Specsavers offer and NHS voucher querie

nottslass_2

Hi,I get my monthly contact lenses from specsavers using their "inclusive" monthly contact lens package which includes the offer to purchase a pair of glasses from their designer range for £85 instead of £125. This is one of the benefits that "sold" me this scheme.

I'm also entitled to an NHS vouchers towards the cost of my glasses.On purchasing a new pair of glasses today I was informed that the value of my NHS voucher would only be deducted from the usual price of £125 not from the £85 advertised price that I thought I should be paying !!!

Does anybody know if this is indeed correct - if it is surly this is discrimination against NHS patients !!

grumpyguts_2

I am not sure, but it does seem that their clear pricing policy is completely unclear.

A couple of weeks ago I paid 79 pounds for pair of varifocal glasses. (99 pound frames less 79.70 voucher should be 19.30 plus 30 pound upgrade from the inclusive 49 pound standard varifocal lenses should be 49.30!).

It seems their pricing is completely arbitrary and different stores interpret their offers differently. My 'Pentax' varifocal glasses were awful and I returned them under their free trail, no quibble guarantee. Now they are having trouble returning my NHS voucher which I was told would be sent back to me the next day. When I went to another Specsavers store to get a quote for non Pentax lenses, they said the voucher would be deducted from the total price and I would receive a second pair of glasses free!

I think they tend to 'forget' to mention if you are entitled to something extra if they feel they can get away with it.

OpticInsider

Since Specsavers are all franchise owned, there can be differences in how the vouchers are treated by different owners.

Technically the voucher is worth £36.20 in cash (or more depending on your prescription). The opticians should therefore offer you this amount off the end price of the glasses as they do get paid this back in full. However in many opticians the cost of the voucher is supplemented by the store itself - for example with the old D&A pricing structure, the standard A voucher at £36.20 was boosted by a £52.80 discount so that the cheapest frame/lenses combo (£89) could be provided free of charge. Obviously they would not offer the £52.80 discount along with another offer.

Assuming that Specsavers are simply using the original voucher value and not also boosting this up then it is morally wrong not to offer the discount as the total they receive in the end would be the same, however there is no specific legal protection for customers regarding the voucher (although you could always write to your local FHSA).

pmduk

FHSAs are now called Primary Care Trusts in England

dave_d2

i went into specsavers last week to see what the deals were.
(im currently off work with a broken leg but receiving income support.)
i was told that with the full voucher i could get either one £25 or £45 pair for free or 2 x £69 pairs and pay £10 or 2 x £85 and pay £25.
this follows suit with there bogof deal.
i booked a test and got the voucher only then to be told "oh no sir £10 or £25 respectively as i was told but this is per pair".
it was suggested i just opt for the free ones at £25 or £45.
basically i told where he could wedge his glasses.
i believe this was a deliberate sales scam and whatever i need now wont be coming from specsavers.

dave