Re: Electrical socket plates
Jazzi, can you change a plug?
If so, you can change a socket.
It is really no more difficult. All you need to remember is to turn off the power at the circuit breaker or remove the fuse and check with a lamp that there is no power at the socket (check that it did work before turning off the power!), as Primus1 explained.
Then, when you remove the socket from the wall just make sure you make a note of which wire(s) goes into which marked connector at the back of the socket. These will invariably be marked L, N, and E (or a symbol with three horizontal lines). Then connect the same wire to each of the equivalent connectors on the back of the new socket. Make sure the wires are connected nice and tightly so you can't pull them out.
Whist you're at it, just make sure that the green/yellow wire (or one of them if there are two) is also connected to a connector attached to the metal box in the wall behind the socket. This is important, as if there should be a problem, the small metal screws that attach the socket to the box (and wall) could become live and if you touched them you'd know about it! If you're not sure, get an electrician to have a look.
I've done this a number of times and I'm not an electrician.