Amazon is still selling fake ‘energy-saving’ plugs that pose a serious fire risk, a year after promising to remove them

Amazon continues to sell fake 'energy-saving' plugs that present a significant fire hazard, despite having previously promised to remove them, according to Which? The retailer acknowledged these products had been taken down in August, but they are still visible for purchase on the platform. Amazon's UK Director of Public Policy stated that a technical issue within the automated classification system was impeding the detection of these products, which is not the first time Amazon has made such promises.

Liberal Democrat MP Joshua Reynolds cautioned about the risks associated with these plugs during a parliamentary hearing in June, urging the company to take responsibility. In an August letter to the House of Commons Business and Trade Select Committee, Monica Ariño claimed that Amazon had removed the devices from sale, attributing the problem to the company's automated classification system.

These plugs, which Amazon markets as 'voltage stabilizers' and 'surge protectors,' are said to reduce energy bills by optimizing appliance performance. However, tests conducted by Which? revealed that more than half of the plugs had improperly fitted socket pins, and many failed to meet basic safety standards. Amazon has not yet addressed the current status of these listings or commented on the latest allegations.