Optician is keeping my NHS voucher is this legal?

Silversam

I recently had an eye test with D&A and I made it clear I would not wish to buy their glasses. I wish my prescription to shop elsewhere. Unfortunately I am being fobbed off with poor excuses. The prescription needs "signed" by the optician. "He is not here, and he will be back in 4 weeks" Would anyone accept that in any other industry? No. I need to see, so I want my prescription so I can go to another place. Do I have a right to choose.

So far, I have felt pressure and annoyance. I am not being listened to. I have left the shop without my prescription. What can I do? Thanks for replies in advance.

lucylucky

Silversam wrote: »

I recently had an eye test with D&A and I made it clear I would not wish to buy their glasses. I wish my prescription to shop elsewhere. Unfortunately I am being fobbed off with poor excuses. The prescription needs "signed" by the optician. "He is not here, and he will be back in 4 weeks" Would anyone accept that in any other industry? No. I need to see, so I want my prescription so I can go to another place. Do I have a right to choose.

So far, I have felt pressure and annoyance. I am not being listened to. I have left the shop without my prescription. What can I do? Thanks for replies in advance.

Yes you do, there was an article on Radio 4 yesterday about this very thing.

Where was the optician at the time of the test, could he not have signed in then?

EDIT - programme was on Monday - about 39 minutes in http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tccwp#p009fny1

Silversam

The optician has signed the prescriptions both for myself and my husband. We had to wait 10 days after the test. No apology for the delay but we were told "we like u to purchase glasses with us as u have had your eye tested with us"
My husband and I are both entitled to NHS optical vouchers. We are pensioners with an HC2 form. The eye tests are free for everyone in Scotland at the moment.

When I returned to the store and stated I browsed the D and A selection in the store. I did not like the specs on offer and wished to have my voucher there and then. So he said "the optician had not signed the voucher and would not be in the store until 18 September".
Another company line he said to my husband "We only get half the money for the sight test, so it is only fair you buy glasses from us"

On the prescription itself there is a box which is not ticked giving the type of voucher A to H.
I have seen another story on the internet with the same line as I was given- not signed.
I did not hear Radio 4 programme. Thanks

st999

we like u to purchase glasses with us as u have had your eye tested with us

I think that this is very strange that a first time poster who claims to be a pensioner would write like this. u instead of you.

I really must get out more just waiting for my sprained ankle to get better

Silversam

st999 wrote: »

I think that this is very strange that a first time poster who claims to be a pensioner would write like this. u instead of you.

I really must get out more just waiting for my sprained ankle to get better

That was an unhelpful comment, you did not answer the question. Since I do not have the glasses, I have someone else to post for me.

john-306

Silversam wrote: »

That was an unhelpful comment, you did not answer the question. Since I do not have the glasses, I have someone else to post for me.

Unhelpful yes but Sherlock would have been proud;)

GEEGEE8

My grandma uses 'u' on texts and signs it 'GR-MA' - genius! And she's in her 70's!

I don't wear glasses so I can't comment, but 4 weeks! Don't they have another optician there?

wealdroam

Forgive me asking OP, but why didn't you make your choice before having your eyes tested?

Maybe found the glasses you liked, and had your eyes tested there.

Anyway, that's history.

Eye tests are free for you, right?

Not sure how the voucher process works, but can you just ask for the voucher back, signed or unsigned, and go somewhere else?

Silversam

wealdroam -usually I go to D&A for the eye test,as I was happy with how comprehensive it is. Just a habit. But when I made the appointment it has changed hands.New people were in the store. From what I read Boots owns D&A.
Usually I take the voucher and go elsewhere because they are just too expensive. the prices I am quoted are £200-300. But the wee monkies are not giving me the voucher now.

I searched the internet and came up with some legislation:


Opticians Act 1989. "A person shall not be required as a condition of having their sight tested to undertake from a specified any optical applicance the testing of their sight may show they require to wear or use"

st999 I suspect you sprained yer funny bone not your ankle. If you are so picky about spelling and abbreviations think of the other side of the coin. @TEOTD (at the end of the day) it would be quicker writing my messages I could put my feet up and have a cuppa.

st999

st999 I suspect you sprained yer funny bone not your ankle.

No, it is my ankle, but painkillers and brandy are stopping it hurting.

I just get pernickety sometimes.

Wait until I reach the couldn't care less stage.

DCFC79

Just ask for the voucher thing then go elsewhere,