Rude Opticians at Supermarket made me feel like a criminal

[stella1111]

Hi

 

I was drawn to an offer of two pairs of glasses for the price of one at our local optican so I took up the offer. Normally my employer pays for my test but this offer seemed good.

 

The experience was okay until I was asked by a counter person to answer some medical questions about my parents. She asked if my parents had Glaucoma and Diabetes. I said I thought my father had Glaucoma and Diabetes. He did have diabetes. She then said I can now have a free test. I was willing to pay there and then, though she insisted that I qualify for a free test. She asked me to sign a form for the free test. I bought the glasses and have to go back next Week.

 

Whist in the shopping centre, I asked my elderly Mother if she could recall Glaucoma in the family. She could not remember. So I went back to the opticians ( 30 mins later ) and explained to the same lady. She then replied that I had already signed the form and could be prosecuted for making a false claim. I was shocked !!! I then insisted that I pay for the test to remove any uncertainty so I paid. However, her attitude was awful. Even when I said that I hoped to save some money by getting a free test but could not ask dad because he had died. She replied, that is too bad.

 

I feel like a criminal even though I offered and did pay the fee in the end. Her attitude was awful and now I fear the NHS will be after me next for making a false claim. I sensed she had it in for me, the now paying customer.

 

I thought I would share this as an experience because even the customer can be intimidated.

 

Thanks, Stella

Update.... just checked with my Brother. Apparently my Dad did have Glaucoma and was taking eye drops to help.

Edited November 3, 2015 by stella1111

[honeybee13]

Hello there.

 

I've moved your thread to the General Consumer forum and left you a link to follow. The guys should be along later.

 

HB

[unclebulgaria67]

It is nothing to do with an NHS offer of a free test. There is no database available to check family history, so the children get free eye tests.

 

It was just an opticians offer of a free test to certain people or some campaign being run to ensure people with family history get tested.

[Consett26]

Eye tests are free on the NHS if you are over 40 and have a relative with glaucoma:

 

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/895.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=157

 

"you're 40 or over, and your mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter has been diagnosed with glaucoma"