An online trader who repeatedly sold unsafe plug adaptors has been convicted and fined $10,500 for the sale of unsafe electrical goods.
Despite repeated warnings Digital Tronics Limited continued to sell unsafe plug adaptors and external power supplies for Bluetooth headsets, according to Energy Safety.
The company was convicted in Manukau District Court this month. This prosecution follows an earlier case of an individual Trade Me member who was fined $2800 for selling unsafe electrical products, despite warnings.
Energy Safety compliance officer Richard Lamb says: “Traders like this are extremely careless, selling dangerous plug adaptors that present very real risks of fire and electrocution. They provide little protection from live parts, which is concerning, given that plugs are used at skirting board level and easily accessible by infants and young children. By issuing such a large fine, the judge has sent a clear message to online traders to clean up their act. We do not want to be dealing with the potentially tragic consequences of unsafe electrical goods.”
We've been highlighting the dangers of unsafe electrical products bought from online auction sites and discount retail outlets for several months. Any electrical product you buy should plug directly into a wall socket and not need an adaptor.
If you've bought an appliance that needs an adaptor, don't use it – and make sure you get a full refund from the supplier as well.
More information
- Energy Safety - www.energysafety.govt.nz
More from consumer.org.nz
- Unsafe electrical products - our August 2011 news report
- Unsafe power adaptors - our March 2011 news report
- Safety unplugged - Ocober 2011 blog
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