DEPOSIT REFUNDS
- CHill
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Thank you so much for your help Sasha! I sent an email to Optical Express as advised by you on Sunday 3/11/24 stating that they were holding my deposit illegally and should never have taken it in the first place. I received a call the following day saying my deposit had been refunded, and today (5/11/24) the refund has landed in my account! Faster than the 28 working days that I would have been waiting (if I was lucky!!). I have also sent a Subject Access Request to get to the bottom of how this situation occurred in the first place!
Thank you again for all of your help and guidance.
Charlie
Thank you again for all of your help and guidance.
Charlie
Last Edit:06 Nov 2024 07:43
by CHill
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- CHill
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I had a consultation at Optical Express Plymouth store on September 28th and told I was an ideal candidate for laser eye surgery (LASIK iDesign). However, I would need to complete a course of dry eye drops before the treatment as I have dry eye.
I was given a folder to take home, including a form for my doctor to sign, confirming I was suitable for treatment since I am on medication for depression.
October 1st, I was contacted to pay £500 deposit to secure my surgery on October 18th.
I was scheduled to see an optometrist on October 5th when my eyes were checked once again, and I was sent home with eye drops to begin using until the day of my treatment.
I had my consent appointment with my surgeon, Luca Antico, via a Teams video call on October 10th, during which I explained that I hadn’t yet received the go-ahead from my doctor. He told me I could bring the document with me on the day of the surgery.
I traveled to my follow up appointment on October 12th, in Exeter—the last appointment before my surgery—where additional tests were conducted and the optometrist informed me that my eyesight had significantly improved, making me no longer a candidate for laser eye surgery!
She said that my vision is now near 20/20, and should she prescribe glasses, it would be a minimal prescription.
I was quite confused as I didn’t understand how my prescription could have improved so much in such a short space of time.
I asked whether I would get my deposit back and was told the optometrist would discuss this with the manager. I was then informed that I would receive my money back and that the Plymouth clinic would contact me the following day.
I messaged the WhatsApp chat I had been using to communicate with Optical Express to confirm my cancellation and to request my deposit back. I was told that my money would be returned within 28 working days. I asked why it would take so long, only to be told again that the refund process could take up to 28 working days.
I am not concerned about missing out on laser eye surgery, after reading about issues others have faced. I did want to be free of glasses for screen work, however, I've since learned that at my age (37), my near sight will start to deteriorate soon anyway, requiring me to wear reading glasses for close work regardless.
I find it strange that they accepted £500 from me, only to later inform me that I’m not a candidate for the procedure.
Additionally, I am upset that they will hold my money for 28 working days.I am wondering if this practice is legal and how I can get my money back sooner, as I don’t believe they should have taken it in the first place.
Please can you advise?
_________________
admin: 1. As do the majority of OE surgeons, Luca Antico has legal claims against him from some of his damaged patients.
2. The people you see at the ‘free’ consultations are all paid bonuses, based on the amount of the sale patients are persuaded to agree to, so they’ll sign anyone up for surgery. But what is of more concern to me is the fact that Dr Antico agreed to operate, because it’s not possible that your prescription miraculously improved to that extent (if at all!) within 2 weeks!
There are a number of serious issues here that need to be investigated and reported to regulators.
3. You are most definitely entitled to your refund asap!
Please send your phone number 👀
sasha@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk
I was given a folder to take home, including a form for my doctor to sign, confirming I was suitable for treatment since I am on medication for depression.
October 1st, I was contacted to pay £500 deposit to secure my surgery on October 18th.
I was scheduled to see an optometrist on October 5th when my eyes were checked once again, and I was sent home with eye drops to begin using until the day of my treatment.
I had my consent appointment with my surgeon, Luca Antico, via a Teams video call on October 10th, during which I explained that I hadn’t yet received the go-ahead from my doctor. He told me I could bring the document with me on the day of the surgery.
I traveled to my follow up appointment on October 12th, in Exeter—the last appointment before my surgery—where additional tests were conducted and the optometrist informed me that my eyesight had significantly improved, making me no longer a candidate for laser eye surgery!
She said that my vision is now near 20/20, and should she prescribe glasses, it would be a minimal prescription.
I was quite confused as I didn’t understand how my prescription could have improved so much in such a short space of time.
I asked whether I would get my deposit back and was told the optometrist would discuss this with the manager. I was then informed that I would receive my money back and that the Plymouth clinic would contact me the following day.
I messaged the WhatsApp chat I had been using to communicate with Optical Express to confirm my cancellation and to request my deposit back. I was told that my money would be returned within 28 working days. I asked why it would take so long, only to be told again that the refund process could take up to 28 working days.
I am not concerned about missing out on laser eye surgery, after reading about issues others have faced. I did want to be free of glasses for screen work, however, I've since learned that at my age (37), my near sight will start to deteriorate soon anyway, requiring me to wear reading glasses for close work regardless.
I find it strange that they accepted £500 from me, only to later inform me that I’m not a candidate for the procedure.
Additionally, I am upset that they will hold my money for 28 working days.I am wondering if this practice is legal and how I can get my money back sooner, as I don’t believe they should have taken it in the first place.
Please can you advise?
_________________
admin: 1. As do the majority of OE surgeons, Luca Antico has legal claims against him from some of his damaged patients.
2. The people you see at the ‘free’ consultations are all paid bonuses, based on the amount of the sale patients are persuaded to agree to, so they’ll sign anyone up for surgery. But what is of more concern to me is the fact that Dr Antico agreed to operate, because it’s not possible that your prescription miraculously improved to that extent (if at all!) within 2 weeks!
There are a number of serious issues here that need to be investigated and reported to regulators.
3. You are most definitely entitled to your refund asap!
Please send your phone number 👀
sasha@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk
Last Edit:06 Nov 2024 08:02
by CHill
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- Nathan Stuttard
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Replied by Nathan Stuttard on topic Deposit Refunds (Surgeon Dr. Sajjad Mughal)
Posted 18 Oct 2024 17:03 #3
Dear Beautiful Eyes Help Person, I was due to to go ahead with the Lasek Refractive Lens Exchange procedure in December of this year with Dr Sajjad Mughal at Optical Express in Nottingham.
I came across your website and became concerned as I had not had good customer service from them since I paid £500 deposit after the initial eye tests. In summary: In May 2024, I paid £500 to Optical Express as a deposit. After stumbling over this website, on top of my general anxieties around the surgery, I wanted more information than I felt I'd received from Dr. Mugal. On the 4th September 2024, I sent the following email to Optical Express: Hello, I had a chat with Dr. Mughal last week and captured the following notes in summary of our conversation. Please could you ask Dr. Mughal to sign these off as being representative, accurate and truthful of Lasek as a procedure - an email reply containing a signature will suffice. With kind regards, Nathan I received a fairly unhelpful answer to my query and OE then redirected me to their DPO inbox. I then sent a list of questions to OE; the main one was as above - I wanted Dr. Mughal to sign off the notes which I collected as honest and accurate. I then, surprisingly, received a fairly unhelpful and probably deliberately, vague answer which didn't help settle my concerns.
As such, I'd very much like the total deposit of £500 returned. Please can you help me?
Thank you, Nathan Stuttard
______________________
admin: Dr Mughal used to work at Optimax/Ultralase, so you’ve had a lucky escape! See optimaxreviews.co.uk/forums/topic/what-w...-of-my-life-be-like/
Please send your phone number 👀
sasha@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk
I came across your website and became concerned as I had not had good customer service from them since I paid £500 deposit after the initial eye tests. In summary: In May 2024, I paid £500 to Optical Express as a deposit. After stumbling over this website, on top of my general anxieties around the surgery, I wanted more information than I felt I'd received from Dr. Mugal. On the 4th September 2024, I sent the following email to Optical Express: Hello, I had a chat with Dr. Mughal last week and captured the following notes in summary of our conversation. Please could you ask Dr. Mughal to sign these off as being representative, accurate and truthful of Lasek as a procedure - an email reply containing a signature will suffice. With kind regards, Nathan I received a fairly unhelpful answer to my query and OE then redirected me to their DPO inbox. I then sent a list of questions to OE; the main one was as above - I wanted Dr. Mughal to sign off the notes which I collected as honest and accurate. I then, surprisingly, received a fairly unhelpful and probably deliberately, vague answer which didn't help settle my concerns.
As such, I'd very much like the total deposit of £500 returned. Please can you help me?
Thank you, Nathan Stuttard
______________________
admin: Dr Mughal used to work at Optimax/Ultralase, so you’ve had a lucky escape! See optimaxreviews.co.uk/forums/topic/what-w...-of-my-life-be-like/
Please send your phone number 👀
sasha@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk
Last Edit:01 Nov 2024 09:28
by Nathan Stuttard
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- KimD
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Update -
I was refunded my FULL deposit of £500 after being told I would only get £250. Thank you so much to Sasha who helped me get this back. I feel so lucky that a cancelled my appointment and did not go through with the surgery after what I went on to find out what has happened to other people. Thank you Sasha x
I was refunded my FULL deposit of £500 after being told I would only get £250. Thank you so much to Sasha who helped me get this back. I feel so lucky that a cancelled my appointment and did not go through with the surgery after what I went on to find out what has happened to other people. Thank you Sasha x
by KimD
The following user(s) said Thank You: Sasha Rodoy
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- Nida
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Just wanted to let you all know that after speaking to Sasha about my deposit not been refunded after 2 weeks of cancelling my surgery, with her help I got the money back within 24 hours!
Last Edit:14 Sep 2024 11:24
by Nida
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- KimD
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I paid £500 for lens replacement and had a date to get the surgery on 10th October, but not even told his name, when I got my appointment to do a Teams call with the surgeon (a Teams call!!) I started to panic!
I have not been 100% about this since the start, felt very uneasy, but I really wanted it done, so excited about getting rid of my glasses.
Last night I spoke directly with someone who had this same surgery done by Optical Express 2 months ago, also aged 46 as I am, and she advised me not to risk it as it’s all been so bad for her, and she would not wish this on anyone, as her eyes are worse than they were with lots of problems.
Her surgeon was Dr David Teenan, and though I wasn’t told who mine would be, as the surgery was in Glasgow I believe it would have been him.
I was given these boxes of medication to start 1 week before surgery, however feel this was not explained fully about what to do or what they’re for, and only the number 4 written on the boxes.
At the time I was bombarded with positivity and excitement that I wouldn’t need glasses or contacts ever again and left just to watch a video at the end of the eye tests. Nothing in it that I felt explained any of the many things that I now know could go wrong.
I feel overwhelmed with relief that I didn’t get the surgery done soon after my initial consultation, as I was going on holiday and as such it gave me more time to research.
I cancelled my surgery this morning and was told that I would only get £250 back of my deposit, which would take 30 working days! I feel this is so unfair given I’m cancelling due to not having had the risks explained to me, or told the name of the surgeon, having to find this out from the many bad reviews I have read, and speaking directly with someone that has been left worse off after surgery with Optical Express.
I would appreciate your help getting all my money back.
But I do feel I am one of the lucky ones not to have gone through with it.
______________________
admin: Dr David Teenan is top of the leader board with the highest number of legal cases against him in Scotland, so you are indeed one of the lucky ones 👀
Please send your phone number: sasha@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk
I have not been 100% about this since the start, felt very uneasy, but I really wanted it done, so excited about getting rid of my glasses.
Last night I spoke directly with someone who had this same surgery done by Optical Express 2 months ago, also aged 46 as I am, and she advised me not to risk it as it’s all been so bad for her, and she would not wish this on anyone, as her eyes are worse than they were with lots of problems.
Her surgeon was Dr David Teenan, and though I wasn’t told who mine would be, as the surgery was in Glasgow I believe it would have been him.
I was given these boxes of medication to start 1 week before surgery, however feel this was not explained fully about what to do or what they’re for, and only the number 4 written on the boxes.
At the time I was bombarded with positivity and excitement that I wouldn’t need glasses or contacts ever again and left just to watch a video at the end of the eye tests. Nothing in it that I felt explained any of the many things that I now know could go wrong.
I feel overwhelmed with relief that I didn’t get the surgery done soon after my initial consultation, as I was going on holiday and as such it gave me more time to research.
I cancelled my surgery this morning and was told that I would only get £250 back of my deposit, which would take 30 working days! I feel this is so unfair given I’m cancelling due to not having had the risks explained to me, or told the name of the surgeon, having to find this out from the many bad reviews I have read, and speaking directly with someone that has been left worse off after surgery with Optical Express.
I would appreciate your help getting all my money back.
But I do feel I am one of the lucky ones not to have gone through with it.
______________________
admin: Dr David Teenan is top of the leader board with the highest number of legal cases against him in Scotland, so you are indeed one of the lucky ones 👀
Please send your phone number: sasha@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk
Last Edit:12 Sep 2024 16:40
by KimD
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- Nida
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I had a consultation at Optical Express in Huddersfield on the 22nd August and when they said I was suitable for laser surgery they told me I had to pay £500 deposit immediately to book on the 23rd September with Dr Mohammad Kazmi. I hadn’t even been examined by the doctor and felt I was being rushed into this. I didn’t feel at all comfortable when I googled the complications that no one had told me about so I called them on the same day and said that I was feeling overwhelmed and need more time. They said they were happy to refund me but I have not heard anything or got any email from them. This is all they sent me. Please can you help me?
_____________________
admin: Dr Muhammed Kazmi has damaged countless numbers of patients, successfully sued by many of them, with more complaints currently in process, so you have had a lucky escape 👀
I can help, if you please send your phone number: sasha@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk
_____________________
admin: Dr Muhammed Kazmi has damaged countless numbers of patients, successfully sued by many of them, with more complaints currently in process, so you have had a lucky escape 👀
I can help, if you please send your phone number: sasha@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk
Last Edit:11 Sep 2024 08:18
by Nida
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- Bluemoon
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I had an appointment at OE in Manchester.
They said I was suitable for lens replacement -2.5 both eyes and I can read fine.
The next day I received a call saying a face to face appointment with the surgeon was available in 4 weeks and as it was within a month I needed to pay £1000 which I did. This appointment got cancelled and a new date was arranged. Two weeks later the second date got cancelled and they said the next appointment was October which wasn’t suitable. All I have ever received is one email confirming the first appointment nothing about the two cancelations or the new date and nothing to say I had paid £1000. After this terrible service and finding this forum I have asked for my deposit back.
They want to keep £250 and say it will take 28 days.
How can they keep £250 I have nothing to cancel they have cancelled twice !
Plus 28 days ?
Terrible service more like double glazing tactics.
________________
admin: They act illegally, and even Tesco refund card payments immediately if you return an item!
Please send your phone number 👀
sasha@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk
They said I was suitable for lens replacement -2.5 both eyes and I can read fine.
The next day I received a call saying a face to face appointment with the surgeon was available in 4 weeks and as it was within a month I needed to pay £1000 which I did. This appointment got cancelled and a new date was arranged. Two weeks later the second date got cancelled and they said the next appointment was October which wasn’t suitable. All I have ever received is one email confirming the first appointment nothing about the two cancelations or the new date and nothing to say I had paid £1000. After this terrible service and finding this forum I have asked for my deposit back.
They want to keep £250 and say it will take 28 days.
How can they keep £250 I have nothing to cancel they have cancelled twice !
Plus 28 days ?
Terrible service more like double glazing tactics.
________________
admin: They act illegally, and even Tesco refund card payments immediately if you return an item!
Please send your phone number 👀
sasha@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk
Last Edit:16 Aug 2024 07:27
by Bluemoon
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- Rebecca Bingle
I was booked to have surgery with Dr Mohammed Kazmi tomorrow until I luckily found this website!
I have now cancelled but Optical Express have told me they won’t refund my £500 deposit and will take 28 days to refund me with the balance of £3,990.
I don’t think this is right 😟
Please can you help me?
________________
admin: Like the majority of Optical Express surgeons, Dr Mohammed Shabbat Kazmi has unfortunately damaged countless numbers of patients, and been successfully sued by many of them 👀
Please send your phone number: sasha@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk
I have now cancelled but Optical Express have told me they won’t refund my £500 deposit and will take 28 days to refund me with the balance of £3,990.
I don’t think this is right 😟
Please can you help me?
________________
admin: Like the majority of Optical Express surgeons, Dr Mohammed Shabbat Kazmi has unfortunately damaged countless numbers of patients, and been successfully sued by many of them 👀
Please send your phone number: sasha@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk
Last Edit:05 Aug 2024 11:15
by Rebecca Bingle
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- Valerie Dennis
UPDATE
admin: Valerie received full £500 refund.
______________
Dear Beautiful Eyes Help Person,
I was about to go head with the Refractive Lens Exchange procedure with Mr Dimitri Kazakos at Optical Express in Harley Street.
I came across your website and became concerned as I had not had good customer service from them since I paid £500 deposit after the initial eye tests.
1 I heard nothing from Optical Express for 2 months after my initial appointment in October 2023, or to make an assessment of my eyesight or to send a confirmation of the £500 deposit paid.
2 I finally made contact with a member of staff (Robert R) by email in December, but he failed to respond to my request for an appointment and his email contained no phone number.
3 I sent an email with a complaint about hearing nothing for 3 months, and then Kimberley B got in touch, although without apology, and when I asked for the paperwork she was referring to, which I did not have and was supposed to sign, she sent me a pdf.
4 There were about 25 pages for me to print out and sign. I later rang one of the many 0800 numbers to ask for the OE brochure to be sent and complained that I should have been given the information instead of having to print 25 pages out myself.
5 I did not know what surgery I was supposed to be having at that point as it had not been explained in any detail when I had the eye test, nor what options there were to consider. I also could not remember the cost as the consultation was so long ago and I had nothing in writing.
6 I finally made an appointment for the procedure via Kimberley B on 30th March, which according to another enquiry I made on the 0800 number was for the Refractive Lens Exchange operation. I had not been aware of two procedures, one for mono and one for multi focal lens and due to Kimberley’s scheduling I was meeting with the consultant only 4 days before the surgery on the 30th. However, I was supposed to pay the whole balance of the surgery costs of approximately £6000, 7 days before my pre surgery consultation, without first meeting the surgeon.
7 I started to feel nervous about having to pay this amount before having a chance to ask questions and find out the risks and benefits. So I cancelled the procedure 8 days before the Pre Op appointment, and the conversation I had with someone on one of their 0800 numbers was brief and I was told a member of the cancellation team would ring later that day.
8 No one called so 2 days later I rang again on the 22nd. This time I did receive a voicemail to say that my refund is being processed. However, this is for only £250 not the full amount.
This is not good enough not least In view of the issues I have had, and the arrangement of only meeting the surgeon, Mr Dimitri Kazakos AFTER paying £6000.
i want the total deposit of £500 returned. Please can you help me?
Thank you, Valerie Dennis
_____________________
admin: You had a lucky escape, as Dr Dimitris Kazakos has damaged countless numbers of patients!
He has been, and is being, sued by dozens of them. Yet Optical Express salespeople recommend him as their ‘best surgeon’ 👀
Please send your phone number: sasha@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk
admin: Valerie received full £500 refund.
______________
Dear Beautiful Eyes Help Person,
I was about to go head with the Refractive Lens Exchange procedure with Mr Dimitri Kazakos at Optical Express in Harley Street.
I came across your website and became concerned as I had not had good customer service from them since I paid £500 deposit after the initial eye tests.
1 I heard nothing from Optical Express for 2 months after my initial appointment in October 2023, or to make an assessment of my eyesight or to send a confirmation of the £500 deposit paid.
2 I finally made contact with a member of staff (Robert R) by email in December, but he failed to respond to my request for an appointment and his email contained no phone number.
3 I sent an email with a complaint about hearing nothing for 3 months, and then Kimberley B got in touch, although without apology, and when I asked for the paperwork she was referring to, which I did not have and was supposed to sign, she sent me a pdf.
4 There were about 25 pages for me to print out and sign. I later rang one of the many 0800 numbers to ask for the OE brochure to be sent and complained that I should have been given the information instead of having to print 25 pages out myself.
5 I did not know what surgery I was supposed to be having at that point as it had not been explained in any detail when I had the eye test, nor what options there were to consider. I also could not remember the cost as the consultation was so long ago and I had nothing in writing.
6 I finally made an appointment for the procedure via Kimberley B on 30th March, which according to another enquiry I made on the 0800 number was for the Refractive Lens Exchange operation. I had not been aware of two procedures, one for mono and one for multi focal lens and due to Kimberley’s scheduling I was meeting with the consultant only 4 days before the surgery on the 30th. However, I was supposed to pay the whole balance of the surgery costs of approximately £6000, 7 days before my pre surgery consultation, without first meeting the surgeon.
7 I started to feel nervous about having to pay this amount before having a chance to ask questions and find out the risks and benefits. So I cancelled the procedure 8 days before the Pre Op appointment, and the conversation I had with someone on one of their 0800 numbers was brief and I was told a member of the cancellation team would ring later that day.
8 No one called so 2 days later I rang again on the 22nd. This time I did receive a voicemail to say that my refund is being processed. However, this is for only £250 not the full amount.
This is not good enough not least In view of the issues I have had, and the arrangement of only meeting the surgeon, Mr Dimitri Kazakos AFTER paying £6000.
i want the total deposit of £500 returned. Please can you help me?
Thank you, Valerie Dennis
_____________________
admin: You had a lucky escape, as Dr Dimitris Kazakos has damaged countless numbers of patients!
He has been, and is being, sued by dozens of them. Yet Optical Express salespeople recommend him as their ‘best surgeon’ 👀
Please send your phone number: sasha@opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk
Last Edit:17 Apr 2024 12:15
by Valerie Dennis
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Moderators: admin, Sasha Rodoy