Home Shopping Selections - Advice Please.

[SOD'EM]

My father is a pensioner and he recieved a small catalogue in one of the National Newspapers. He seen a clock that he liked and decided to order it.

 

http://www.hss.uk.net/2495/product_detail.html

 

However, they have sent him a plain square clock that at the most I value at £3-£4. In the smallprint at the back of the catalogue, it does state @If in the unlikely event your item is discontinued or unavailable, we reserve the right to send you out a similar item og the same or higher value.

 

The clock they have sent him doesn't do anything except tell the time. Also, although he can send the item back, he is expected to cover the cost of return postage. I know this is only a trivial matter, but if they send out a couple of hundred crappy clocks, then about 80% of people will just keep them as they cannot be bothered sending them back. This means that the company has made quite a lot of money, and I think it is made ilegally (immorally at the very least). My father has been to the Citizens Advice, but they were not much help really.

 

I think if there were wnough complaints made about a company, then things may get done to stop them [causing problems] people. I have noticed (bu Googling the company) that there are a few complaints about them, but when approached by the ASA, they have refused to respond.

 

What would you suggest my dad does that will not cost him the earth to do?

 

This is more a principal matter than a monetary one.

[zydeco]

From reading their t&c's

 

http://www.hss.uk.net/conditions_of_use.html

 

It seems you have 7 days, from receipt of goods, to return them to get a refund including p&p.

They mention the distance selling regs regarding the 7 days so that might be the way to go.