Grumble Thread

[Serial_Apologist]

Having used Specsavers in 2022, apparently the only opticians delivering the NHS free inspection, the huge cost of the 3 pairs foisted on me and fact that all were of less use than the £6-odd pair I'd bought and still wear from my pharmacy, assuming paying for new pairs obligatory I've been putting off taking up the repeated free inspection even though fearful this may be one of Ms Reeves's eventual ditchings. Can one just say, no thanks, I'm quite happy with the ones I already have, or will they then refuse to give the test?

[LMcD]

I've used our local SpecSavers for a number of years now, and have always been told, at the end of my annual check-up, what changes there have been, if any, and whether or not they think that I need a new prescription and glasses. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.

I moved from our local Co-Op opticians because they insisted that I needed a new prescription every year and also cajoled me into acting as a guinea pig for a new type of lens which gave me a headache. They were amazed when I asked for a refund and had to search high and low for the relevant form (perhaps they should have gone to SpecSavers).

[cloughie]

Having used Specsavers in 2022, apparently the only opticians delivering the NHS free inspection, the huge cost of the 3 pairs foisted on me and fact that all were of less use than the £6-odd pair I'd bought and still wear from my pharmacy, assuming paying for new pairs obligatory I've been putting off taking up the repeated free inspection even though fearful this may be one of Ms Reeves's eventual ditchings. Can one just say, no thanks, I'm quite happy with the ones I already have, or will they then refuse to give the test?

Your choice S_A but I do find the annual checks useful - I was with Specsavers many years and now switched to Boots who are equally good! At my age, although I have done pretty well optically, the checks do alert to any changes and of course make sure my eyesight is legal for driving. When I had new spcs this year (the first in 4 years) I also had, in addition to my varifocals a pair of reading to mid distance, largely for playing the piano to make it easier to see the full page.

[oddoneout]

I've used our local SpecSavers for a number of years now, and have always been told, at the end of my annual check-up, what changes there have been, if any, and whether or not they think that I need a new prescription and glasses. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.

I moved from our local Co-Op opticians because they insisted that I needed a new prescription every year and also cajoled me into acting as a guinea pig for a new type of lens which gave me a headache. They were amazed when I asked for a refund and had to search high and low for the relevant form (perhaps they should have gone to SpecSavers).

For many years I went to a small independent optician in town, but then they started pushing for having new lenses even if the changes were in my sight were minor and didn't warrant it, and also their choice of frames became expensive. After some unsatisfactory experiences with alternative providers I took advantage of a Specsavers promotion and have been with them since. There was a wobble a few years back when they decided that I couldn't have the annual free sight test that I was allowed due to glaucoma risk, only the standard 'old age' two year one. I couldn't get a reason for that from the staff but I assume that it may have had something to do with NHS funding - or lack of. I've managed to get annual free tests the past 3 years, and now apparently as I've hit the three score years and ten mark I get free annual tests even if I didn't have the glaucoma risk. The thing I don't like so much at SSavers is that I don't see the same person twice(there seems to be a constant staff turnover) and I think that isn't necessarily the best arrangement in terms of advice about any changes and whether to have a new prescription. My eyes are changing much more quickly now though so it isn't as much of an issue - if I can't see adequately/safely with the current lenses then a change will be necessary anyway, as was the case this year.

[Petrushka]

Having used Specsavers in 2022, apparently the only opticians delivering the NHS free inspection, the huge cost of the 3 pairs foisted on me and fact that all were of less use than the £6-odd pair I'd bought and still wear from my pharmacy, assuming paying for new pairs obligatory I've been putting off taking up the repeated free inspection even though fearful this may be one of Ms Reeves's eventual ditchings. Can one just say, no thanks, I'm quite happy with the ones I already have, or will they then refuse to give the test?

Eye testing is important and at the age most of us on here now are, it is vital. Not only can sight threatening conditions such as glaucoma and macula degeneration be discovered and treated early, other conditions such as diabetes can also be detected early.

I have inherited glaucoma via my maternal grandfather and take three different eye drops a day in order to stabilise the pressure in the eye. It's a pain to have to do it but it's better than the alternative of losing sight and in extreme cases where drops don't work laser treatment is possible. None of this was possible for my grandfather who died in 1980.

Take the eye test, SA, even if you have to pay for it. It could save your sight.

[Jonathan]

Thanks all. I'll try to answer all the questions you've asked of me in one fell swoop.

Yes, I had to buy new frames, last time they said they couldn't fit the larger lenses in the old frames (they were both varifocals so I'm a bit puzzled about this). Unfortunately, I was told due to the conditions I have, contacts are not possible. I'm going to check that with York eye hospital at my next checkup.

I think that's everything...

[Serial_Apologist]

I'd like to add my "thanks all" for posters' answers to my earlier message to Jonathan's.

[Pulcinella]

I quit my first chemotherapy session (started 3 November) after taking only 8 of the scheduled 28 doses, because of severe side effects.
Each dose was 4 large and 2 small tablets of the same drug.
Plan B was revealed at my hospital appointment yesterday: 75% dose, which the oncologist thought my body would tolerate.
I had taken all the unused tablets back.
Was I allowed to keep them and take only the new dose (3 big tablets instead of 4, and whatever adjustment needed in the smaller sized dose; I think this may have remained the same, so not exactly a 75% new dose)?
Sadly not; they all got ditched and a new package of identical tablets issued.

Utter and expensive madness.
I can understand that returned drugs cannot then be given to another patient, but why I was not allowed to keep them and take them remains a mystery.
As the NHS remains strapped for cash, I felt bad that I was contributing to their deficit.

[smittims]

We get mail only once in aboiut eight days, which means that sometimes our mail is out of date when we get it, for instance the gas bill was already past its payment deadline. I complained to Royal Mail a month ago and they told me there was a local probem they were working to resolve.

Nothing has been done.I tried to escalate the complaint but their online complaint siteis of Kafkaesque complexity apparently designed to discourage anyone from complaining. . I was even asked to pay £1 and £35 a month to contact an 'expert team' to resolve the issue. I've never heard of having to pay to complain about poor service.

Does anyone now who to complain to next? Someone must be in charge. The whole thing seems to be run by robots.

[LMcD]

We get mail only once in aboiut eight days, which means that sometimes our mail is out of date when we get it, for instance the gas bill was already past its payment deadline. I complained to Royal Mail a month ago and they told me there was a local probem they were working to resolve.

Nothing has been done.I tried to escalate the complaint but their online complaint siteis of Kafkaesque complexity apparently designed to discourage anyone from complaining. . I was even asked to pay £1 and £35 a month to contact an 'expert team' to resolve the issue. I've never heard of having to pay to complain about poor service.

Does anyone now who to complain to next? Someone must be in charge. The whole thing seems to be run by robots.

I once tried to complain online after a bus failed to stop even though passengers held out their hands.
The first 4 questions on the complaint form were:
Which route?
Which stop?
What date?
Driver's name?
I took the hint and logged out.

[french frank]

Arrived for Christmas lunch with friends at booked table. As usual, I was first to arrive and was shown to a table for 4. Half an hour later I was still waiting for the others. Sent an email: 'Am I in the right place?' Reply arrives: 'Where are you?' At which point one of them arrived looking for me and we went together to another table for 4 where the other three had been waiting for me.

I wonder if this rings a bell with the forumite formerly known as Caliban? The situation in both cases was that someone else booked the table in their name but I turned up first (though in both cases gave the name of the person who had booked). Faintly annoying

[Roger Webb]

Arrived for Christmas lunch with friends at booked table. As usual, I was first to arrive and was shown to a table for 4. Half an hour later I was still waiting for the others. Sent an email: 'Am I in the right place?' Reply arrives: 'Where are you?' At which point one of them arrived looking for me and we went together to another table for 4 where the other three had been waiting for me.

I wonder if this rings a bell with the forumite formerly known as Caliban? The situation in both cases was that someone else booked the table in their name but I turned up first (though in both cases gave the name of the person who had booked). Faintly annoying

I tried to book a table at a prominent Bristol Restaurant for my wife's birthday, which is inconveniently placed on Dec 27th, so my 'regulars' were shut as usual. I had planned that two best friends would join us shortly after as a surprise. When I told the manager of the plan he insisted that all four of us MUST arrive together or the booking would be invalid.....he did offer a table for two, and when (he said if!) our two friends arrived he could move us to a table for four, if one was available! I asked him if there wasn't one available could they sit on our laps.....and then hung up!!! We stayed in, and I cooked.

[Petrushka]

Arrived for Christmas lunch with friends at booked table. As usual, I was first to arrive and was shown to a table for 4. Half an hour later I was still waiting for the others. Sent an email: 'Am I in the right place?' Reply arrives: 'Where are you?' At which point one of them arrived looking for me and we went together to another table for 4 where the other three had been waiting for me.

I wonder if this rings a bell with the forumite formerly known as Caliban? The situation in both cases was that someone else booked the table in their name but I turned up first (though in both cases gave the name of the person who had booked). Faintly annoying

I had my Christmas dinner with friends on Wednesday evening. I did the booking (for 6) and it was in my name. In most places it's usual to have a small ante-room where early arrivals can wait until the remainder of the party turn up and all are then shown to their table as happened for us. This should eliminate the annoying scenario above.

My grumble about our own meal was that the 'Festive Dinner' menu for two courses advertised at £35 had a small footnote at the bottom giving 'additional dishes: sprouts £6, roast parsnips £5 and cabbage £6' without making it clear whether it was extra to what was served on the plate or were not on the plate at all. It turned out to be the latter which were served in dishes for us to help ourselves. I thought it a sneaky way of getting more money from diners. We divided the £282 bill between all 6 of us, which included drinks, regardless of who had what. We decided to refuse coffee at £3.50 a cup. There was also a 10% 'discretionary ' service charge. These places certainly know how to squeeze as much money out of punters as possible and it can spoil an otherwise good evening.

[french frank]

We divided the £282 bill between all 6 of us, which included drinks, regardless of who had what. We decided to refuse coffee at £3.50 a cup. There was also a 10% 'discretionary ' service charge. These places certainly know how to squeeze as much money out of punters as possible and it can spoil an otherwise good evening.

We all made do with a starter + wine/beer, and shared 2 portions of cheese + bread and 2 more wines/beers. We shunned coffee too. £36 each without a main course!

[Serial_Apologist]

And yet the hospitality industry complains bitterly about business rates, minimum wages, and not being able to procure staff, while creating so many of its own problems!