Free eye test at D&A with this month's M&S magazine

If the optician (or more likely their target-driven sales staff) try to pressure you into buying your glasses from them, or refuse to give you a copy of your prescription so you can shop elsewhere, please feel free to quote the Optician's Act (1989) at them.

In Part IV of the act, Section 26, subsection (2) states that "it shall also be [the optician's] duty to give the person whose sight he has tested, immediately following the test, either a signed, written prescription for an optical appliance or a signed, written statement that he does not need to wear or use an optical appliance." If you think you might have a problem, you can take the relevant part with you when you go for your appointment (http://www.optical.org/en/about_us/legislation/opticians_act.cfm). There's nothing like quoting the full chapter and verse of the law to un-nerve a pushy sales person!

If they kick up a fuss, you can report them to the General Optical Council. The relevant complaint forms can be downloaded at http://www.optical.org/en/our_work/Investigating_complaints/How_to_make_a_complaint/index.cfm, although just mentioning that you might do this would usually be enough to get the job done.

I went to the D&A in Shirley, Southampton. I had a good service and the prescription was good ie close to my original. However I wanted to buy glasses on the internet but they refused to do a PD test so I paid £5 for it some where else.

Hi everyone, I am a bit concerned now that I read about the D&A experiences, I do have the voucher and as I need an eye test - check up after two years I wanted to go to D&A but now - well I am not sure... I normally go to Boots where I pay £30 for a standard eye test and they also do a hard sell on their frames and so on. What shall I do?

jasmine_from_the_north wrote: »

Hi everyone, I am a bit concerned now that I read about the D&A experiences, I do have the voucher and as I need an eye test - check up after two years I wanted to go to D&A but now - well I am not sure... I normally go to Boots where I pay £30 for a standard eye test and they also do a hard sell on their frames and so on. What shall I do?

I've had free eye tests at lots of different opticians (Boots & D & H included)and most of them have tried the hard sell but.... you don't have to buy! My usual trick is to go to a branch near work in the lunch hour and when they start their spiel I say I'm sorry but I must get back to work. The first time I went D&H took me through the routine of this frame/colour blah di blah suits you and of course you'll need anti glare/scratch lenses etc. etc and that will be £280 of your English Pounds for a pair of bog standard 1.25 reading glasses.:eek: Yeah, and I've got money to throw away. I said I would come back after I'd made my mind up on the 2 styles offered but promptly found an almost identical pair in M&S for £10.I've never had any problems getting my prescription but if I do in future I'm taking this poster's advice http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=14431997&postcount=5

I refuse to pay for something that should be free in any case. I can't believe how easily a succession of governments have conned people into paying for something that was provided as a right on the NHS. Even more annoying is the fact that people now think spectacles are a fashion item :question: and pay ridiculous prices for a piece of moulded plastic. The latest trend in Joe 90 glasses even he wouldn't be seen dead wearing beggars belief( £300 for something that looks like it has come out of a Lucky Bag [ Those of a certain age will know what I mean] ) This is particularly irritating for those people on a low income who, through no fault of their own, have been born with poor eyesight and often have to pay ridiculous prices for a bog standard pair of spectacles.

As adamdavid says it is a valuable health check and by definition should be provided free on the NHS. Talk about taking your eyes out - the b*ggers come back for your sockets in this Country if you let them:mad: