We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that dates on the Forum are not currently showing correctly. Please bear with us while we get this fixed, and see Site feedback for updates.
D + A opticians and their vouchers...BLACKMAIL!

bylromarha
Posts: 10,085 Forumite

OH got an eye test 2 days ago at D+A.
At payment time, OH presented his tax credits cert, which meant he could have a free eye test, and voucher for a free eye test.
Staff member chose to take the voucher. Off goes OH.
OH returns to D+A to look for glasses 2 days later. None he likes. Goes to Specsavers, finds a pair. Specsavers can't process his NHS voucher as he had a "private" test.
Goes back to D+A and told that they can't do anything as it was a private test-their choice of how to process, not his, and this being the first time he's used his cert for glasses, doesn't know the ins and outs of the government requirements like the staff do.
However, "if you buy your glasses from D+A, we could probably work it out..." :mad:
Understandably. he's refusng to pay an extra £100 to buy glasses he doesn't like at D+A, so is having to get retested at Specsavers with his NHS cert.
And I thought D+A were reputable...
Bedworth branch to name and shame
At payment time, OH presented his tax credits cert, which meant he could have a free eye test, and voucher for a free eye test.
Staff member chose to take the voucher. Off goes OH.
OH returns to D+A to look for glasses 2 days later. None he likes. Goes to Specsavers, finds a pair. Specsavers can't process his NHS voucher as he had a "private" test.
Goes back to D+A and told that they can't do anything as it was a private test-their choice of how to process, not his, and this being the first time he's used his cert for glasses, doesn't know the ins and outs of the government requirements like the staff do.
However, "if you buy your glasses from D+A, we could probably work it out..." :mad:
Understandably. he's refusng to pay an extra £100 to buy glasses he doesn't like at D+A, so is having to get retested at Specsavers with his NHS cert.
And I thought D+A were reputable...
Bedworth branch to name and shame

Who made hogs and dogs and frogs?
0
Comments
-
D&A should just give him his prescriptionIt's taken me years of experience to get this cynical0
-
They have, but that doesn't mean he's had an NHS eye test.Who made hogs and dogs and frogs?
0 -
So why can't Specsavers sort out his specs from that prescription?It's taken me years of experience to get this cynical0
-
they can, but he then has to pay full price.
No NHS glasses discount as no NHS eye test.Who made hogs and dogs and frogs?
0 -
bylromarha wrote: »At payment time, OH presented his tax credits cert, which meant he could have a free eye test, and voucher for a free eye test.
Staff member chose to take the voucher. Off goes OH.
I think I understand now. If he had just taken his tax credit cert then this would not have happenedIt's taken me years of experience to get this cynical0 -
Why did he take the voucher and the Tax Credits certificate? It was not like he needed both.
Can I suggest that he goes to another chain of opticians, get his eyes retested using his certificate and then get the glasses he needs and the free test with his certificate.
The glasses I got when we was on the free cert were rubbish in all fairness but I got them as a 'back up' pair and bought my glasses for everyday wear But I thought 'free is free', I might as well. You do know you can also get new lenses for other glasses you might have and this is the cheaper option, mine are usually trashed where the kids have hit me so many times so I only get new ones when I've got broken glasses these days. The voucher is worth £40 so I would have had to put money to them for something decent anyway. Have you used it before? I wondered if you knew this, you cannot just choose anything, you are limited to what specs you can choose, there is a cash value and you have to top up if you want something better.
I'd see what D&A are suggesting. How much were the specs he was choosing anyway? To be honest it sounds like an error, he should have enquired but if your husband is like mine he would not bothered on asking I would have to check myself and send him with one or the other. It sounds like D&A are trying to be reasonable about it, nothing to do with blackmail but if your hubby gave the wrong voucher and did not mention the tax credits cert then how can D&A be to blame.
My husband has just used his voucher for Nectar points (I am guessing your hubby used this where you get a free test and 500 free points) and they did his test and gave him his points, he did not need glasses but has something on his eye and so the optician wrote a letter for him to get referred to a specialist. No trouble at all. I'd say it was more your hubbys fault for not asking to be honest, he should have checked before handing the voucher over but he knows for next time, go and get another test at Specsavers, it'll not make any difference, just take some more time out of his day.0 -
Confused by your post Blue Monkey...
1st post clearly says he handed both the voucher and the NHS cert over at the time of payment. The staff member chose which one to use as payment, not him. No Nectar points swung it as we don't have a Nectar card.
If you don't know the questions to ask, and reasonably expect that the person in front of you is paid to know these details, confused why OH is at fault for not asking that which he didn't know to ask?
1st post also says he's getting retested at Specsavers as it's the only resolution to the problem D+A caused...which D+A would have resolved by resubmitting paperwork, had he chosen to purchase with them.Who made hogs and dogs and frogs?
0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 348.4K Banking & Borrowing
- 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 452.4K Spending & Discounts
- 241K Work, Benefits & Business
- 617.3K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 175.7K Life & Family
- 254.1K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards