Specsavers Optical Group review: lied to in store 5

I have just had exactly the same problem. I went to my regular optician who told me I did not need glasses to read, or for anything else for that matter, but due to severe headaches, coupled with my job (IT Technician), I would find VDU glasses beneficial.

I took my prescription to Specsavers about two weeks after my previous eye test, along with the voucher provided by my employer, and was made to have another eye test by the salesman - even though I showed him my recent prescription. The optician questioned why I was having another eye test, and did a re-test, at which point he agreed with my regular optician's diagnosis.

He then, however, completely contradicted himself and decided that even though I needed glasses to work at a computer, I also needed glasses for reading and other things, so I would not be elligible for VDU glasses, but I was entitled to a £20 discount on a pair of £99 glasses.

Needless to say, I didn't purchase the £99 glasses, and I'm currently in the process of complaining to Specsavers. They keep leaving messages on my voicemail, but I'm not accepting any verbal communication about it, as they've already tried to weasel their way out of it once, so now I want documentation.

It seems that this whole VDU voucher thing is like a money making scam for Specsavers - they sell the vouchers to the employers for £17 each, telling them that the employee is entitled to £45 towards the cost of glasses which are solely for VDU use. Apparantly if you have to have glasses for reading then it's such a fine line between the two that often the optician will not sign the form (he's probably been told not to by the head of specsavers). So, most people will only ever get £20 off - no matter what.

Interestingly, on their website it states - you can have £45 off if you need VDU glasses and if you purchase from the premium range £99 or more, then you can also use the £20 voucher too, therefore giving you £65 off a pair of premium specs - but only if they are for VDU use only - and there the catch! Also premium specs are on a buy one get one free offer so you could get two pairs for £54 (if you can find a branch that will agree to that - upon ringing around several branches only two said that you can use the £45 part and buy one get one free!

I have jsut experienced the exact same thing. They have said as the glassed can be used to read (even though I don't use them to read) they can't be classed as VDU use only. I have telephoned them with no joy. I am now going to go to my own usual optician who I trust to get his opinion!

Just wanted to update you with the feedback I have received form Specsavers. They have admitted that the guidelines that are in place are very 'vague' and that they choose to interpret them to mean unless you only need the glassed purely for the VDU then they are not covered by their free voucher. I did discover in their own terms and conditions that the oprician is supposed to ascertain the distance you use your VDU at so they can determine if you need glasses to see the screen. The optician I saw did not ask any such question although Specsavers head office have no interest in this fact. I did also contact my local optician who advised they would issue 2 prescriptions if necessary, one ot cover the VDU and one for anything else you might need corrective lenses for. When I told Specsavers this they said that was the private opticians way of getting more money. I did point out that under their voucher scheme you will always be forced to purchase glasses as it will never actually be valid for use by anyone, even though they only struggle when using a VDU. Her only comment was that the £17 the company pay for the voucher is a good price for an eye test (after the service I got, I beg to differ. So that's where I'm at with it at the moment.

Just had the same thing. My prescription has changed very slightly. I have no long or near sight issues, only astigmatism, which has got marginally worse in the last 3 years. The optition asked if I wanted to get any new glasses. I said that as I mine were a few years old now that I might as well take advantage of the voucher and get some new ones. He then told me the same as above, that a I don't need them solely for VDU that I can't have the £45 discount. He then buzzed in the sales guy to show me some frames, and had a word with him almost in private. The sales guy said that the optician had "prescribed" ultraclear, so that would add another £30 on to the price. He again explained why I couldn't use the other voucher, but said I could use the other voucher to get £20 off the £99 or above frames (plus £30 for ultraclear). I told him that I hadn't planned on spending that much and he actually laughed which I found quite insulting. He then pointed me to the £69 range, saying these are normally buy one get one free, however as the optician has said you need ultraclear, you can have one pair for £69 and get the ultraclear free, otherwise it would be £99 for both pairs. Now I was actually quite happy just to have the one pair so I took the one pair including ultraclear. However he never at any time advised me that this was purely optional and I didn't need it. Opticians act like a healthcare provider but they are a shop at the end of the day and are out to make as much money from you as possible. Thing is if I had known I was going to end up paying full price for the glasses I probably wouldn't have bothered.