ULTRALASE virtually dead/liquidated

andwan0

(excuse me as I didn't know which board/category this best fits)

I was sold the most expensive Ultralase package back in 2011 for my astigmatism eyes. I took the Hitachi Capital Finance Plan to pay for my treatment.

1 year later after several routine checks I was told I was going to have my "FREE" retreatment due to eyes not near 20/20 (Lifetime Aftercare Guarantee). Then all of a sudden ALL the surgeons LEFT, Ultralase clinics being shutdown and Ultralase being bought over by Optimax. Optimax surgeons will not treat patients who were under the Ultralase Lifetime Guarantee. It means I have to wait until some surgeon is hired by Ultralase's sub-division.... or something..

Is anyone else in the same boat? I am quite disappointed that I paid so much money (well taken out a large finance plan) and within a year my Ultralase company goes virtually bankrupt & dead... with no hopes in Aftercare Guarantee. Do I still have to pay the finance plan?

DCFC79

Id say yes you do still have to keep up with the payments since you received the goods.

You sure they are liquidated as you say ?

You sure it hasn't been taken over and soem of the clinics have been closed.

Just using a bit of googling OP I found out Ultralase are still going as they were bought out by Optimax.

Tixy

"It means I have to wait until some surgeon is hired by Ultralase's sub-division.... or something.."
Do you have something to this effect in writing? have they given you a timescale in relation to when you are likely to be treated? Have you made a formal complaint in writing?

You may have a case for a section 75 claim.

Presumably the Hitachi Finance Plan specifically details that the money was paid to ultralase for corrective eye surgery? If so then it should qualify for section 75 as a Debtor-Creditor-Supplier Agreement.

However I would think the wording of the original contracts will be important.
If it is interpreted that the original amount paid was only for the first treatment, which was provided then you wouldn't have a claim for not being given a secondary 'free' treatment.
If however the original amount paid included a second treatment if required then it could be covered, although again it might be relevant if it details exactly when a second treatment should be provided by.

I would keep paying the finance plan for now, and research in to whether you may have a section 75 claim against Hitachi.

Clive_Woody

I am in the same situation with the Guildford branch of Ultralase. I had treatment last year but unfortunately they didn't succeed in correcting my vision and my right eye needs re-treatment. I was told to wait 6 month to ensure that my prescription was stable then they would re-do my right eye.

I went back in December for my 6 month follow up appt only to be told that they no longer employed any surgeons following the take over by Optimax and they had no idea when they would be able to do my treatment althought they did say that Optimax would honour the lifetime guarentee.

I have heard nothing since then.

The reason I went with Ultralase was because I heard how their customer service was so much better than Optimax. It looks like they have very quickly adjusted to the Optimax customer service ethos and are now ignoring their patients.

Anybody considering treatment with Ultralase (or Optimax as they now are) be warned once they have your money it seems to me that things change dramatically. Also since my treatment I have spoken with a few friends who had laser eye surgery and their 'success' rate figures seem artificially high for getting it right first time, many many people have had to go back for at least 1 re-treatment.

Apples2

I've been considering Laser Eye Treatment for years but I have never gone forward because I absolutely detest the entire way it is marketed..... from £300 per eye my A$$.

It is no different from Double Glazing salesman waffle or NASA approved house paint coatings.... you end up buying finance, not a product.

I think I will be sticking with pieces of tangled metal wrapped around my face.

Clive_Woody

Apples2 wrote: »

I've been considering Laser Eye Treatment for years but I have never gone forward because I absolutely detest the entire way it is marketed..... from £300 per eye my A$$.

It is no different from Double Glazing salesman waffle or NASA approved house paint coatings.... you end up buying finance, not a product.

I think I will be sticking with pieces of tangled metal wrapped around my face.

They are very open to haggling at these places. They quoted list prices at me I laughed and walked away. Within a couple of days they had knocked off well over £2k and offered interest free credit. In the end they came down even further, I wasn't interested in the credit as I was paying cash but yep very much like buying double glazing.

I think the £300/eye option involved a semi-retired drunken GP operating on your eyes with only a blunt spoon and a bottle of iodine. Next level up they gave him a sharp spoon and a fork and they played some soothing music to ease your fears while he did the business....

tell_it_how_it_is

I've got a lazy eye, so they can't screw me over.

Though I am screwed.