Potential debt collection? Please help!

jemmarocks

This is a really bizarre situation and need advice on what to do next-

I just took my partner to a well known opticians chain for an eye test that I booked on their website. As per their website, there was a voucher for a free eye test when purchasing any glasses which we took with.

He had the eye test and picked the glasses he wanted (they were £25). The total at the till came to £50. We mentioned the voucher and the staff stated that this voucher was only applicable on frames of £69 or more though this is not stated on their website anywhere or on display in the store.

We refused to pay the £25 for the sight test. The store manager advised that they would pursue this £25 charge through a debt collector. Are they able to do so?

They have both of our address details on our system already. Is there anything that we can do next to prevent further steps?

[Deleted User]

Pay the £25 you owe?



Which was the opticians?

deethebee

Hi Jemma. Who are the Opticians? If it's not stated anywhere then you may have a defence but you need to make sure of this and check the voucher too. If they can prove that this disclaimer is mentioned anywhere in the terms of the free eye test then they can pursue you for the £25, it's just a matter of whether they will follow through with any court action. Debt collectors are not appointed by the court so they are only employed to try and get the money from you and in order to force you to pay they'd have to take you to court. I can't see it being worth their while to take you to court over £25 and they may be hoping to scare you into paying it.

I would recommend doing your research and making sure you are right about the voucher, otherwise you won't have a leg to stand on and if they are right they can pursue you for all costs including paying debt collectors to pursue you for the money.

jemmarocks

Colin_Maybe wrote: »

Pay the £25 you owe?



Which was the opticians?

It was Specsavers, here is said voucher - https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/manchesterfortpark

Pollycat

I think you need to name the opticians.


I thinks it's odd that a chain wouldn't have the T&Cs printed on the voucher and in-store.


I know Specsavers do various offers and they are pretty clear about what's included.
For example, 2 for 1:
"You can choose any two pairs of glasses from our £69 to £169 ranges" - very clear in-store.

jemmarocks

deethebee wrote: »

Hi Jemma. Who are the Opticians? If it's not stated anywhere then you may have a defence but you need to make sure of this and check the voucher too. If they can prove that this disclaimer is mentioned anywhere in the terms of the free eye test then they can pursue you for the £25, it's just a matter of whether they will follow through with any court action. Debt collectors are not appointed by the court so they are only employed to try and get the money from you and in order to force you to pay they'd have to take you to court. I can't see it being worth their while to take you to court over £25 and they may be hoping to scare you into paying it.

I would recommend doing your research and making sure you are right about the voucher, otherwise you won't have a leg to stand on and if they are right they can pursue you for all costs including paying debt collectors to pursue you for the money.

Thanks so much for this detailed response! It was at a Specsavers, the voucher is on this link -https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/manchesterfortpark.

There was no signage or leaflet instore regarding this offer for me to refer to for further terms

sheramber

Are there Terms and Conditions on the website or a small i and 'details'.

jemmarocks

sheramber wrote: »

Are there Terms and Conditions on the website or a small i and 'details'.

The latter - https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/manchesterfortpark

Pollycat

jemmarocks wrote: »

It was Specsavers, here is said voucher - https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/manchesterfortpark

OK. Cross posted.

So what did they say when you presented the voucher and - after a discussion about the price they wanted to charge - you pointed out that there are no conditions relating to minimum price of glasses on the voucher (or in-store)?

Do you still have the voucher?

deethebee

jemmarocks wrote: »

Thanks so much for this detailed response! It was at a Specsavers, the voucher is on this link -https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/manchesterfortpark.

There was no signage or leaflet instore regarding this offer for me to refer to for further terms

You're most welcome

You're right, no mention of minimum order value or anything. Just says complete set of glasses and if it's not mentioned on the voucher they can't expect to hold you to these terms they seem to have "made up". I wouldn't worry about it. If you hear from debt collectors tell them they tried to enforce unfair terms on you that weren't part of the voucher conditions and as such you dispute that you owe anything until they can prove that these terms exist outside of what they told you in store. In fact, I'd make a complaint to the Head Office and let them know how they treated you. You might get some compensation out of it for threatening you.

jemmarocks

Pollycat wrote: »

OK. Cross posted.

So what did they say when you presented the voucher and - after a discussion about the price they wanted to charge - you pointed out that there are no conditions relating to minimum price of glasses on the voucher (or in-store)?

Do you still have the voucher?

They said the voucher wasn't valid on the glasses chosen and that they had to be from the higher price bracket. I mentioned there was no details of these conditions anywhere instore or online and they repeatedly advised that that is the condition of the voucher.
I asked how this could be taken further as I was unhappy and the person I spoke to advised that they were the manager and as a franchise there is nobody further I can take it to.