Ultralase in Ireland to Close?

tbeans

Ok so just got a call from Ultralase to say that they are closing all their offices in the Republic of Ireland!!

Closest office will be in Belfast!

itsme89

Got that same phone call today.. i got the surgery 3 wks ago and supposed to have a follow up appointment next week.. the guy that called said if I don't hear from them in a month call the customer service number what an absolute joke!! lifetime guarantee my ar$e.. where to from here??

tbeans

itsme89 wrote: »

Got that same phone call today.. i got the surgery 3 wks ago and supposed to have a follow up appointment next week.. the guy that called said if I don't hear from them in a month call the customer service number what an absolute joke!! lifetime guarantee my ar$e.. where to from here??

They told me that it was all down to the economic climate and all the clinics in Ireland will be closed with immediate effect. I had my final eye exam (13 months post procedure) booked in for Saturday but was very unhappy to be told it was now moved to Belfast!! I tried to get them to reimburse my journey but they were having none of it so just cancelled it instead!

I can't find any information about them closing online either!!

At least your over the first few months as I think having regular check-ups are vital in the early stages but still sucks! Imagine the people who had it done on Saturday – would not like to be in their shoes

She told me the lifetime guarantee was still there but like ya right!!

Meadows

Last week i paid for my July 26th operation in full, this Wednesday i was told the office no longer exists. I now am in a nightmare situation of trying to get my money back, €1995. They accepted my money with a friendly smile. I ring every day and the operator tells me that the internal office isn't getting back to her. She told me it could be 3 weeks before i hear anything.

tbeans

Meadows wrote: »

Last week i paid for my July 26th operation in full, this Wednesday i was told the office no longer exists. I now am in a nightmare situation of trying to get my money back, €1995. They accepted my money with a friendly smile. I ring every day and the operator tells me that the internal office isn't getting back to her. She told me it could be 3 weeks before i hear anything.

What a nightmare! Sorry to hear that...

Any chance you paid with Credit Card? You'd be able to claim it back from the bank that way!

Meadows

no such luck, i paid in hard cash, they were there for 13 years and close as soon as I decide to give them 2k. Still no sign of my money back. Anxious stuff.

tbeans

Ouch!!

Best of luck with it! Fingers are crossed for you!

monavie

I too received a call from Ultralase last Thursday.. I got my surgery on the 13th June and i am due a month follow up on the 25th of July. I am curious as to if anyone else is paying the monthly option as? as i am seriously considering cancelling my direct debit and using the money to pay for another clinic to give me my aftercare. I am in no position to travel to Belfast for follow ups, so ill need to get my after care in the republic...

biru

I am in exactly the same situation got my surgery done in may and my next check up supposed to be next week, got a phone call yesterday saying its cancelled cose its closing down in cork. there is no way I can possibly be travelling for the 5 minutes check ups everytime to belfast which means taking time off work, traveling expences. I also have a monthly payment plan and thinking just to cancel it.

itsme89

i think anyone paying by the monthly payment plan should cancel their direct debit with this company and use the money towards future consultations with optilase or optical express even specsavers might have a look at your eyes somewhere closer to home.. i paid it all off in one lump some which i noe greatly regret. i got my eyes done the middle of june & was outraged when i heard all of this as if they had not known this was on the cards before i went through with the procedure.. they give you all of these emergency numbers to call in the event of something going wrong but im in the south of ireland it would take me half a day to get to belfast in which time the damage would probably already be done to my eyes rather then just going to the cork or limerick clinic.. this angers me so much and to make things worse i asked them for arguments sake to see if they could get me my monthly appointment up in belfast as i was due to have it next week.. the adviser told me she would check it for me and get back to me that evening.. this was last thursday!!!!!!!!!! mind you the vision isnt bad :-D

monavie

I have emailed the wellington clinic in the Beacon to find out how much the aftercare would be with them, I shall keep you updated.
I then plan on contacting the receivers, to let them know how much i will be paying and will expect them to then reflect this with my payment plan. I received a service and I plan on fulfilling my contract but with no loss to my pocket for aftercare... Honestly never expected this to happen, knew there had to be a catch

itsme89

is there anything we can actually do or is going up to belfast or over to england still giving the lifetime guarantee.,.?

biru

I was on the phone with national consumer agency today, and what they've told me was that we've lost our life time gurantee if the clinic has closed down and the fact that they are giving us an appointment in belfast is nothing but a gesture of goodwill. Anyways I also called optical express to find out how much would they charge for a check up and they told me its 25e, which is way cheaper than going up and down to belfast. And now I just hope that the check ups will be all that I will need in the future.

itsme89

now isn't that a kick in the teeth.. surely though as the company is still existent in england the life time guarantee would still apply to us in any of their clinics it wouldn't necessarily have to be in ireland IF anything were to ever go wrong.. it would probably be easier to just go to optilase or optical express for the check ups as you say though for now... a lot less hassle.

tbeans

Just got a quote from Wellington Eye Clinic for initial consultation is €150 - which includes a full eye examination and then check-ups following the initial consultation are €100.

Has anyone stopped their Direct Debit yet? I'm thinking strongly of doing it

itsme89

do it tbeans cancel the direct debit.. i would if i still could!!!!

tbeans

Just called BDO who now look after finances for Ultralase (Irish Office) and have been told that I'm in a binding contract and to not cancel my direct debit as it will become a legal issue if I do

I also talked to the Customer Support Ultralase and she said that Lifetime Guarantee is still in place but I'd be going to Belfast if I need it plus they may (down the line) partner with someone locally in Dublin to conduct the follow-up consultations but the whole thing is extremely annoying and finding it hard to believe or trust what she was telling me!

lcbs

I am surprised that Ultralase closing down and all the job losses has not been in the media. Checked the company records office, Ultralase UK & Ireland was bought over by Optimax UK last year. Optimax director Russell Ambrose took over Ultralase in Ireland debit from RBS and has now put Ultralase in Ireland into receivership after only a few months trading. Ultralase UK is still trading.

Heebie

I didn't even get a call. I got there for my appointment today, and it was just gone.
If the date is right on the first post here, they shut down just 3 weeks after my previous check up!
I was due to get follow-on surgery to adjust my visions, since it's not quite right.
I may very well find myself utilising the belfast-based after care if they're willing to honour the lifetime guarantee there... perhaps a few of us could get our appointments in clusters and carpool up there?

itsme89

heebie how do we know u even got the treatment done.. u r a complete stranger i dont know could i trust u all the way to belfast..:-P only joking i was talking to customer support and they said that i would get reimbursed for travel expenses if i did go for my check up in belfast.. was anyone told this or r they just fobbing me off until i ring again??

Heebie

I just got hold of them today, and I'm actually pleasantly surprised at just how far they seem to be going to keep their name from being tarnished. I've been given an appointment for a consult in Belfast, so they can check on my eyes, and plan on the follow-up surgery, and they have sent me verification of the appointment, told me that I'll be given information when I show up for my appointment on where to submit the receipts to get reimbursed for travel, and verified that they do intend on honouring the lifetime aftercare guarantee I was given.
Of course.. now I have to wait until September and see if they hold to their words, but I'm certainly going to give them the benefit of the doubt.
The appointment is at an Optimax clinic. Optimax is the company that bought Ultralase back in December.
I was happily surprised at how helpful the representative of the receiver was as well.

seantech

If you read your Terms and Conditions on the Lifetime Gaurantee you will see that the treatment is to be done within the Republic Of Ireland. It is down at the very last Term and Condition. The fact that Belfast is outside the Republic of Ireland means that they have broken the contract. I believe that we have a case to take them to court. I contacted Joe Duffy last week they said they were going to announce it but didn't I then contacted the RTE news room and they wouldn't announce it. I also contacted TV3 and they won't announce it either. So I wonder is the owners of this company involved in some company here in Ireland that is advertising with these stations of what? I am going to take a legal action against them so should everyone else. The consumer agency saying that we have lost this guarantee is incorrect. They are still trading in England. It is an insult to Irish people. There is I believe a case here for the European court as well.

Heebie

seantech: Please keep us informed about what's going on. It's certainly a confusing situation.

rok

When I was looking into Laser Surgery last year I had a free consultation with Ultralase. I checked out the reviews here and also google'd Ultralase.
I found reports that the UK division were in financial difficulty - I think someone had posted it on this forum also.

I was concerned about this as I wanted to make sure they would still be in operation if I needed aftercare etc. When I asked Ultralase about this they strongly refuted my concerns, getting very defensive about it. They told me if they did close that there is allowances in place so that their book of clients would be passed over to someone else so hopefully that is in place for you if needed.

Heebie

I'm sure the UK division were in financial difficulty. They were bought out last December by Optimax. Optimax is whom my appointment in September is booked with. Hopefully Optimax is in good financial shape.
The zero-percent finance deal is what made me look at Ultralase seriously. I could have gotten a discount somewhere else, but the "free" financing worked out to be a better deal than the discount I had through my health insurer.

EmmsH

Hey guys,

I got LASEK done in Ultralase in Dundrum over a year ago. Been paying the monthly instalments, but I just checked there and it seems that the direct debit has dissapeared from my account! No money going out to them at all. Very strange. So been trying to find a way of contacting them all day but the numbers are all disconnected. Can't seem to find any info at all.

Wondering about the lifetime care guarantee. Surely, if they don't guarantee it even after they close, they are in violation of their contract? I'm kind of thinking that I'm not gonna pay any more money until I hear from one of them whats happening.

Has anyone got any further information?

Beaker_KK

I was scheduled for LASIK in Ultralase Waterford for 26th July. When Optimax rang to inform me of the closure of Ultralase they gave me the option of travelling to the Belfast Optimax and they would do the surgery there for the same price Ultralase had quoted me (€1995). I decided to go for it and I am in Belfast now, heading off for my surgery in a few minutes! I will update post-surgery but so far I must say the Belfast office is good, the care has been excellent so far. Follow-up appointments will be a pain, I will stay over tonight and get the one-day check-up done here, and I'll come back up next week for the one-week, but after that I will probably look for a way to get follow-up care in Kilkenny. They said they are working on partnering with Specsavers for after-care (as they do in the UK), but the details haven't been ironed out yet.

biru

Hi guys has anyone had a lasek surgery done with ultralase? I was just wondering how many follow up check ups I was suppose to get? I went to belfast for my check up three months after the surgery and they said its the last one, now im discharged and if I need my eyes to be checked I should go to my local optician. I actually feel that that is the nice way of getting rid of me.

Beaker_KK

Hi biru I got LASIK not LASEK but in the pamphlet I got it does say 3rd visit, 1 month & discharge if satisfactory, followed by 4th visit, 3 months & discharge if satisfactory.

itsme89

any one else now having a problem getting threw to da customer care number for tthis crowd.. its awful fishy!!!!

Wheja

Hi guys, I'm a new member to Boards.ie. I was googling my old employer Ultralase and this thread came up. I was made redundant with no warning from the company on July 2nd. I worked in Waterford Clinic. I had no contact from Ultralase or Optimax and am dealing with the recievers BDO. Trust me, I was as shocked as you all are. The clinic was closed on the Tuesday and I got a phonecall to come into the clinic to hand over my keys and give them codes to the safe etc. I too think it is disgraceful the way patients have been treated. Business was slow but I didn't antcipate this!!
For any patients, I would contact customer services and look for copies of your files for your own future reference. The company is obliged to keep them on file for 7 years.

shellybobs

EmmsH wrote: »

Hey guys,

I got LASEK done in Ultralase in Dundrum over a year ago. Been paying the monthly instalments, but I just checked there and it seems that the direct debit has dissapeared from my account! No money going out to them at all. Very strange. So been trying to find a way of contacting them all day but the numbers are all disconnected. Can't seem to find any info at all.

Wondering about the lifetime care guarantee. Surely, if they don't guarantee it even after they close, they are in violation of their contract? I'm kind of thinking that I'm not gonna pay any more money until I hear from one of them whats happening.

Has anyone got any further information?

Hi Guys i had my surgery done also in Dundrum last October, and i too was delighted with the 0% interest free option for 3 years. I am currently still paying my direct debit which i missed last month but they contacted me right away to make sure my payment was made. Has anyone any suggestions as what we should do from here i have not had any further appointments with them since last february. I am not even sure as to how often i should have appointments to check my eyes. Does anyone have a number to contact someone from the company on thanks.

Meadows

by the way, i eventually got my eyes done in belfast, a major hassle, but they are going to pay for my aftercare locally. I got them done on 26th of july and apparently i have to send off my receipts to ultralse HQ and i will get the after care money refunded.

So ultimately it is mostly behind me and my eyes are great (apart from the usual halos which take months to go away)

TurkiyeKelebek

Hey, I had my op done in June 2011 and I googled UltraLase only a few days ago to organize an appointment as my eyes seem to have deteriorated. That's when I saw this thread and found out about all the closed clinics. I've spoken to the Belfast clinic and have had email contact with the new owner of UltraLase Russell Ambrose ( Russell.ambrose@optimax.co.uk). They are organising an appointment for me in an opticians in Dublin and will call me back. I've been talking to an assistant of Russell who has been very helpful and reassuring. It remains to be seen if they follow through but I will post back to update on my progress

josh87

hi guys i jus signed up especially to ask this question. Firstl its great that im not the only ex ultralase person, comments have been so helpful. I got my eyes done in waterford in 2010. have to say im delighted with result and hav had no prob. Recently i have got my tax affairs in order and want to claim for the op im 2010. Does anyone know where i can get details of my op, was told that since ultralase were closed they cant be got. Hope this is not the case some advice would be really appreciated. btw my original copies were destroyed thanks

Wheja

Hi Josh87, if you contact Optimax call centre they will be able to access your files and give you the relevant details to make your tax claim.
Also, I can recommend a local (to Waterford) optom that may help out with aftercare. Someone mentioned something about it above. If you want to pm me, I can give details.

josh87

thank you very much Wheja. Im a little confused il admit, do i try cintact Ultralase Belfast? who are Optimax and are they in republic of ireland please, sorry if this a silly question

Wheja

Optimax bought Ultralase last December. The Belfast clinic is still trading as far as I know but there are no longer clinics in the Republic as of the beginning of July. Because you were treated in 2010 your details are held on the central admin system. Google Optimax and telephone them. They will be able to access all your information and send you receipts as required. I'd also suggest requesting a copy of your file for future reference (just in case).

josh87

hi all after a lot of hassle and phone calls and shouting (mostly from me) i got a number for Ultralase accounts department in Gilford, i rand them and they had my records, they are meant to post me a receipt. I will post when (if) i get it but it seemed ok, i gave my name n dob and my address came up. the number is 00441483576041.
I asked about after care (my op was in 2010) they said it would be in belfast and england only but that they could send my complete medical file to me for 10 sterling. Has any one any views on this or if they tink its legit? I have the full postal adress here if anyone wants it, or wants their files to get after care in ireland.

Wheja

Yes, unfortunately if you read the Lifetime Care Guarantee you would have been given after your treatment, UL will provide aftercare in any of their clinics. The closest is Belfast. From speaking to other patients I have heard UL are covering travel costs to the Belfast clinic. Or pay to get your file back (€10 covers admin costs) and pay to see someone locally.

TurkiyeKelebek

I was told you can pay to see someone locally and be re-imbursed. I have the form if anyone wants it, I can email it to them?

josh87

hi all again i was wondering if anyone has the former business address of ultralase waterford before they closed. Its what i need as im claiming for an op in 2010, any help greatly appreciated

Wheja

Ultralase Ireland
The Atrium
Maritana Gate
Canada Street
Waterford City.

medo1

Hi,
has anyone stopped paying the direct debit and if so were there any consequences? I had laser surgery last December and am paying monthly for 24 months. I have only discovered today (to my horror) that ultralase is no more.
I am having some problems with my eyes and called ultralase, as I thought, to get my ''free for lifetime'' check-up, Optical Express now have ultralase clients but will charge €50 for an appointment.
If this is a breach of contract do i still have to pay the remaining 14 installments?

Wheja

medo1 wrote: »

Hi,
has anyone stopped paying the direct debit and if so were there any consequences? I had laser surgery last December and am paying monthly for 24 months. I have only discovered today (to my horror) that ultralase is no more.
I am having some problems with my eyes and called ultralase, as I thought, to get my ''free for lifetime'' check-up, Optical Express now have ultralase clients but will charge €50 for an appointment.
If this is a breach of contract do i still have to pay the remaining 14 installments?

Is your IFC with Ultralase or with Creation Finance? If it's through Creation then you will have to pay.

Where was the appointment offered?

medo1

Hi Wheja,
my payments were with Creation Finance so i have no comeback then and will have to continue paying for a service that no longer exists. Is this legal does anyone know?
Optical Express didn't specify where the appointment would be as when I heard that I'd now have to pay for my check-ups I didn't enquire any further, I thought there had been a mistake.
I can't believe the media have not reported this story, definately something fishy there.

Wheja

When you took out the IFC with Creation Ultralase were obviously paid for the cost of your treatment. You make a good point that the service you paid for no longer exists but you did have the treatment and that is what you are paying for. IMO you are in the same boat as someone who got a credit union loan for the cost of treatment. That loan will still have to be paid regardless of whether UL have closed down.
I would query where the appointment is to take place. Under the terms of your LTCG you should be entitled to free check-ups, provided you kept up your routine visits post surgery. I suspect that this loophole will allow Optimax to justify charging for appointments.

Heebie

I've just received a call from these folks cancelling my 10th December appointment for re-treatment of one of my eyes.
I'm trying to verify what's going on with the clinic itself, but this is ridiculous. I've jumped through the hoops and gone up to Belfast, and booked in the appointment up there for the re-treatment.. they shouldn't be cancelling it!
They said it's because the remaining Ultralase clinics it he UK have gone into administration, but the Belfast appointment was already with Optimax, the company that bought out Ultralase, and not with Ultralase.
Back to "waiting to hear from them" about this whole nonsense.
It ight be getting to be time for the lot of us to chip in a few bob each and get a solicitor to take a serious look at this.

Wheja

What they've told you doesn't make sense!! Ultralase in the UK were bought/taken over by Optimax in November 2012. And regardless, what would that have to do with having a retreat in Belfast (or anywhere!) as it is covered by your LTCG. If you are having issues, I urge you to request your file from the company. Just to have should you need it at a later date.

Heebie

I know it doesn't make sense, and I'm going to directly ring the Belfast Optimax office on Monday and ask WTF.
I'll also get them to send me a copy of my file somehow or other. You're right, it's something I want to have to hand later on!
I think I might also need that for some tax purposes.. although I don't have any idea how to go about filing something like that for tax purposes anyhow. It doesn't seem to be something you can do in ROS.

Serval

Hi guys. I also had my appointment for a meeting with the surgeon regarding retreatment cancelled for the 12th Nov. I was so disappointed and angry after the call.

I had been up to the Belfast clinics (Ultralase and Optimax) a couple of months ago and was finally believing that I would be finished with this disaster of a situation once my treatment would be finished.

I rang optimax after receiving the call from Ultralase in Leeds and was given no information other than the fact that Optimax has nothing to do with the Ultralase situation and there was nothing she could do for me except give me the Ultralase call centre number.

I am devastated over the whole situation as i sought laser treatment to follow a career I always wanted. If it wasnt for the complete incompetence of some staff at Ultralase Cork I would have been finished with my re-treatment 11 months ago which makes it so much worse for me to think about!

If anyone recieved more info on this PLEASE post it here or tell those of us that are left in LIMBO!!

Thanks in advance.