Optician refusing to confirm prescription to on-line optician

[Snowgirl1]

I get my eye tests done at SpecSavers and pay for the eye test. I then order contact lenses on-line at Tesco's as it it significantly cheaper and just because I got my eye-test done at SpecSavers, doesn't mean I have to buy my lenses from them. Tesco's have to call SpecSavers to confirm my prescription (legal requirement).

This has worked fine for years, but this year Tesco's have twice had to cancel my order as SpecSavers have told them (a) my prescription is different to the prescription I've ordered (it wasn't); (b) I'm on a trial for lenses and don't have a valid prescription!

I want to ring SpecSavers and threaten them with something legal as I'm so p**d off with what they've done. Are there any legal rights that they're in breach of that I can quote at them?

Can you get a paper copy of your prescription, and give that to tesco?

No idea tho, as I'm not yet in the position of dealing with opticians.

Sounds like they've decided they're losing too much business via this channel and have found a legal loophole.

I don't have a clue or any advice, but am intrigued.
I would have thought they would be obliged to give you an official document at your test.

There is an act which covers this, I had to look it up when my optician refused to give me a copy of my prescription, hang on...

From experience when I used to order glasses online, they tend to keep a key measurement back from the printed prescription (ocular distance I think?) meaning you have to jump through hoops to get it in order to pass the information on.

I can't see how they can withhold the information from you, this is personal information about you that they have a duty to disclose (unless perhaps they think you will be unduly distressed by knowing how bad your eyesight is )

I would check their fine print to see if they have invented some clause that says 'you agree that we will not disclose this info to allow you to buy glasses elsewhere' or something to that effect. The other problem I can see is having SpecSavers disclose the info to a third party (Tesco) as opposed to direct to you, which is what used to happen with the glasses I bought.

Hopefully a legal beagle will be along shortly. Technically I think the prescription is part of your medical record.

Have a look here www.bcla.org.uk/en/consumers/consumer-guide-to-contact-lenses/regulations-on-contact-lens-fitting-and-supply.cfm

Google opticians act 1989, think that's the one.

Opticians Act 1989. Section 26 (2)

I would type it out for you but I'm basically lazy so it's here.

Get your eye test done at tesco, its free

Anya, a contract lens check Ida's not the same as an eye test.

I believe that they have to give you a paper copy when you pay for the test. They don't have to talk to other opticians or suppliers. I've had contacts for over 25 years and I've used online suppliers for probably upwards of 15 yrs. I still get check ups done twice a year but I won't pay in-store prices for lenses and it's ages since I encountered an optician who's awkward about it, they know they're charging far more than the online sites for the same product. And the issue of giving the patient the prescription went to court years ago I'm sure, because of this problem.

I always have glasses and contact test done together and leave with the prescription for both.

But are you sure tesco are your cheapest? They never are for me (acuvue dailies). There are tons of Jersey/Germany/NL etc based sites that are cheaper and don't have to call your optician because they're not UK based.

The important info they do not put on your prescription when they hand it to you is pupil distance but you can easily measure that yourself.

I will be doing it for my next pair of glasses (only need them for reading and no I can't use reading glasses)

I don't know if pupil distance even factors into contact lenses. My son has his eyes tested at Vision Express but he is very choosy about his frames so this time he got them from SpecSavers.

Personally I would not get my eyes tested somewhere that refused to allow me to purchase any contact lenses elsewhere. Vote with your feet!

Thanks everyone. Sorry for not coming back to update, but I hadn't managed to get through to the branch when I rang (kept getting the call centre who couldn't help).

I've now spoken to the branch (quoted the Optician's Act at them - thanks gin and nocake). They deny that they have a policy if not given the prescription to other opticians, but given they've done it twice that sounds like a load of bull to me. They've agreed to make it clear in my record that I do have a valid prescription, so when Tesco ring again there should be no more 'confusion'. Anyway, I've re-ordered with Tesco and will wait and see if it happens again...

Anya I don't get my eyes tested at Tesco as Specsavers is more convenient (ha, ha). Won't be getting my eyes tested at Specsavers next time.

Kindle I have a papercopy, but because I order from Tesco's on-line they ring the optician to verify I have a valid prescription so unfortunately my papercopy doesn't help. What companies do you use for your lenses? One I found which was EU based and didn't have to check with the optician was slightly more expensive. Would love to find an even cheaper supplier than Tesco.

Thanks again, everyone