Spotting Counterfeit Goods With PAT Labels

These days, producing counterfeit goods is getting easier and easier. In order to spot a fake, there are a number of ways you can distinguish them from authentic good, including the use of PAT labels. Research has shown than 1 in 3 of UK residents have accidently bought a counterfeit product online and 1 in 7 have suffered damage or loss through purchasing such electrical goods. When shopping online, websites selling fake products can easily seem like the real thing. Unfortunately, e-commerce platforms are not regulated and monitored to protect them against faulty goods.

Why You Should Avoid Counterfeit Goods

Whilst you may believe that fakes can offer you a cheap deal, when it comes to electrical items, it’s important to remember that they are not likely to have been put through the same rigorous safety checks. This means that such products will carry genuine safety risks, with the danger of causing severe burns, electrical shock, or even death. Always purchase products from reliable sellers, and check that the product complies with UK Safety Standards.

How to Tell the Difference

You can search for the quality marks to help you tell the difference between real and fake products. The BSI Kitemark is exclusive identification of the British Standard Institution (BSI) and is an internationally recognised quality mark. For electrical items, CE marking is required if they are sold within the EU or member states of the EEA. Spot the difference between the genuine symbol and counterfeit Chinese copies. If you spot a fake, you can report it to Trading Standards. This will ensure that action is taken against the seller as it is illegal and puts people’s lives in danger.

Use of PAT Testing Labels

When using electrical items in the workplace, you should periodically carry out tests known as PAT. Test your equipment to avoid any injuries in your office or in your facilities. Investing in your own PAT testing equipment to enables you to continually check products. You can then use our wide range of PAT labels for your testing process.

Contact Us

For more information about our range of custom PAT test labels, stickers and tags, or any other products, please complete our contact form, or email us at Sales@PATLabelsOnline.co.uk. You can also call us on 01325 525 675, and a member of our team will be happy to help with any questions you may have for us about personalised testing labels or any other products.