Shocked at Specsavers sales tactics (hearing aids)

[NigellaWannabe1]

I wanted to share this because it’s really upset me. I went to Specsavers recently for a hearing aid check-up. The audiologist was polite and professional, but strongly advised me to buy new private hearing aids for almost £2,000, saying my existing ones were due for replacement.

When I said my NHS audiologist had already ordered some new ones for me and that the wait would be around eight months from the time of the appointment, he said that he wasn't telling the truth as the waiting time in our region was 24 months. He also claimed the NHS would only offer very basic models, not the better brands. Apparently, he had worked as an audiologist for our local hospital and could confirm that.

I phoned our hospital's Audiology Department. They told me my new NHS hearing aids were actually ready for collection, and that the current wait is about six months, not two years. They also said they used the regular big brands for hearing aids (Phonak and so on).

This is not the first time I get this advice from Specsavers and I am simply appalled that customers that need these aids are given misleading information and exploited in this way. Especially when you consider that most hearing aid users are older and on a pension, and £2k is a huge amount of money for most of us anyway.

I think I will make a complaint.

I wonder if this is something happening just at my local Specsavers or more widespread.

I can't believe what I've just heard!

Our audiology clinic now gives you hearing aids same day if they're the standard ones. They're Oticon or Phonak with bluetooth. My audiologist got me a pair out of a massive cupboard, calibrated them, stuffed a load of batteries in the book and handed it all over.

Only problem is they don't have the loop but neither do my parent's private ones, which are also Oticon but cost five thousand pounds (!!).

I have an oticon Engage hearing aid through the NHS.
As it happens, I can't use Specsavers due to ear condition being more than age related hearing loss.
I am surprised though as my father full of praise round his treatment by Specsavers for his hearing aids.

This doesn't surprise me.

I had a free allowance for glasses to use up so I nipped in for a spare pair. Said I had £100 to use and that was it, this pair with lens thinning please.

Ye gods I could not get the woman to shut up trying to sell me stuff over £100. She even slagged off my three month old Specsavers glasses, telling me they made my eyes look wonky.

Fortunately I found the funny side, and enjoyed giving her brief answers whilst she kept going with the BS. Any good saleswoman would have noticed I was a lost cause way before.

It’s possible that it’s just my local branch. But within that branch, at least two other audiologists pushed me towards private with similar arguments (long NHS waiting list, basic hearing aids, etc).

Itsnot technically wrong though.
I know someone who has a hearing aid and they say the one they paid for is much better.

I've had both private and NHS and tbh it was indistinguishable, except the private ones were rechargeable and the NHS ones need batteries. Same brand - Oticon - same features. Just the battery thing was different.

It probably depends on your prescription.

But that’s not the point. What I’m appalled at is the misleading information like the waiting time, and even the type of aids.

Oh yes. You should definitely complain. It's bad behaviour.

I think I will! I’ve never made a complaint before but this felt very wrong.

I got NHS hearing aids at Specsaver this year. There was no sales pitch.

If your getting NHS hearing aids why are you having a test done at Specsavers as well? But yes it is not right for them to be sharing incorrect information to try to steer you to buying private ones. Having said that my private ones are significantly better than my NHS ones which are are standard brand too (phonak)

Probably varies by store but I've had the hard sell from several branches. 2 in particular got really huffy when I told them didn't want to pay 100s extra for lens thinning (I choose frames specifically so it's not necessary) one actually tried to tell me it was only possible to get the frames I wanted I said ok I'll go elsewhere and suddenly they could 'try'. Same with delivery dates told me glasses wouldn't be ready for 2 weeks I said needed them before so would go to alternative place and they magically were able to do them in a few days

Specsavers audiologists do NHS checks and hearing aids instead of going to the hospital not as well as.

Please complain. Possibly copy Trading Standards in.

Audiologists are registered with HCPC. You may wish to log a complaint with them too.

Avoid Specsavers audiologists like the plague.

My dh has just been to nhs audiology to get his tubes changed and he told the chap he was getting sore because they are molded things. He told him he would order some that were hypoallergenic. He might have a wait but he can live with that.
They are Bluetooth and rechargeable so I imagine on a par with private ones.
My friends dh paid £4000 for private aids and he doesn't get on with them at all.

They operate as franchises so I assume it is all about profit at the end of the day. I swore many years ago never to use them again. Their upselling techniques for spectacles are way over the top and they have lied to me about other opticians. My heart breaks for those more vulnerable/gullible than me.

My friend had exactly the same at a local independent she was worried because she's long overdue her appointment although the hearing aids are on order, so she paid to see someone just for the appointment, and she said she felt there was pressure to buy expensive hearing aidsb and they didn't believe her when she said they were already on order through the NHS! Maybe this is happening everywhere! Like everyone tries to sell you expensive glasses that you don't need

Is 'audiologist' a protected title? Do they have a body like the hcpc? I'd report them to whatever their professional body is.

I can’t understand why your’e going to specsavers when you’re under an audiologist? In my area, Specsavers have the NHS contract unless you’re more complex in which case it’s the Audiologist at hospital. You can’t do both.

I got my hearing aids from Specsavers absolutely no hard sell at all.

They shouldn't have accused the NHS of 'lying' about the waiting times.

But they are clearly a profit seeking business. I would fully expect them to try and sell the most expensive system that they offer.

It may be true that their fanciest one is a higher quality brand than the NHS ones. So as salespeople they are of course going to say that to encourage purchase.

Just say no thanks I can wait for the NHS one. Some people might have plenty of cash and genuinely not want to wait that long.

Why? Mine was fine and I was given the NHS hearing aids straight away. A couple of weeks later I wanted them adjusting and just walked in and was seen straight away.

They've never tried to upsell glasses either. Maybe it depends on the branch.

Nhs hearing aids given to my dad free by specsavers with a years supply of batterys… professional,swift,no trouble service