PEOPLE who have unwrapped a brand new phone under the Christmas tree have been warned of a common mistake that can be extremely dangerous.
Whether you’re using an old charging cable or buying some new ones online, the wrong choice could lead to an explosion or electrocution.
Some 1.8million phone chargers are bought online in the UK each year, according to the Electrical Safety First charity.
And while it may be tempting to buy a cheap one you should think twice as counterfeit chargers can be deadly.
The charity has tested a number of fake chargers and discovered that almost all of them (98 per cent) had the potential to cause a lethal electric shock or start a fire.
Not only is it potentially deadly, but it can kill your Android device or iPhone too.
They also tend to be weaker, meaning it’ll take longer to recharge your phone.
Electrical Safety First claims that unsafe devices are often made in China for as little as 3p.
These usually have poor quality components and can be missing essential parts like a fuse.
A genuine iPhone charger has more than 60 components in it but fakes can be found with less than half of that.
“Fake chargers can cause devices to overheat and even explode, totalling your phone – and possibly causing you serious injury in the process,” the charity warns.
“The poor quality components that are often used in fake chargers can lead to electrocution, frying you phone’s inner workings and leaving you pretty frazzled too.”
They suggest checking whether you can plug it into the wall properly first and foremost – if it won’t fit in adequately it could be that the pins are the wrong size and therefore dangerous.
You should also look for important details like a brand name or logo, a model and batch number, and the CE or UKCA mark which all trusted electronic accessories have.
However, don’t rely on a CE or UKCA mark alone as a guarantee of safety as it can be easily forged.
People should check that the voltage and current rating match that of your phone too.
“A third of people who bought an electrical fake, purchased the product from an online marketplace,” Electrical Safety First says.
“Electrical Safety First recommends buying from a retailer that you trust, either direct from the manufacturer’s website or a trusted High Street name – the products they sell will meet the correct safety standards but if something does go wrong, you can return the product for repair or a refund.”
The Sun’s Reader’s Champion Mel Hunter explains where you stand.
If a purchase goes wrong, you are entitled to your money back.
The Consumer Rights Act states that goods you pay for should be of satisfactory quality, as described, fit for purpose and last a reasonable length of time.
If they fail any of those tests, it’s tempting to head straight to the manufacturer. But responsibility lies with the shop you bought them from. Don’t be fobbed off.
You may find retail staff either don’t know the rules or don’t apply them, so go in armed with your rights.
You only have 30 days to reject something faulty and get your money back.
After that, the retailer has the option of repairing the item.
There is no automatic right to return something to a shop if you have simply changed your mind.
In practice, though, many stores do have a returns policy, where you can take back your buy within a specific timeframe.
Whether they offer a refund, exchange or voucher is entirely up to the retailer. It’s different if you bought it online.
Then, you automatically have 14 days from when the goods were delivered to return the product for a full refund.
If you opt for click-and-collect, you have the same rights as anyone buying on the internet.
What about if your parcel failed to arrive?
When the problem first arises, it might save you time to contact the delivery firm to see if they can find out where your missing item might be.
But it’s always the retailer’s responsibility to get your goods to you, so insist they sort it out.
