Dolland & Aitchison...is This Fair???

xxxkittycatmeowxxx

I Purchased My 11yr Old Son's Glasses In April 07 However The Frame Has Split. I Took Them Into D&a Today To Ask Them To Repair Or Replace Them And Was Told I Would Have To Pay For A New Pair.... The Frame Cost £50 Originally And I Dont Think Its Fair That They Have Only Lasted Just Over 6 Months And Feel That They Should Replace Them. However The Unhelpful Assistant Today Told Me My Son Would Have To Have The Nhs Frame If I Couldn't Afford To Replace The £50 Ones.....! Cheek! Is There Anything I Can Do Please Help My Son Is Devasted Without His Glasses! : (

dmg24

How have they split?

Terrylw1

Is there anyway home contents insurance may cover it? I don't know myself but some home contents applies to items outside of the home e.g. I claimed for a stolen coat at my workplace a few years back.

nedmundo

What needs to be established is whether they have they 'split' due to abuse or as a result a manufacturing defect.
If it's down to abuse, then D & A are in the right, but they could still use an NHS repair
voucher to offset some of the cost of replacement.

If it's not down to abuse, then the sale of goods act comes into play. It states that products must be of satisfactory quality and last a reasonable period of time (i.e normally a year but it can be more). If this is so, then D & A should replace the frame F.O.C. under warranty. It's also worth remembering that as your contract is with them, it is their job to replace it and then sort it out with the manufacturer afterwards.

Hope that helps.

Ned.

LondonDiva

However, you need to check if the NHS voucher is valid so soon if the glasses were damaged due to carelessness or abuse. I think you're only suppossed to use vouchers for sight tests / glasses every 1-2 years?

My PCT are clamping down on this sort of thing as a lot of items are being deliberately damaged so patients can get the latest model. If it's not deemed acceptable wear and tear, we charge the cost of repalcement or don't supply one.

garyhopef2s

I bought a pair of gucci glasses for £300 a few years ago before I grew up and started moneysaving. Mine snapped in half just after a year (they were very loose for a few months before) and I couldnt do anthing about it. Since then I and my work m8's all buy their glasses from http://www.glasses4eyes.co.uk/ You can get glasses fom £13.50 a pair (I pay £20) and they are good quality. You don't even have to send in your prescription if you know what you details are you can just enter them online.

Gary

nedmundo

Nice idea, but it's against the law to supply childrens specs online - so not an option here.

faerie_girl

I know this wont help you but an experience with Specsavers:

My partner had an eye test and found out he needed glasses. Was a student and got a discount so it cost him £50. After a few weeks he noticed a little speck of 'dirt'. The speck would wash off so it must have been a tiny scratch. We took the glasses back after about 1 month and they tried to clean them up with some chemicals. Partner thought that they were okay but a few weeks later you could see it again. We were so busy with stuff that he put up with this scratch for about 6months. When we eventually took them back they replaced the lense free of charge when we told them everything.
We were very pleased with the service. The fact that they replaced it when without any fuss when my partner could have damaged the lense.
The only issue we had was the assisant who before handing back the glasses said, ' oh, it says you don't need to pay anything... let me just check... because you should have to pay for it' que us waiting for 20mins while she checks why we don't have to pay.

System

http://www.opticalcomplaints.co.uk/

Report to OCCS.