How to get a refund on prescription glasses from local opticians?

Annielou

Please help!? I bought some prescription glasses from a local opticians and my first problem occurred when I picked frames from the Michael Kors display section. When I went along to pick them up I saw the case and it was Fendi. I told the receptionist there must be a mistake and she said "oh they were probably under the Michael Kors display". So I started off feeling misled. Once home the glasses were unwearable, my sight was "swimming". To cut a very long story short I have asked for a refund but the opticians are refusing, saying they will only be prepared to put a weaker prescription in. I don't want that as I have already got some "weaker prescription" glasses. I have said I was "misled" at the outset and the lenses are "unfit for purpose" and that I do not want a replacement, but they are still refusing to refund the £400 (paid for on credit card). Could anybody help me with what to say in order to insist on a refund? Your help would be greatly appreciated.

unholyangel

Did they also carry out the eye test? Or did you just give them the prescription?

Have they offered you a choice of different frames or just lenses? Do the frames themselves say the fendi brand name on them anywhere?

Annielou

Thanks for replying . And yes they did carry out the eye test, although I originally only went in for a contact lenses eye check and was persuaded that my old glasses needed updating (although old I was perfectly happy with them as only wear them at home). Picked from Michael Kors display (as have MK watch) but yes they do have Fendi in tiny words on the inside arm (although I couldn't read it at the time as wasn't wearing reading glasses as looking at frames in mirror!). They have offered to swap the frames and to put in weaker lenses, but what is the point of weaker lenses as that would be £400 spent on something not much better than I already have given I have weaker prescription glasses. I really do feel quite duped but they are adamant I am not entitled to a refund.

bris

Your not entitled to a refund, if you were happy with your old ones then you need to learn how to say no.

Annielou

I know very well how to say 'no', but I was misled into believing the new ones would be much better. In fact they are un-wearable and offering to weaken them so they are similar to my old ones is simply a wasted of £400.

Torry_Quine

How long did you wear them as it can take a while adjusting to new glasses?

unholyangel

Annielou wrote: »

I know very well how to say 'no', but I was misled into believing the new ones would be much better. In fact they are un-wearable and offering to weaken them so they are similar to my old ones is simply a wasted of £400.

Presumably though, they have made them to your prescription.

I'm sure you're already aware that new glasses can take a few days wearing to get used to, so I have to ask.....exactly how bad is it? I mean if it renders them unwearable (rather than just being the normal "offness" you get with new glasses), then I'd expect your prescription to be wrong.

Annielou

As soon as I put them on they made me nauseous and my sight was "swimming". Having gone back for them to check them they say that my prescription and astigmatism means that I cannot have both long distance and close in the same pair of glasses. These are distance ones so everything nearby swims and I cannot walk with them. I said upfront at the beginning I didn't want varifocals, but I didn't appreciate that upgrading my long distance would render them unusable due to the swimmy effect. Apparently my old ones are weaker so I don't get that. They want to replace these lenses with weaker, but what's the point as I already have that. I fail to understand why they won't just give me a refund.

Annielou

I was wondering if I could ask Mastercard to sort it out for me? Isn't there some cover if you pay with a credit card and you have a dispute?

Torry_Quine

Annielou wrote: »

As soon as I put them on they made me nauseous and my sight was "swimming". Having gone back for them to check them they say that my prescription and astigmatism means that I cannot have both long distance and close in the same pair of glasses. These are distance ones so everything nearby swims and I cannot walk with them. I said upfront at the beginning I didn't want varifocals, but I didn't appreciate that upgrading my long distance would render them unusable due to the swimmy effect. Apparently my old ones are weaker so I don't get that. They want to replace these lenses with weaker, but what's the point as I already have that. I fail to understand why they won't just give me a refund.

You haven't said how long you wore them but it sounds as if you just took them off straight away which really isn't long enough.

Annielou

I tried for about an hour but they made me really sick. In fact the optician did admit that they were doing that because by strengthening the long distance it is making the near sight worse, hence the problem. They actually aren't really disputing that bit, but they are insisting on putting weaker lenses in rather than a refund, which to my mind leaves me with no better glasses than my good old faithfuls. and £400 poorer! It is a dilemma because I can see both sides of this, but it feels very unfair and given all the circumstances I would have hoped goodwill would extend to a refund. But they are digging their heals in so I am wondering where to go with it legally.