Sony fans who received free PS Vita threatened with legal action

Gamers received the handheld console instead of a game, but retailer Zavvi has threatened them with 'legal remedies'

A copy of the Tearaway title is played on the PS Vita (PlayStation Europe/Sony)

Customers of retailer Zavvi who were mistakenly sent a handheld games console instead of a standalone game have been threatened with legal action if they do not return it.

A number of shoppers ordered the PlayStation Vita game Tearaway from Zavvi's online store but they were sent a PS Vita bundle which contained the actual console as well as the purchased title.

Zavvi emailed customers to ask them to send the bundle back and said it was due to an error in its warehouse.

But many of the customers refused to return the console, leading Zavvi to send a final notice and handing them a deadline of 5pm yesterday.

The letter stated: "This is our final notice to politely remind you that you did not order, or pay for, a PS Vita and if you fail to contact us by 5pm (UK time) on 10th December 2013 to arrange a convenient time for the PS Vita to be collected we reserve the right to enforce any and/or all legal remedies available to us.”

The game retails at £19.99 but the bundle costs £169.99, according to the letter sent to customers. Zavvi has asked that the PS Vita be repacked in its original box, ready to be handed back to the courier.

Citizens Advice says consumers have a right to keep goods delivered that they did not ask for. But, if those items were sent by mistake – as appears to be the case with Zavvi – customers need to contact the company, let it know and ask for it to collect the goods.

“You might get goods sent by mistake if they are meant for someone else or you’ve been sent duplicate or extra items on top of what you ordered,” Citizens Advice says.

Zavvi has not responded to a request for clarification over the issue.