The Electrical Safety Council (ESC) is warning people in Glasgow about the dangers of buying counterfeit electrical goods, following reports from Glasgow City Council that hundreds of counterfeit GHD hair straighteners are on sale in the city.
Counterfeit goods are often substandard and of poor quality - they can cause much more damage than just a mild electric shock. Fake or substandard electrical products, such as hair straighteners, can put you, your family and your home at serious risk of fires, electric shock and even death by electrocution. “With 44% of all accidental fires in UK homes arising from faults or misuse of electrical goods1, we are very concerned for the safety of anyone in Glasgow who has bought and is using any sort of counterfeit electrical goods�, says Steve Curtler, Product Safety Manager at the ESC.
“You may think you’ve picked up a bargain, but if it’s counterfeit it’s most likely that the product is a cheap copy, of poor quality, which has the potential to harm you and your loved ones. If you think the product you’ve bough is dangerous to use, or a fake copy, stop using it immediately and contact your local trading standards office or Consumer Direct.�
The ESC advises you to make sure that you have bought the genuine article by checking:

• if the packaging looks genuine. Does it contain instructions and a guarantee?
• if there is any damage and listen for any loose fittings.
• that the item has a UK plug. Make sure it is in good condition with the right size pins and properly attached to the cord.
• if the product isn’t working properly or doesn’t work all of the time.
• if the outer casing is too hot to touch or you can see smoke or smell burning.

Further information or advice can be found at /www.esc.org.uk/>www.esc.org.uk or call the ESC helpline on 0870 040 0561. To report counterfeit goods contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or your local Glasgow Trading Standards. And if you are thinking of buying electrical goods online, have a look at our Safe Shoppers Guide, which explains how to avoid fakes on the web. 1Communities and Local Government, Fires Statistics Branch, Fire Statistics 2007

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