Trade Me member pleads guilty to breaching rules

Media Release
18 September 2009

Trade Me member pleads guilty to breaching safety rules

A member of on-line auction site, Trade Me, has pleaded guilty, and has been convicted in the Palmerston North District Court, for breaching the Electricity Regulations and fined $500 and $280 costs.

Despite prior warnings and education Leigh Joe, a Trade Me member, continued to sell electrical products without first establishing the safety of those products. These electrical appliances were being sold with non-approved plug adaptors.

Energy Safety brought Leigh Joe to the attention of Trade Me in June 2008 and she was warned to stop selling the products. As part of Energy Safety’s ongoing audit programme this member was found again, in February 2009, listing non-approved plug adaptors. Energy Safety again raised this with Trade Me and the member was banned.

These products are considered high risk, presenting a hazard to anyone who uses them. Energy Safety is particularly concerned about plug adaptors that have not been adequately tested for electrical safety. Used at skirting board level, plug adaptors are accessible by infants and young children.

``This is the first prosecution Energy Safety has taken against an on-line trader and is pleased with the result. We want on-line traders to realise that the same rules apply to them as everyone else selling electrical products,” said Richard Lamb, Energy Safety Compliance Officer.

``Energy Safety regularly monitors on-line trading sites. Our aim is to encourage these types of sellers to take responsibility for the products they supply. Not establishing if something is safe before you supply it not only puts your customers at risk, but your business too.’’

This Trade Me member, despite warnings, continued to fail to take steps to ensure the safety of the electrical products they sold. In his sentencing the Judge noted an `absolute lack of care’ in attending to her responsibilities and obligations under the Electricity Regulations.

``In the last 12 months Energy Safety has warned over 50 Trade Me members, resulting in the removal of significant numbers of potentially unsafe electrical appliances from the market.

``Many on-line traders are poorly prepared to trade electrical appliances, often with limited product knowledge, little or no understanding of safety requirements and at the end of the day, little regard for public safety. Buyers should be cautious when purchasing electrical products on-line.

``This was not a small scale trader, they were supplying significant numbers of products. The conviction and fine sends a message to on-line traders that they have the same responsibilities as everyone else who supplies electrical products. As the internet grows and changes the way we do business it is important that traders realise this,’’ said Richard Lamb.

The rules are in place to protect consumers and encourage good business practices.

The successful prosecution was taken by Energy Safety, which is part of the Ministry of Economic Development. Leigh Joe had breached Electricity Regulations 107(a). Energy Safety is committed to ensuring the safe supply and use of electricity and gas. It undertakes an ongoing programme of investigations and audits of electrical and gas appliances.
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