Product safety reportOPSS
Portable Fan Heater safety warning over an electric shock risk
Product Safety Report for portable fan heater sold via GroupOn presenting a serious risk of electric shock.
Product image from the OPSS safety notice
Check your product
Only products that match these details are covered. Have your pack in front of you.
1 identifier listed for this notice.
Portable Fan Heater
- BarcodeThe long number printed under the barcode.
- 6920708136549
What to do now
An electrical fault in the design or build of Portable Fan Heater means it could shock the person using it.
- Unplug it now and put it away where nobody will plug it back in.
- Do not open it up or try to repair it yourself.
- The marketplace has removed the listing. Contact the seller through your order history to ask for a refund.
- Report it to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer service if the seller does not respond.
Why it matters. Mains electricity in the UK is 230 volts, enough to cause serious injury or death. Cheap chargers, adaptors and appliances sold online are among the products most often found with this fault.
If someone has been hurt
Look out for
- burns where the current entered or left the body
- tingling, numbness or muscle pain
Get help urgently
- anyone who has had a mains shock and is confused, has chest pain, an irregular heartbeat or burns — call 999. Do not touch them until the power is off
This is general information based on NHS public guidance, not medical advice. In an emergency call 999. For urgent advice use NHS 111 (NHS 24 on 111 in Scotland) or, in Northern Ireland, your GP or out-of-hours service.
Getting your money back
Sellers on online marketplaces do not always run recalls themselves, so you may need to ask for your money back. The platform’s help pages explain its buyer protection scheme.
Citizens Advice (0808 223 1133), Advice Direct Scotland (0808 164 6000) and Consumerline (0300 123 6262) give free advice if you get stuck.
From the official notice
Published by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (2301-0197). Quoted as issued.
Summary
Product Safety Report for portable fan heater sold via GroupOn presenting a serious risk of electric shock.
The risk
The product presents a serious risk of electric shock as the plug is not securely attached to the body of the heater and can be freely moved by hand, potentially giving the consumer access to live parts. The product does not comply with BS 1363 as the length and disposition of the neutral and live pins were not within the required limits. The product was also missing required documentation and markings and the instructions were poorly translated and typed in English.
The product does not meet the requirements of Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016.
Action taken
We recommend owners stop using the product immediately. Contact the distributor you purchased from to request redress. The listing has been removed by the online marketplace (Groupon).
Advice to consumers
We recommend owners to stop using the product immediately. Contact the distributor you purchased from to request redress.
The listing has been removed by the online marketplace (GroupOn).
Additional information
PSD case number: 2301-0197
Notified by: Local Authority Trading Standards
Product description
Programmable Space Heater with LED display with direct plug-in to electrical socket, small remote control and instructions manual.
Open the OPSS notice
Questions
Why has Portable Fan Heater been reported?
An electrical fault in the design or build of Portable Fan Heater means it could shock the person using it. Mains electricity in the UK is 230 volts, enough to cause serious injury or death. Cheap chargers, adaptors and appliances sold online are among the products most often found with this fault.
How do I know if my product is affected?
Compare the barcode on your product with the details listed under “Check your product” on this page. Only items that match are covered by the notice.
What should I do now?
Unplug it now and put it away where nobody will plug it back in. Do not open it up or try to repair it yourself.
Can I get a refund or a repair?
Sellers on online marketplaces do not always run recalls themselves, so you may need to ask for your money back. The platform’s help pages explain its buyer protection scheme. Citizens Advice (0808 223 1133), Advice Direct Scotland (0808 164 6000) and Consumerline (0300 123 6262) give free advice if you get stuck.
