Now you need to know that my son has various medical needs and he cannot speak, so getting his eyes tested isn't the easiest thing. He has always been looked after by Moorfields Eye Hospital and they gave us a voucher which we took to D&A and spent a little more for some nice new glasses. Guess what? He is 7 years old, and he has broken them. So off I trot back to the shop.
They tell me that his prescription is over 6 months old. I explain (although it is fairly obvious he can't speak!) that he cannot be tested by them and the hospital have tested him and his prescription hasn't changed. So I get told that it is "against the law" and they can't help. So I suggest calling the hospital for the prescription, I'm sorry Madam, we need it in writing. Can it be faxed? No Madam. I explained that this was very frustrating etc etc. Nope, it is against the law, it is against the law. Subsequently I realised that had they suggested choosing some frames and maybe then getting the prescription and dropping it off, that would have been a really helpful thing to suggest.
So, (sorry long saga), off we go. Now you also need to know that I have three children (the others are younger) so getting time to take just one child to the opticians as it just can't be done with 3, is quite a feat of organisation. Anyway, I get the prescription through the post. About two weeks go by and I realise that half term is a fab time to go, so off I trot again. By the time I have myself all organised with all his medical equipment, blue badge, wallet etc etc, I realise it is 20 past 5. I get there the shop has just shut and the chap in the shop gives me one of those "sorry but hahaha" grins that just makes my blood boil. I'm angry with myself for being late and for them for purposefully ignoring me. I didn't check my phone but I don't think it was 5.29, but I can't be sure.
Two days later I try again. This time I leave the house at 5.00 and actually have a nurse to help me. So I drop them off, whilst I park. They are practically not allowed in the shop (clearly the staff think it is too late to enter the shop) so when I come along, I'm like "we aren't here for an appointment, we just want some glasses" - so in we go - no help - we are totally ignored. I chose some glasses that have £40 written on the side and I go to the counter to order them with prescription etc. I take out £40 in cash from my wallet only to be told that they have cashed up and can I pay by card. It is 5.20, not even closing time yet. Then they ask me to complete a form for a voucher, and I say that I have already had one and I'm not sure I'm entitled to another, and the manager (who was the one who kept banging on about the law last time) came over to say that as they had not done the eye test they couldn't give the voucher. So the glasses aren't £40 actually they are £129. Of course, knowing they are going to get broken again, I think this is a little steep, so I ask if they have anything cheaper "well if you could come back tomorrow Madam" - it is not half past yet, but they were too lazy and too eager to get out of the door to serve me. What kind of customer service is that?
I thought that once in the shop, you should be served. And do bear in mind that we had chosen the frames in about 5 minutes - so it was obvious we weren't going to take too long about it! But no, come back tomorrow!The manager clearly recognised me, she can't have not recognised my son - he has a tracheostomy and there aren't many children like that in Nappy Valley! Not even the obvious difficulties that we have made that stupid woman be helpful. What happened? D&A used to be so nice, and now I have to go to Tooting Broadway to get my glasses? I am so furious! Apologies for my rant, but if anyone else has had a bad experience since the change over, please let me know I wasn't being picked on!
Sx
