Ultralase in Ireland to Close?

eyeproblems

Hi folks,
Has anyone got a phone call from Optimax in Belfast saying they have gone into administration. I was dealing with Ultralase in Cork, which apparently were taken over by Optimax so my re-treatment was meant to occur in Belfast. Now they have gone! Does anyone have any additional information? This is so distressing, not to mention the financial worry of re-treatment!
Regards
Eye problems

Heebie

What I was told was that Ultralase in the UK was going into administration, but that Optimax was not. This doesn't make a lot of sense to me. We should all call en-masse & make sure their phone lines are clogged until we get answers.

Serval

Yes its very frustrating. Ultralase told me they are in administration and then optimax said that Ultralaze are in liquidation. They girl from optimax told me there is nothing I can do because Ultralaze isnt a company anymore?! The relationship between these 2 companies is very unusual im guessing :mad:

eyeproblems

I have e mailed the national consumer agency to get a bit of advice or information, this is such appalling customer service
Regards

stardoll81

Hi, last year I noticed that Ultralase had stopped taking my direct debit last one Nov 2012 . I got a letter earlier this year to advise that Ultralase had been taken over and that the DD's would resume from April 2013 which they did but now today I notice that the DD was last taken in July even though the money is in my account to cover it. I rang Creation today and they could find no trace of me bar a pending account that has never been active?

Should i cancel Direct debit?

TurkiyeKelebek

Russell.Ambrose@Optimax.co.uk

Hi everyone,

The above email address is the owner of Optimax, he seems to be oblivious to how many people this affects. Please email him with your concerns. I'm waiting on reimbursement for an eyetest. It's only €25 but I'm fighting for it on principle. I'm shocked at how they've got away with abandoning us!!

brenm82

I had laser eye surgery in Ultralase in Dundrum in November 2012 my eyesight deteriorated considerably in April and I contacted them for a check up and I was told I would indeed need retreatment but they had to wait for my eyesight to stabilise. Then I received a phone call to say that they closed down and that optimax would be taking over and the nearest one to me was in Belfast. I went for a follow up in Optimax in Belfast on the 30th of September. Whilst in Optimax I was told that my eyesight had deteriorated slightly again and it should be stabilised by December so I was booked in for retreatment on the 13th of December. On the Saturday I received a further phone call to inform me that the clinic in Belfast has now closed down and my treatment is being canceled for the second time. This is very distressing so if anyone has further updates will ye let us know! Will def be sending an email to that contact in Belfast about it not that he will take any notice! 😔😔😔😔

ellimac

hi everyone,
i am an ultrlase customer in cork and was told in the summer to come back in October to arrange for a second op. To my surprise, i found that ultralase have now closed!!! i emailed them and got an email back to apologize and assure me they would get back to me over the next few weeks with more info. has anyone had a similar email???

1881

medo1 wrote: »

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.

If you read the Creation page it does say "If the goods are not fully given or only part given you are entitled to stop payment" or try to claim bk.There are so many avenues to go down it's overwhelming. I was told I have to write to the finincial ombudsman in Uk as ultralase were not a reg co. here.

Undercover secret agent

Hi

Undercover secret agent

Hi all

I have had a nightmare with this lot, I got surgery with Ultralase Ireland awhile back, ended up in hospital with the most severe infection you could get, I was actually blind for afew days and in the most pain I've ever suffered in my entire life. I've a letter from Ultralase to reimburse me for the surgery however now that Ultralase Ireland are gone I'm finding it very hard to get anyone to listen. I've rang Optimax and have sent registered letters however I'm been told they are really "busy" right now so someone will call me back. It is criminal what they are doing to us............I will keep you posted on how this one turns out, I'm not letting this one go...........

Heebie

I've just received a call from Optimax today, and I have an appointment to get my long-overdue follow-up surgery done in February.
So, at least is again appears things are going in a positive direction.
We'll just see if on 1st February if they ring & tell me my appointment is cancelled again, or if I show up at the office & it's packed up and gone like happened last May!

brenm82

I received a phonecall from optimax today am getting my follow up surgery in Belfast the end of February. They said that due to the liquidation they are not covering travelling and hotel expenses but at least they are covering the cost of the retreatment. Fingers crossed it goes ahead!

ebowdia

My wife had the initial surgery in Cork in 2012 and also has to back for corrective surgery. After a couple of cancellation by Ultralase/Optimax she too got a call the other day for the followup surgery at the end of Feb. As the previous poster mentioned they are now not covering travel/accommodation.

Heebie

I received the forms in the mail today for my surgery scheduled for next month.. so another step forward!

itsme89

hey guys what number did ye ring about this.. i need re treatment in one of my eyes but havnt been able to get in contact with anyone??
Thanks

itsme89

hey guys what number did ye ring about this.. i need re treatment in one of my eyes but havnt been able to get in contact with anyone??
Thanks

Heebie

I have this number for the contact centre in the UK:
+0044 8000 9620 70

UK general number for Optimax: +44 845 223 2616

Belfast clinic: +44 28 9051 7500

itsme89 wrote: »

hey guys what number did ye ring about this.. i need re treatment in one of my eyes but havnt been able to get in contact with anyone??
Thanks

TurkiyeKelebek

Hi, I just got a letter today requesting I pay the rest of the money owed to UltraLase. Getting legal advice tonight. Has everyone who was due for re-treatment got it done?

Heebie

My appointment is the 25th (and I know at least one other has an appointment the same day)
I did get a call from them to verify the appointment. I'll let you know if I get there and get told it's not happening.

TurkiyeKelebek wrote: »

Hi, I just got a letter today requesting I pay the rest of the money owed to UltraLase. Getting legal advice tonight. Has everyone who was due for re-treatment got it done?

Heebie

I received a confirmation of my re-treatment appointment by post today, should be going forward next Tuesday according to this!
Keep your fingers crossed everyone!

stardoll81

Hi guys I was paying by direct debit which hasn't been taken since last July and I received a letter today from a company called BDO who are the receivers for ultralase Ireland stating that I owe a certain amount....am I still obliged to pay this amount??

TurkiyeKelebek

stardoll81 wrote: »

Hi guys I was paying by direct debit which hasn't been taken since last July and I received a letter today from a company called BDO who are the receivers for ultralase Ireland stating that I owe a certain amount....am I still obliged to pay this amount??

I got that same letter last week and I received legal advice this evening. The lawyer reckons we mightnt have to pay it but to organise a face to face with bdo to argue that we arent receiving all we were promised. Im going to call bdo tomorrow and arrange a meeting. Maybe you should do the same?

stardoll81

TurkiyeKelebek wrote: »

I got that same letter last week and I received legal advice this evening. The lawyer reckons we mightnt have to pay it but to organise a face to face with bdo to argue that we arent receiving all we were promised. Im going to call bdo tomorrow and arrange a meeting. Maybe you should do the same?

Thanks again for this, I called BDO and they basically said I was liable for the full amount, have spoken to a solicitor and he advised that may not be the case given that Ultralase were offering a lifetime guarantee....now to try and find the finance agreement I signed to look at the T&C's , here's hoping it's not lost in the house move!! :eek:

TurkiyeKelebek

stardoll81 wrote: »

Thanks again for this, I called BDO and they basically said I was liable for the full amount, have spoken to a solicitor and he advised that may not be the case given that Ultralase were offering a lifetime guarantee....now to try and find the finance agreement I signed to look at the T&C's , here's hoping it's not lost in the house move!! :eek:

Oh no, hopefully you'll find it! I've to email them stating why I'm unhappy so they can seek legal advice before meeting me. I think they could be hoping we'll just pay without questioning it! I'll let you know how I get on

Heebie

I have all my paperwork, if it was signed during the same era, it should be alike, although my DD's are still being taken, so perhaps it's a different finance company. (unless you stopped the DD's yourself.)

stardoll81 wrote: »

Thanks again for this, I called BDO and they basically said I was liable for the full amount, have spoken to a solicitor and he advised that may not be the case given that Ultralase were offering a lifetime guarantee....now to try and find the finance agreement I signed to look at the T&C's , here's hoping it's not lost in the house move!! :eek:

stardoll81

Heebie wrote: »

I have all my paperwork, if it was signed during the same era, it should be alike, although my DD's are still being taken, so perhaps it's a different finance company. (unless you stopped the DD's yourself.)

Thanks, I signed my agreement in March 2011, was yours around the same time?

muirean

Hi, I am a similar case to yours, i underwent treatment 18th March 2013 in Waterford. I received a similar letter from BDO to pay a sum of money to Quality Health Care Ltd. I spoke to a lady from BDO today who said I was offered a 20% discount as was also in the letter for paying the amount due in an up front payment before Feb 28th. Otherwise i'd have to pay the full sum of money to them at a later date or face legal proceedings. This sounds to me like scare mongering tactics.
I havnt got legal advise about it yet, i am about to pen an email to them first and tomorrow speak to a more senior member of the firm to see if I can broker a deal since I am forfeiting my life time after care service. I am willing to pay my debt, id settle with a 50% discount on the principle sum. The way I see it, if the can offer a 20% discount on the amount why not offer 50%? The company did breach their contract to us after all. We are not going to have to pay the difference by forking out to get alternative treatment elsewhere.

stardoll81

All documentation found including worthless lifetime guarantee certificate so will let everyone know how i get on!

Heebie

Mine was November 2012, so probably some changes between when yours was signed and when mine was.

stardoll81 wrote: »

Thanks, I signed my agreement in March 2011, was yours around the same time?

Heebie

I have a newly lasered eye as a follow-up. I met two other people from the Republic, and the doctor that did my eye said he had already done follow-up surgeries on 5 other Ultralase patients before me when I was in yesterday.

So.. there is real, genuine follow-through going on.

I was also told that all of us should get letters fairly soon from Optimax about exactly what happened during all the hullaballoo.

I remember being told by Ultralse that ideally the flap should be lifted before 6 months of healing went by, but after 15 months, the Dr. I saw yesterday did not have any difficulty lifting the flap & performing the surgery. So far (a bit over 24-hours in) the result seems to be excellent. I still had a fairly pronounced astigmatism in my left eye, and it appears either to be gone, or to be so reduced that I can't see it due to the eye not quite focusing right yet. (It does take a little while to fully settle, as I'm sure anyone interested in this thread should already know.)

Looks amazing so far, though.

TurkiyeKelebek

Heebie wrote: »

I have a newly lasered eye as a follow-up. I met two other people from the Republic, and the doctor that did my eye said he had already done follow-up surgeries on 5 other Ultralase patients before me when I was in yesterday.

So.. there is real, genuine follow-through going on.

I was also told that all of us should get letters fairly soon from Optimax about exactly what happened during all the hullaballoo.

I remember being told by Ultralse that ideally the flap should be lifted before 6 months of healing went by, but after 15 months, the Dr. I saw yesterday did not have any difficulty lifting the flap & performing the surgery. So far (a bit over 24-hours in) the result seems to be excellent. I still had a fairly pronounced astigmatism in my left eye, and it appears either to be gone, or to be so reduced that I can't see it due to the eye not quite focusing right yet. (It does take a little while to fully settle, as I'm sure anyone interested in this thread should already know.)

Looks amazing so far, though.

Soooooo thrilled for you!! I'm having awful trouble with bdo, apparently my lifetime guarantee is null and void and they're refusing to meet with me even though I was advised legally that, if I request it, they MUST meet with me.

Heebie

What's BDO?

I probably should have mentioned that my lifetime care guarantee from Ultralase is considered null and void, and they're taking care of Ultralase patients as a "goodwill gesture"

I was also told that I should still be able to go back if my OTHER eye still needs adjustment, but that once my eyes are both "good enough" I will be "discharged" and that will be that.

They have actually changed the language in the literature they hand out at their office between my consult in September and now. The one in September said that there was a lifetime care guarantee, and now it says that care if guaranteed until you are discharged. I have a feeling that this linguistic change might have something to do with things they found out after they bought Ultralase & liquidated it.

TurkiyeKelebek wrote: »

Soooooo thrilled for you!! I'm having awful trouble with bdo, apparently my lifetime guarantee is null and void and they're refusing to meet with me even though I was advised legally that, if I request it, they MUST meet with me.

TurkiyeKelebek

Heebie wrote: »

What's BDO?

I probably should have mentioned that my lifetime care guarantee from Ultralase is considered null and void, and they're taking care of Ultralase patients as a "goodwill gesture"

I was also told that I should still be able to go back if my OTHER eye still needs adjustment, but that once my eyes are both "good enough" I will be "discharged" and that will be that.

They have actually changed the language in the literature they hand out at their office between my consult in September and now. The one in September said that there was a lifetime care guarantee, and now it says that care if guaranteed until you are discharged. I have a feeling that this linguistic change might have something to do with things they found out after they bought Ultralase & liquidated it.

Ahhh that makes sense. They are the receivership looking after ultralase's finances. Not very pleasant or helpful.

Heebie

I got my letter from Ultralase yesterday. I'd imagine I'm not the only one.

brenm82

I got my retreatment done last Tuesday. After the initial eye exam the surgeon said he was hoping to retreat with Lasix which he did. I was told that once i am discharged following this procedure I am no longer covered by ultralase and that as this my second retreatment I won't be covered if I need any further treatment. Hopefully I won't need any other treatments!!!!!!!

Heebie

I wonder if you're one of the folks I bumped into while I was there. I know there were at least 8 of us from the ROI there on Tuesday last, and I met three in person.
I was there from about 1pm to 3:30pm

Did you have 1 re-treatment on each eye, or one eye re-treated twice?

I've had one eye re-treated, and so far it seems good, although a little blurry& unstable still, the astigmatism appears to be pretty much gone.

brenm82 wrote: »

I got my retreatment done last Tuesday. After the initial eye exam the surgeon said he was hoping to retreat with Lasix which he did. I was told that once i am discharged following this procedure I am no longer covered by ultralase and that as this my second retreatment I won't be covered if I need any further treatment. Hopefully I won't need any other treatments!!!!!!!

brenm82

I was there early in the morning I was the second one in to get treated they said there was over 10 of us being treated on Tuesday!! I got both eyes retreated they detoriated quick enough after the first time so I'm hoping that this time it will work especially when they said they won't cover a third one treatment. My sight is good so far so fingers crossed :-)

mutley18

I have only just heard about all this tonight! Was it not on the news at the time?!

Anyway I had LASIK in June 2011 with Ultralase in Belfast, I live in Donegal so it was the closest option. Am I up shít creek without a paddle now regarding retreatment? This is all incredibly disappointing. €4000 down the drain.

TurkiyeKelebek

mutley18 wrote: »

I have only just heard about all this tonight! Was it not on the news at the time?!

Anyway I had LASIK in June 2011 with Ultralase in Belfast, I live in Donegal so it was the closest option. Am I up shít creek without a paddle now regarding retreatment? This is all incredibly disappointing. €4000 down the drain.

No, no one knew anything about them closing. Yep we all are, it's disgraceful!!

Heebie

I never saw anything in the news. I showed up my my re-treatment appointment in mid-May last year to find a single A4 sheet on the door with a single paragraph, a name, an address, and a phone number to ring.
I'd not been told my appointment was cancelled etc..

But.. if you have need for re-treatment NOW, I'd suggest getting in touch with them. My initial treatment was in 2012, and I just got re-treated last week.

mutley18 wrote: »

I have only just heard about all this tonight! Was it not on the news at the time?!

Anyway I had LASIK in June 2011 with Ultralase in Belfast, I live in Donegal so it was the closest option. Am I up shít creek without a paddle now regarding retreatment? This is all incredibly disappointing. €4000 down the drain.

ellimac

hi everyone,
i have my appointment for re treatment in Belfast at the end of April and i was just wondering what the story is with travel and accommodation? are they offering any sort of financial assistance? it seems that in parts of England people have been given 50% of travel/acc costs? also, for the people who have had re treatment in Belfast - did you travel alone? i'm thinking of going alone as i can't expect anyone to take 2 days off just to come with me...what do you think?
thanks

brenm82

ellimac wrote: »

hi everyone,
i have my appointment for re treatment in Belfast at the end of April and i was just wondering what the story is with travel and accommodation? are they offering any sort of financial assistance? it seems that in parts of England people have been given 50% of travel/acc costs? also, for the people who have had re treatment in Belfast - did you travel alone? i'm thinking of going alone as i can't expect anyone to take 2 days off just to come with me...what do you think?
thanks

Hey. I got my re treatment done the end of feb and it's so far so good. They didn't cover any accomodation or travel expenses for those who had to travel to Belfast unfortunately. My husband traveled with me but think they let you get a taxi to where your staying I'm not 100% sure though. Hope it goes well :-)

Heebie

They're not covering travel or accomodation etc..
I stayed in a guest house just a bit up the road:
http://www.avenueguesthouse.com/

Nice place to stay, price is pretty good too. (£45 sterling per night booked through bookings.com) Nice people, amazing breakfast, clean & gorgeous. (sorry for the ad.. I was just THAT impressed with them. Great Thai place just down the block from them, too.)

Good luck with your treatment! Mine went well.

ellimac wrote: »

hi everyone,
i have my appointment for re treatment in Belfast at the end of April and i was just wondering what the story is with travel and accommodation? are they offering any sort of financial assistance? it seems that in parts of England people have been given 50% of travel/acc costs? also, for the people who have had re treatment in Belfast - did you travel alone? i'm thinking of going alone as i can't expect anyone to take 2 days off just to come with me...what do you think?
thanks

mutley18

mutley18 wrote: »

I have only just heard about all this tonight! Was it not on the news at the time?!

Anyway I had LASIK in June 2011 with Ultralase in Belfast, I live in Donegal so it was the closest option. Am I up shít creek without a paddle now regarding retreatment? This is all incredibly disappointing. €4000 down the drain.

Sorry lads but who exactly do I contact regarding re-treatment? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

brenm82

mutley18 wrote: »

Sorry lads but who exactly do I contact regarding re-treatment? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The number for the optimax clinic in Belfast is 00442890661118 if you ring them they should be able help. Hope you get sorted :-)

FiveSive

Just read through this thread! cant believe Ultralase gone, i got mine done in Sep 2010, was really happy with it, paid €4k for lifetime guarantee.

I can feel my left eye has faded a bit in the last year, id say i might be around -1 in it now again. Ended up saying this to a friend and she told me ultralase had closed! Disaster..

I cant believe the amount of people saying they needed re-treatments either, i thought this wouldn't be that common.

West Girl

Hi All,

Just found out about ultralase yesterday as I went for an eye test and my eyes have deteriorated to -0.5. Based on the information you all posted I just rang Optimax and they told me;
1) They would not recommend retreatment until my eyes went down to about -0.75!!! Has anyone else been told that?
2) If I go back for retreatment they are going to charge me £195 per eye? Has anyone else been told this?

Also, has anyone stopped their payment finance with Creation, I don't know what to do?

stardoll81

Hi Guys,

Just an update on the BDO situation, I got nowhere trying to discuss the matter with them in relation to monies owed so ended up getting my solicitor involved over a month ago and he hasn't heard from them at all!

TurkiyeKelebek

stardoll81 wrote: »

Hi Guys,

Just an update on the BDO situation, I got nowhere trying to discuss the matter with them in relation to monies owed so ended up getting my solicitor involved over a month ago and he hasn't heard from them at all!

Hi,

I had terrible trouble trying to speak to someone in charge. Eventually I did and I was told to email a proposal of how much I wanted to pay. I did this and haven't heard from them in over 6 weeks. Very strange set-up indeed.