Trade Me member pleads guilty to breaching safety rules

Published: 13.10.2009

A member of the 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 (ES) brought Leigh Joe to the attention of Trade Me in June 2008 and she was warned to stop selling the products. As part of ES’ ongoing audit programme this member was found again, in February 2009, listing non-approved plug adaptors. ES 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. ES 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.

In his sentencing the Judge noted an “absolute lack of care” in attending to her responsibilities and obligations under the Electricity Regulations.

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

The successful prosecution was taken by ES, which is part of the Ministry of Economic Development. ES 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.