Citizens Advice Telford & the Wrekin
Buying second-hand can be a great way to save money, reduce waste and give everyday items a new lease of life. But whether you're buying online, from a charity shop, at a car boot sale or from someone locally, it’s important to think about safety too.
Our Electrical Safety & Second-Hand Goods project is helping people across Telford and Wrekin understand what to look out for when buying and using pre-owned products, particularly electrical items, small household appliances, toys, children’s products and furniture.
A few simple checks can help you spot potential problems before they put you or your household at risk.
Before you buy: Take a little time to find out exactly what you're buying and who you're buying it from.
Think about whether you're buying from a business or a private seller, as your consumer rights can be different. Where possible:
These are also some of the key checks included in our local second-hand goods safety work.
When you buy or receive a second-hand item, take a minute to look it over before using it. Check for:
Look for:
For electrical goods, make sure plugs, cables and the product itself look undamaged before use.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Has the product been repaired? Has anything been replaced or modified? Are there any faults you should know about?
If you're buying something online, ask the seller for more photographs or information if you can't properly assess its condition.
If something doesn't look right, don't use it. Don't plug in an electrical item you're concerned about, and don't give a potentially unsafe product to a child. A low price should never override safety. Take extra care with electrical items
Second-hand electrical products may have been used for years before you bought or received them, and their history isn't always obvious. Before using one, check carefully for:
If you're unsure about the safety of an electrical product, stop using it and seek competent advice before using it again.
The Shop smart and stay safe guidance also recommends checking toys for faults, detachable small parts, batteries and magnets before giving them to a child.
Toys and children's products second-hand toys can be a bargain, but check them carefully before giving them to a child. Look out for:
Your rights depend partly on who you bought the item from. Buying from a business you have legal rights if an item you've bought is:
Buying from a private seller your protection is more limited.
An item bought from a private seller must match the description they gave you. However, you won't necessarily be entitled to a refund simply because it develops a fault or because a fault wasn't mentioned in the advert.
That's why it's particularly important to inspect second-hand products and ask questions before buying from a private seller.
Check whether a product has been recalled, a product can look perfectly fine but still have a safety issue. That's why it's worth checking whether a second-hand product has been subject to a product safety recall before you use it.
Where possible, make a note of the manufacturer, product name and model number. You'll usually find these on a label on the product.
Registering a product with its manufacturer can also mean you're contacted if a safety issue or recall is identified later. Second-hand products can be registered too.
The Citizens Advice consumer service provides free, impartial advice about consumer problems, including faulty goods and concerns about businesses. It can also pass information about businesses to Trading Standards where appropriate.
Citizens Advice consumer service
0808 223 1133
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, excluding bank holidays.
You can also find product safety guidance from the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), the UK's national product regulator.
