ive just been pushed into setting up an expensive direct debit

[cressindrra]

After giving up wearing glasses due to lack of comfort and prscticality for my lifestyle. I asked a well known opticians for my glasses prescription as it can be converted to contact lense prescription. I was told I needed a consultation and week trial before I was given my prescription. I went for my trial and was handed a weeks supply of daily contact lenses. I have done some research and dont want daily lenses but I was told they are much better and monthly lenses are uncomfortable. So I agreed to buy three months supply. I felt incredibly pressurised and didnt want that sort of lense and not at that price. I get home and I realise I have signed up for a direct debit of £26 a month! The same lenses are half the price on many reputable online sites and the monthly lenses I wanted to try are £5 a month and £10 on the high street. I wonder if they are on commission as I feel I was tricked into buying the expensive product.

I went to an independent opticians who said there is no reason why I couldnt try monthly lenses and its personal choice what people prefer.

AIBU to think this is all a bit dodgy? Ive already paid £60 for three months supply but shall cancel the direct debit as soon as I have picked up my three month supply on friday. I am normally so assertive but felt very pressurised and like those contacts were my only option.

I asked for a copy of my prescription and they cliamed I coukdnt have it as they wanted to be sure my contacts were fine. So I took the details of my prescription down myself when no one was looking.

@hidengosqueak exactly!!!

My goodness, thats a rather hysterical reaction!
Of course you can buy them online, branded contacts are the same everywhere, theyre not shoving them in a brown paper bag just because theyre ordered from the internet!

I pay £28 month for daily disposables from vision express. Since 2002 IIRC.

It's not cheap but it includes all after care and check ups plus cheap glasses. My eyes are worth it tbh (No holidays, pets, sky, social life etc).

I pay £25 a month for dailies from specsavers. They’re ok, but my eyes have changed and dry out now so looking to spend more on acuvue.

I see it as my one regular expense to myself. I don’t drink, don’t smoke, rarely socialise, so £25 isn’t bad. And it is preferable in summer especially to glasses imo.
my mum pays £8 or so a month for her monthly lenses and she’s happy with those. Horses for courses

£13 a month for my monthly contacts with Specsavers.

There's two different issues.
Firstly, if you're new to contact lenses then you do need a trial and it would be remiss of the optician to give you a copy of the prescription without assessing how you have managed with the lenses for the trial period. Your lenses prescription isn't the same as your glasses prescription. Depending on your prescription, there may be reasons why they're recommending monthly lenses over dailies. You should have asked if there was a medical reason.
Secondly, yy you will be able to buy cheaper online but there's no point deciding that's what you're going to do when you haven't even properly trialled your lenses. Monthly and daily lenses are quite different. You'll need solutions, cases, etc, for monthlies. And lots of opticians recommend dailies instead because there is less risk of contamination.
By all means cancel your direct debit if you feel you were forced into it but please don't try to shortcut the process in the hope of saving money rather than ensuring you're making the best decision for your eyes.

I can't wade in to the discussion in terms of contacts as I haven't worn them for years, but I had an eye test recently at our local Specsavers and the optician printed my prescription on to a card without even asking if I wanted it.

When I finished, he asked if I wanted to look at any glasses as he'd get someone to show me the pricing structure, but otherwise they'd leave me to it.

No pressure whatsoever. In fact, I was the one that had to ask for some guidance in the end. It was lovely!

It really does depend on your particular branch I think. Some are much, much better than others, because they're all run independently.

You can cancel if you're within 14 days of the signature. Don't be scared, just tell them and get onto your bank asap.

but the optician surely hasn't finalized your prescription if you haven't had your trial? With contact lenses a lot of the prescription is to do with the fit and size of the lens not the vision correction and it may change after your trial.

I have a permanent gas permeable contact lens from my local Black & Lizars, my son has daily soft contact lenses, always good service and they hand you your prescription as a matter of course after the eye test.

I pay them by direct debit for eye care which includes periodic contact lens checkup. It may cost more than some other places but the service is good and it's local and convenient.

I wear glasses, but my Specsavers always give me the prescription.