Travellers Warned: 14 Travel Adaptors Failed UK Safety Tests — How To Spot Dangerous Models

Holidaymakers heading abroad this summer have been urged to take care when buying travel adaptors after Electrical Safety First (ESF) tested 14 devices purchased from AliExpress, Amazon Marketplace, eBay and TikTok Shop and found every one failed to meet UK safety requirements.

What ESF found

ESF bought six basic travel adaptors and eight universal adaptors. Tests revealed widespread safety faults, including adaptors that allowed multiple sets of plug pins to extend at once, missing safety shutters, absent fuses, oversized pin holes and poor mechanical strength. In some cases pins snapped off during force tests, creating a real risk of electric shock or electrocution if removed from a live socket.

Risks Identified

The main hazards ESF highlighted were:

An adaptor ESF purchased from TikTok Shop failed its tests because multiple sets of its pins could be retracted simultaneously [Electrical Safety First]

• Exposure to live parts because of missing or ineffective safety shutters;
• Multiple plug pins extending simultaneously on universal adaptors, increasing shock risk;
• Poor mechanical strength and broken pins that could get stuck in sockets;
• Fire risks from adaptors that do not meet UK plug dimension and construction standards.

Retailers’ Response

AliExpress, Amazon, eBay and TikTok said they removed the ESF-flagged listings. Platforms emphasised that they have policies and monitoring in place to prevent unsafe items but ESF and consumer groups say enforcement is not sufficient and dangerous products keep appearing online.

Expert Appeal And Regulatory Action

Giuseppe Capanna, ESF product safety engineer, warned travellers to "think before they buy" and to purchase adaptors from trusted retailers so they can "travel with confidence." ESF has called for stronger legal responsibility for online marketplaces. The Office for Product Safety and Standards has previously ordered recalls and rejected imports of adaptors that pose similar risks.

How To Protect Yourself

Buy from reputable retailers and check for clear safety markings, correct fuse ratings and evidence of compliance with UK standards. Avoid very cheap or poorly described items. If you see signs of poor manufacturing or unsafe design, do not buy.

Quick Safety Checklist

• Ensure only one set of pins can extend at a time on universal adaptors.
• Look for safety shutters that prevent access to live parts through socket holes.
• Avoid adaptors with visible internal parts, weak construction, or missing fuses.
• Be suspicious of product listings with spelling and grammar mistakes or images showing multiple pins extended simultaneously.

"What looks like a bargain could come at a much higher cost," Capanna said, urging buyers to prioritise safety over price.

These findings underline the continued need for careful shopping and stronger marketplace accountability to protect consumers from potentially life-threatening electrical faults.