TRADING standards at Thurrock Council have issued a warning about one of this year’s “must-haves” for Christmas.
The warning follows the team preventing 50 balance scooters or “hover boards” entering the country at an HMRC-controlled warehouse in Thurrock.
The council’s team issued a Suspension Notice stopping their movement until test results are received.
Cllr Jane Pothecary, the council’s portfolio holder for public protection, said: “There have been many incidents across the country, including London and Kent, where these boards have ‘exploded’ or caught fire.
“Over 14,000 unsafe hover boards have been stopped from entering the UK and I understand that 30 different products have been tested. All have been found to be unsafe.”
She added: “This doesn’t mean products stocked in major retailers are unsafe – we are worried about poor quality and often cheap products from China.”
The 50 items stopped by Thurrock’s trading standards are believed to be non-compliant with product safety legislation. They are not labelled with the manufacturer’s and importer’s details, they have poor instructions for use, and the importer has no technical documentation.
Anybody considering buying a balance scooter should take note of the following points to look out for:
The plug must be a three-pin UK plug. It is not acceptable for the product to be supplied with a two-pin plug and adaptor for use in UK sockets. If there is an adaptor, it must be fixed in such a way that it can be removed only by using a screwdriver.
The product should have information about the importer and/or manufacturer. This must include an address, but may also include a website and full contact details in case of problems – a mobile telephone number alone is not good enough.
Instructions should be in good English with advice about safe use and intended users – by age or weight for example.
Do not charge your product either overnight or if you are going out.
Always buy from reputable sources and stores.
Always ensure any replacement batteries or chargers are fully compatible with the item in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Cllr Pothecary added: “When shopping for electrical goods everybody loves a bargain, but the product could be of poor quality, a cheap copy, or made to look like a well-known brand.
“Please be aware that cheap electrical goods are likely to contain unsafe, incorrect or faulty parts that can overheat or break just days after purchase, increasing the risk of fire or electric shock.”
If anybody has bought one of these items and is concerned the product may be unsafe, they should stop using it and report the matter to trading standards by calling 03454 04 05 06.
Residents are also asked to report any individuals selling hover boards.
