‘Energy-saving’ devices on TikTok, Amazon fail every safety test

By Georgia Cook

"Energy-saving devices" promising to cut bills from TikTok Shop, Amazon Marketplace and AliExpress have failed basic safety tests.

Consumer safety charity Electrical Safety First found that all 13 devices bought from the online marketplaces failed safety tests and couldn't deliver the savings they claimed.

They say the devices were marketed with claims they would reduce electricity consumption and save them money. But according to the charity, they would actually cost users more money to run.

Two devices effectively exploded during testing.

Despite buyer reviews warning that these products were a "complete scam", "genuine fire hazard", and "a plastic box with wires stuck in", product listings suggest tens of thousands of devices may have been sold.

Energy bills are set to hit a three-year high, with the price cap to increase by 4% on Oct. 1, as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East pushes up wholesale energy prices.

Giuseppe Capanna, product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, said: "Unscrupulous third-party sellers on online marketplaces are exploiting the financial pressures facing households, promoting bogus products that prey on people's understandable desire to save money on their energy bills.

"At a time when household budgets are already being squeezed, consumers should be able to trust that products being sold to them are safe and do what they claim.

"But our investigation exposes these so-called energy-saving devices for what they really are: worthless products that deliver no savings while potentially putting people at serious risk of electric shock or fire."

In 2022, four 'energy-saving devices' were recalled after posing the same serious risks, yet four years on, near-identical devices are still being sold.

Electrical Safety First's investigation found the plug pins on all 13 devices failed to meet the required dimensional and mechanical strength requirements, meaning they could snap under force and break inside a socket.

Internally, all devices contained little more than a small circuit board which, in most cases, simply powered an LED on the front of the device, using electricity and costing the consumer.

Some devices appeared to contain a capacitor - which stores energy - or filter, but closer inspection revealed these were fake and not connected to the circuit.

They were plastic boxes with nothing inside.

A number of devices also had no fuse or other suitable protection inside, while others had a glass fuse in the mains circuit, which does not meet safety requirements.

All devices were tested further in an external specialist laboratory, where none met the required standards and did not have the right components or protective devices needed in order for them to fail safely in the event of a fault.

According to Electrical Safety First, two of the devices put through a short circuit test effectively exploded during testing.

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One of which exploded violently, hurling fragments of hot, glowing metal into the air.

A fault could spark a fire in seconds, particularly if the product is near curtains, furniture, or other flammable materials in users' homes.

The charity says products that cannot safely handle faults have no place being on sale.

Capanna said: "Online marketplaces must take greater responsibility for the products they allow to be sold on their platforms.

"Claims of commitment to consumer safety ring hollow while hazardous products remain available at the click of a button.

"Consumers facing rising energy costs should not be exposed to unnecessary risks by sellers exploiting their financial pressures."

According to TikTok, the products flagged in this investigation have been removed from TikTok Shop and they have notified buyers with safety guidance.

TikTok has policies and processes to protect customers including a Product Safety and Recall Policy covering product safety concerns flagged by users and regulatory government bodies, and it frequently engages with organizations such as the Office of Product Safety.

A spokesperson at AliExpress said: "Product safety is our top priority at AliExpress. We have removed the five listings identified by Electrical Safety First and are contacting affected customers to initiate a recall through our established channels.

"We are also reviewing the broader category for enhanced controls.

"We welcome detailed findings like these and remain committed to ensuring a safe online shopping environment."

Amazon said they have removed the products and do not allow the sale of such items, as seen in their Seller Guidelines.

Previous investigations by the charity uncover other dangerous products being sold online such as travel adapters, showing this is not a one-off issue despite platforms claiming customer safety is "a priority."

The Government is considering new legal duties requiring online marketplaces to prevent unsafe products from being listed on their platforms, backed by strong enforcement powers and penalties for those that fail to comply.

Currently, online marketplaces are not legally recognized as part of the traditional supply chain, and have no direct responsibility for ensuring products sold on their platforms are safe.

Capanna said: "Shopping through online marketplaces in the UK is currently far too dangerous.

"The Government's response to its consultation on product safety legislation is a crucial opportunity to finally hold online marketplaces to account.

"We need bold and robust, legally enforceable measures that make platforms responsible for the safety of products sold on their sites. Without urgent action, dangerous products will continue to put consumers' lives at risk."