NHS 10% discount not offered

jk85

Hi there,

I got eye laser surgery last year which cost £2500 and I am paying it via monthy direct debits. I have since recommended 2 colleagues who reported that they were offered a 10% discount because they worked in the NHS. I was not offered this and have since been in contact with the company who reported that I could only reclaim within 3 months of the surgery.

They also reported that 'it is the responsibility of the employee to advise us at the time of any transaction that they may qualify for a discount, we can then verify this and request the appropriate proof of employment for our administration department at head office'.

My colleagues did not have to ask for this discount, it was offered on their initial consultation. The person who offered the discount was also the same person who carried out my consultation.

The company have since offered me a goodwill refund of £100 but it should be £250.

Can anyone offer any legal advise on what I should now do?

Thanks,

Jk

chickywiggle

sorry am i missing something?? do nhs workers have it stamped on their forehead??? how exactly was the place supposed to know without you telling them??

Hintza

I think all negotiations should be completed before you have the operation. You will probably find no two people get charged the same anyway (bit like airline fares).

Having said all that it sounds a bit mean so I would write saying you have rcommended at least two folk and to thank them once again and can they not see anyway to giving you the 10% so you can carry on recommending them...etc etc (you get my drift)

Edit:- Legally it is just tough luck.

KeithP

They do not have to offer any discount.

Just take the £100 offered and say thank you.

Anihilator

Your not entitled to anything at all.
Take the £100 asap and hope your !!!!!ing doesnt result in you getting nothing.

Dave101t

you are entitled to everything you want, and if its on a SEL, you get double the discount.
someone on here will laugh with me im sure.....anyone?

tillergirl

which company was it you purchased your laser eye surgery from, I am thinking of having it done

pmduk

Perhaps it's a policy or promotion that only came into effect after your op?

Surely the time to haggle/negotiate is before the procedure not after. By agreeing a DD you've indicated you're happy with the agreement incl price.

jk85

Thanks for all your advice, some people may not understand what I am saying but my colleagues were offered 10% off (£250-300) without having to ask for it and this was not for a limited time only. What I have learned is that if I don't ask, I won't get!

RadoJo

Perhaps it was more obvious from some part of the registration process that your colleagues worked for the NHS (did they give NHS e-mail addresses perhaps)?

Did you ask whether they offered a discount for NHS employees and they said they didn't? Or is it possible that it just didn't come up?
Either way, they have the right to offer discounts to whoever they want on whatever basis they want and can decide whether to apply them retrospectively or not at their discretion - I think trying to force them to offer you more than the goodwill gesture of £100 is on a hiding to nothing. Think of it this way - if your colleagues hadn't mentioned their discounts to you, would you have been happy with the price you paid?

Freddie_Snowbits

perhaps you should have taken your glasses and read the small print before the op!