Amazon UK still lists plug‑in devices sold as energy savers even after telling MPs the listings had been removed. Independent testing by Which? and reporting by TechRadar found no evidence the plugs reduce electricity use and identified safety faults, including undersized pins and poor soldering. Priced around £10–£15, the products are marketed as "voltage stabilizers," but regulators say selling non‑compliant items could be illegal. Lawmakers and consumer groups are pressing for faster removals and stronger marketplace oversight.
Amazon Still Listing Fake ‘Energy‑Saving’ Plugs After Telling MPs They Were Removed
Photo Credit: Amazon
Amazon UK continues to host listings for plug‑in devices marketed as energy savers, despite telling Parliament in August that the products had been taken down. The persistence of these listings raises fresh concerns about consumer safety and misleading environmental claims at a time when households are looking for affordable ways to cut energy bills.
What Independent Testing Found
Consumer group Which? tested several models sold through marketplaces including eBay, AliExpress, Shein and TikTok Shop and found no evidence the devices reduce electricity use. Which? also warned many of the products failed to meet basic U.K. safety standards and said selling non‑compliant items could be illegal.
Safety And Construction Flaws
Reporting by TechRadar flagged a range of mechanical and electrical faults: more than half the pins on devices it checked were undersized, bent or so brittle they could snap off. Other failures included poor soldering and the use of non‑standard capacitors, meaning multiple items did not pass basic safety checks.
Amazon’s Response And Ongoing Concerns
At an August hearing Monica Ariño, Amazon's U.K. Director of Public Policy, told the Business and Trade Select Committee that the listings had been removed and attributed the issue to "a technical issue in [our] automated classification system that was preventing some of these products from being proactively detected." Nevertheless, TechRadar found similar plug‑in devices still listed on the site.
“Amazon has got some proper questions they have to answer,” said Liberal Democrat MP Joshua Reynolds, who previously questioned the products’ safety and marketplace accountability.
Why This Matters
Sellers promote the devices as "voltage stabilizers" or "surge protectors" that will improve appliance performance and cut power costs. Priced at roughly £10–£15 (about $13–$20), they can look like an attractive, low‑cost solution for consumers under budget pressure. Bogus energy‑saving claims not only put users at risk but also make it harder to identify legitimate energy‑saving upgrades that actually lower bills and emissions.
Calls For Stronger Oversight
Lawmakers, regulators and consumer groups are calling for faster removals, clearer communication from marketplaces, and more robust review processes for suspicious listings. Continued independent testing and public flagging of unsafe or deceptive products appears to be driving scrutiny—and remains vital to keeping dangerous items off the market.
Context: The story also ties into wider debates about marketplace transparency and Amazon’s environmental claims, which have drawn criticism over data use and unclear checkout practices.
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