the item you have purchased is unsafe, and you purchased it in Salford, one of our Trading Standards/Enforcement Officers can investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute manufacturers and importers. You must report the matter as soon as you realise there is a problem as time is important in prosecution cases.

This page was last updated on 3 October 2009