Update Post 6. Optician closing down - contact lens contract

January20

I have a contract with an optician for contact lenses. I pay by monthly direct debit.

On Friday, I received a letter stating that the company was closing down with immediate effect and that my details/ contract was being transferred to another optician.

It's impossible to walk to this new company. It would be a case of using the car (parking also very poor) or using public transport. Also, I want to choose who treats me and there are a couple of other places I could choose from a few hundred yards from the place I used. So I have decided I don't want to go to the new company

So, I have written to the new company to inform them of my decision but my problem is that I have a direct debit coming out on 1/1/2012 for the old company and was wondering what to do about it? Should I cancel it? Should I leave it?

texranger

January20 wrote: »

I have a contract with an optician for contact lenses. I pay by monthly direct debit.

On Friday, I received a letter stating that the company was closing down with immediate effect and that my details/ contract was being transferred to another optician.

It's impossible to walk to this new company. It would be a case of using the car (parking also very poor) or using public transport. Also, I want to choose who treats me and there are a couple of other places I could choose from a few hundred yards from the place I used. So I have decided I don't want to go to the new company

So, I have written to the new company to inform them of my decision but my problem is that I have a direct debit coming out on 1/1/2012 for the old company and was wondering what to do about it? Should I cancel it? Should I leave it?

If you have a phone number for the new company give them a call and explain to them, but i would assume that a DD cannot be transferred without your permission

Hintza

I can cancel DDs online try that. If not call/go into your bank and cancel the DD.

Eit:- They might post the lenses out to you, would that be an option?

January20

Thanks to both of you.

Texranger, I thought that it would be the case, that a DD couldn't be changed without my permission. However, my Egg DD changed to a Barclaycard DD when they swapped over in November.

Hintza, I can cancel my DD online. I'm just wondering if should do it, in the sense that if the company has ceased trading, I don't owe them any money then? (if that makes any sense!) Actually, I probably have paid in advance anyway.

texranger

January20 wrote: »

However, my Egg DD changed to a Barclaycard DD when they swapped over in November.

thats a different situation as Barclaycard took over Egg, so it become the one company, they just changed the DD name, everything else would of remained the same.

but a phone call to the new company will help and also tell you if you need to keep the DD

January20

I thought I would update since you took the time to give me your advice. I have now spoken to the new company and their advice (supported by email confirmation) was to cancel the direct debit.

Thanks again.