Ultralase in Ireland to Close?

stardoll81 · 24-04-2014 4:48pm

TurkiyeKelebek wrote: »

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.

I did this back at the end of February and they rejected the initial offer and gave the impression there wasn't any room to negotiate bar the 20% discount they were offering and we were getting nowhere, as I said I've left it in the hands of my solicitor now so lets see if they do hear anything eventually! I agree strange setup and a bit of a fiasco!

TurkiyeKelebek · 24-04-2014 5:01pm

stardoll81 wrote: »

I did this back at the end of February and they rejected the initial offer and gave the impression there wasn't any room to negotiate bar the 20% discount they were offering and we were getting nowhere, as I said I've left it in the hands of my solicitor now so lets see if they do hear anything eventually! I agree strange setup and a bit of a fiasco!

Yeah, I caused a bit of a stink over the lifetime guarantee so they suggested a proposal. Be careful with their figures aswell, I owe them less than they think and I have the bank statements to prove it.

stardoll81 · 24-04-2014 5:34pm

TurkiyeKelebek wrote: »

Yeah, I caused a bit of a stink over the lifetime guarantee so they suggested a proposal. Be careful with their figures aswell, I owe them less than they think and I have the bank statements to prove it.

Thanks for the tip about the figures, I just checked and from my records I owe less than they stated also!

It'll be interesting to see what they come back with

TurkiyeKelebek · 15-06-2014 11:24am

Has anyone else gotten a letter requesting only 50% of the amount owed if payed by August??

stardoll81 · 15-06-2014 11:48am

Yep I got this the other day...seems like it was a standard letter, still deciding what to about it though...what bout u??

TurkiyeKelebek · 15-06-2014 1:32pm

Yeah i think i might pay it, i dont want it to affect my credit rating and at least its less than the full amount.

Heebie · 15-06-2014 2:26pm

I've heard nothing at all from the finance company. Are you hearing from them because you stopped the direct debit etc..?

stardoll81 · 15-06-2014 3:03pm

TurkiyeKelebek wrote: »

Yeah i think i might pay it, i dont want it to affect my credit rating and at least its less than the full amount.

I got a credit report last yr out of interest and Ultralase wasn't listed on it at all...will prob pay it too though! Just to be free of it!

TurkiyeKelebek · 15-06-2014 5:49pm

stardoll81 wrote: »

I got a credit report last yr out of interest and Ultralase wasn't listed on it at all...will prob pay it too though! Just to be free of it!

Did your solicitor offer any advice? Thats very interesting, must look into that myself.

TurkiyeKelebek · 15-06-2014 5:50pm

stardoll81 wrote: »

I got a credit report last yr out of interest and Ultralase wasn't listed on it at all...will prob pay it too though! Just to be free of it!

Did your solicitor offer any advice? Thats very interesting, must look into that myself.

stardoll81 · 16-06-2014 10:13am

Heebie wrote: »

I've heard nothing at all from the finance company. Are you hearing from them because you stopped the direct debit etc..?

No I had been paying my direct debit but Ultralase stopped taking the money for it last year. The receiver is now sending letters to anyone who owes an outstanding balance.

Heebie · 17-06-2014 12:21am

Perhaps your finance was with a different company than mine was with. When did you have your eyes done initially? (Nov 2012 for me.) with a 0% finance deal over 3 years through creation finance or something like that.

My DD's have been taken reliably since they started, so I'm thinking how it was financed might make a difference.

stardoll81 wrote: »

No I had been paying my direct debit but Ultralase stopped taking the money for it last year. The receiver is now sending letters to anyone who owes an outstanding balance.

stardoll81 · 17-06-2014 12:36am

Heebie wrote: »

Perhaps your finance was with a different company than mine was with. When did you have your eyes done initially? (Nov 2012 for me.) with a 0% finance deal over 3 years through creation finance or something like that.

My DD's have been taken reliably since they started, so I'm thinking how it was financed might make a difference.

Mine was done in March 2011 and same deal but I don't think it was thru Creation back then...are creation still taking your dd??

Heebie · 17-06-2014 12:42am

Yes they are. I've been re-treated as well, and have another follow-up appointment later this month up in Belfast.

stardoll81 wrote: »

Mine was done in March 2011 and same deal but I don't think it was thru Creation back then...are creation still taking your dd??

stardoll81 · 17-06-2014 2:29pm

Heebie wrote: »

Yes they are. I've been re-treated as well, and have another follow-up appointment later this month up in Belfast.

The finance must have been organised differently in 2011 in that case, there's no mention of creation on any of my docs...hope your follow up goes well

Heebie · 27-06-2014 1:39am

Another update.
I had an appointment yesterday for a checkup, and after telling me my vision is excellent, they "discharged" me as a patient, essentially releasing themselves from Ultralase's "lifetime aftercare guarantee" in relation to me.
My vision is pretty good, but still healing and not quite as sharp for distance as I was hoping for. (It is apparently way way way way way past "driving standard" and fairly far past "20/20" as well, so I probably can't really complain all that much.) I'm hoping it'll be more stable now that I'm not going to be on the steroids any longer. (They do have a side-effect of blurred vision)

I hope the rest of you will keep us up-to-date on whatever issues you're having related to this thread.

Ek11 · 18-07-2014 5:15pm

I received a letter from BDO with the offer to reduce my balance owed by 50% if I pay within the next 3 weeks.
My vision was very poor and I was not the ideal candidate for the surgery. However, it did turn out well and I was happy with the results at the time. Part of the discussion with the consultant was that I WILL need follow up surgery (quoting 2-5 years) and they guaranteed me that this will be done as part of the huge cost I agreed to.
I have paid over €3300 so far and they are looking for another €1500 from me.
I stopped my DD in July 2013 (following news of receivership) and refuse to pay another cent! I told BDO that if my guarantee was honoured that I would be more than happy to continue my payments. I notified them of a breach of contract regarding the lifetime guarantee as this is what I relied on when entering into the contract and why I chose Ultralase. I DID ALL OF THIS IN WRITING (via email)
BDO called me and tried to tell me that they are not responsible for the guarantee and that I, as a consumer, took on the risk that the business would cease to operate.
I did not agree to any settlement as I feel that I have not received all the services promised to me and they gave me no satisfactory resolve. I told BDO that I am going to seek advice from my solicitor as soon as I receive a copy of all of my medical records and contract. They gave me an address to request this information (in writing).

Patient records Department
147 The Headrow
Leeds
LS1 5RB
UK

I am not going to give in to this until I have satisfactory resolve. And I would rather go to court than give in to this blatant corporate bullying!

I did also say to BDO, that as this matter is not yet resolved, if I notice any affect on my credit because of it, I will be taking legal action.

Please keep posting any resolutions...and everyone stay strong and stick to what you think is right!

Remember to keep everything in writing and keep records. If there was discussion on the phone request a follow up email from BDO with details of conversation.

I am just telling my story, please do not take this as legal advice.

Good luck everyone!

millionmystery · 09-08-2014 3:57pm

Ek11 wrote: »

I received a letter from BDO with the offer to reduce my balance owed by 50% if I pay within the next 3 weeks.
My vision was very poor and I was not the ideal candidate for the surgery. However, it did turn out well and I was happy with the results at the time. Part of the discussion with the consultant was that I WILL need follow up surgery (quoting 2-5 years) and they guaranteed me that this will be done as part of the huge cost I agreed to.
I have paid over €3300 so far and they are looking for another €1500 from me.
I stopped my DD in July 2013 (following news of receivership) and refuse to pay another cent! I told BDO that if my guarantee was honoured that I would be more than happy to continue my payments. I notified them of a breach of contract regarding the lifetime guarantee as this is what I relied on when entering into the contract and why I chose Ultralase. I DID ALL OF THIS IN WRITING (via email)
BDO called me and tried to tell me that they are not responsible for the guarantee and that I, as a consumer, took on the risk that the business would cease to operate.
I did not agree to any settlement as I feel that I have not received all the services promised to me and they gave me no satisfactory resolve. I told BDO that I am going to seek advice from my solicitor as soon as I receive a copy of all of my medical records and contract. They gave me an address to request this information (in writing).

Patient records Department
147 The Headrow
Leeds
LS1 5RB
UK

I am not going to give in to this until I have satisfactory resolve. And I would rather go to court than give in to this blatant corporate bullying!

I did also say to BDO, that as this matter is not yet resolved, if I notice any affect on my credit because of it, I will be taking legal action.

Please keep posting any resolutions...and everyone stay strong and stick to what you think is right!

Remember to keep everything in writing and keep records. If there was discussion on the phone request a follow up email from BDO with details of conversation.

I am just telling my story, please do not take this as legal advice.

Good luck everyone!

Hi,
Just wondering if the people that received letters about paying back the money owed in full, had their direct debits stopped before this. I moved houses so I don't know if I received any correspondence from Creation but my direct debits has come out as normal every month. Worried about it affecting credit rating.

stardoll81 · 10-08-2014 1:18pm

millionmystery wrote: »

Hi,
Just wondering if the people that received letters about paying back the money owed in full, had their direct debits stopped before this. I moved houses so I don't know if I received any correspondence from Creation but my direct debits has come out as normal every month. Worried about it affecting credit rating.

Yeah I got the letter and my Direct debits had stopped coming out...I didn't cancel Ultralase just stopped taking it, I don't think I was set up with creation though..also i got a credit report back in 2012 and the Ultralase amount didn't even show on it .hope this helps

millionmystery · 10-08-2014 11:38pm

stardoll81 wrote: »

Yeah I got the letter and my Direct debits had stopped coming out...I didn't cancel Ultralase just stopped taking it, I don't think I was set up with creation though..also i got a credit report back in 2012 and the Ultralase amount didn't even show on it .hope this helps

Thanks for the help Stardoll81!

TurkiyeKelebek · 08-04-2015 6:02pm

So a year ago I tried to set up a payment plan but got no reply from bdo. I sent another email and phone calls but no reply. Now they are threatening legal action! I have the emails to prove my efforts but I feel I shouldn't have to pay because I tried last year and they obviously didn't want my money then! So frustrated with these cowboys!!

rufous · 16-11-2015 12:55am

I’ve heard that a few legal letters were recently sent out by Ahern Rudden about this. Anyone care to make an informed guess about the likelihood of court proceedings for < €400?

TurkiyeKelebek · 16-11-2015 1:57am

rufous wrote: »

I’ve heard that a few legal letters were recently sent out by Ahern Rudden about this. Anyone care to make an informed guess about the likelihood of court proceedings for < €400?

Hey, so I wrote to the address in this thread and requested my contract and all medical files. I got a letter to state that they had lost my contract. Therefore, no contract, no outstanding payment. I urge you all to try this before going to court.

pinkmonkey045 · 07-05-2016 1:18pm

Wow I really am the last in the know, I only called ultralase this morning to get a check up appointment - plodding along content the last few years with the knowledge of my lifetime guarantee!!! Oh how that has been pulled from under me quick!

So- the number went through to optical express uk. They said they Fully took over ultralase customers, but since I got my eyes done in 2012 I'd have to pay 80 euro for an appointment with optical express Wellington road. I said but it is a free lifetime guarantee no? She said no it's not free for the lifetime guarantee. I need to dig out my contract. Like overall I have little hope as of this morning, but I'd love an update to see how people have got on?? Has anyone else formally moved to optical express ?? Did the lifetime guarantee stand up?? There seems to be little talk on it in the last year.

I had a drop to minus 0.25/-0.5 in the initial ultralase follow up. They said oh if it gets worse we can re do the surgery no problem (in my memeory this was to all be free). #DohðŸ˜¡

Thanks a million if anyone has any advice or updates.

Heebie · 07-05-2016 1:31pm

Optical Express? I know I ended up with my follow-up care handled by Optimax in Belfast.

But.. they took care of my adjustment, I think, only because Ultralase had already made the call to do the adjustment surgery.

The free lifetime care guarantee evaporated when Ultralase ceased to exist, apparently, and very little can be done about it from what I've read. I think some people stopped paying on the grounds that they didn't get what they had paid for. (which included the guarantee)

Once they "discharged" me from care after the adjustment to my left eye, they did tell me that future visits to them would involve costs, so I'll end up going to someone here in the republic instead.

I found out Ultralase was gone by arriving for my appointment to have the surgery done on my eye, and finding a note taped to the door to ring the liquidator. That was annoying!

pinkmonkey045 wrote: »

So- the number went through to optical express uk. They said they Fully took over ultralase customers, but since I got my eyes done in 2012 I'd have to pay 80 euro for an appointment with optical express Wellington road. I said but it is a free lifetime guarantee no? She said no it's not free for the lifetime guarantee. I need to dig out my contract. Like overall I have little hope as of this morning, but I'd love an update to see how people have got on?? Has anyone else formally moved to optical express ?? Did the lifetime guarantee stand up?? There seems to be little talk on it in the last year.

pinkmonkey045 · 08-05-2016 7:56pm

Heebie wrote: »

Optical Express? I know I ended up with my follow-up care handled by Optimax in Belfast.

But.. they took care of my adjustment, I think, only because Ultralase had already made the call to do the adjustment surgery.

The free lifetime care guarantee evaporated when Ultralase ceased to exist, apparently, and very little can be done about it from what I've read. I think some people stopped paying on the grounds that they didn't get what they had paid for. (which included the guarantee)

Once they "discharged" me from care after the adjustment to my left eye, they did tell me that future visits to them would involve costs, so I'll end up going to someone here in the republic instead.

I found out Ultralase was gone by arriving for my appointment to have the surgery done on my eye, and finding a note taped to the door to ring the liquidator. That was annoying!

Thanks Heebie. If I get any further revelations with the optical express crowd I'll pass them on!

mutley18 · 29-07-2016 11:28pm

I was treated in 2011 by Ultralase in Belfast, I could do with another treatment as after 5 years my vision has declined, any way of me getting this without paying €4000 again?! Who would I even contact?

Heebie · 01-08-2016 9:34pm

Optimax, who have an office in Belfast, took care of my adjustment after my primary surgery at Ultralase in Dublin.

Ultralase had already determined that I needed the adjustment, which is why I think they did it at no additional cost to me.

I have a feeling they're not likely to honour the Ultralase "lifetime aftecare guarantee" They have informed me that since THEY were satisfied with my vision after the adjustment surgery, that any future adjustments etc., would be chargeable.

They might offer you a discounted rate or something like that as an Ultralase customer, if they bought the Ultralase NI business as well as the ROI.

mutley18 wrote: »

I was treated in 2011 by Ultralase in Belfast, I could do with another treatment as after 5 years my vision has declined, any way of me getting this without paying €4000 again?! Who would I even contact?

sugimomo · 03-10-2018 8:54pm

Hi All,

I am just wondering of anyone who has replied on this board had any luck in getting their lifetime guarantee upheld?

I have contacted optimax customer support who have been no help and just sent an email to the following 3 people to try and get some information:

russell.ambrose@optimax.co.uk (CEO of optimax)
doconnor@bdo.ie (David is a Partner in BDO's Corporate Recovery department)
jhamilton@bdo.ie (Jim is a Partner in the Corporate Recovery department of BDO)

Hopefully I will get some information from them soon, I will post the responses here.

Thanks All!

wanderrr · 04-10-2018 10:31am

sugimomo wrote: »

Hi All,

I am just wondering of anyone who has replied on this board had any luck in getting their lifetime guarantee upheld?

I have contacted optimax customer support who have been no help and just sent an email to the following 3 people to try and get some information:

russell.ambrose@optimax.co.uk (CEO of optimax)
doconnor@bdo.ie (David is a Partner in BDO's Corporate Recovery department)
jhamilton@bdo.ie (Jim is a Partner in the Corporate Recovery department of BDO)

Hopefully I will get some information from them soon, I will post the responses here.

Thanks All!

I managed to get them to uphold the guarantee after a lot of pushing, but I had also gotten a written re-confirmation of the lifetime guarantee from Ultralase in 2012 before they closed (by fluke - I didn't know that they would soon be closed). I'm not sure why I asked for it at the time, mostly for my own peace of mind I think. When I tried to follow up the retreatment and got moved to Optimax, they initially accepted this, so when they later told me that I wasn't covered I could refer them to their initial acceptance. Then, later again, they told me that I hadn't maintained conditions of the guarantee such as having a check-up every two years which made it void, but when I asked to see their copy of the document that I had signed agreeing to those terms, they came back to say that they would, in fact, honour the original guarantee.

The doctor and clinic staff were all very professional, but these things obviously get handed down from a central office. All I can say is stick to your guns and ask to see copies of their documentation if what they're claiming differs from what you have. If you don't have things in writing, I'm guessing it will be a lot more difficult. Good luck!

sugimomo · 05-11-2018 7:59pm

Hi Wanderrr,

Thanks for the information, unfortunately I do not have anything extra in writing, just the guarantee that everyone else received when getting the treatment initially. It is extremely frustrating. I have reached out to 2 prominant people regarding this whole mess, the founder of optimax and BDO.

Please see below email from Russel Ambrose who founded optimax:

Dear XXXX,

Unfortunately Ultralase went into liquidation and does not exist anymore.
Optimax did not buy Ultralase in Ireland, and has never been responsible for Ultralase Irelands historical commitments.
I am sorry that I can’t help you.

Regards
Russell

Wanderr, you said that Optimax provided you with retreatment, Then the CEO of the company provides me with an email trying to claim that Optimax have nothing got to do with Ultralase, clearly he is just trying to fob me off.

I also received an email from Jim Hamilton who works for BDO (responsible for putting ultralase into liquidation/receivership)

Hi XXXX,

Thanks for your email.

I must advise that Ultralase Ireland Limited was placed into Receivership in July 2013 and ceased to trade at that point.

As a result, the company was no longer able to honour its aftercare obligations from that time and the provisions of its Lifetime Care Guarantee are, regrettably, no longer capable of being met.

All patient records that the company was left with on the appointment of the Receivers, were sent back, at that time, to Ultralase in the UK so that they could provide some continuity and support. For a period shortly after that they offered some support to ROI Customers in Belfast. However in October 2013, Ultralase UK then went into Administration itself in the UK.

My understanding (and I stand to be corrected) is that another Company Optimax UK or a Director of that Company, bought some of the business & assets of Ultralase UK from the Administrator in the UK. A new Company Ultralase Eye Clinics came out of that event but that new company did not take on any lifetime guarantee obligations of the former Ultralase UK company.

I am sorry that I cannot be of more assistance.

With best regards
Jim

Have you or anyone else had contact with either of these men? Or has anyone else managed to get their guarantee upheld?

Many thanks all!

wanderrr · 06-11-2018 10:49am

I didn't have any contact with either of them so I can't help you there, I'm afraid. My original treatment had been done in Belfast (i.e., UK, rather than RoI), so it's possible that that was a point in my favour.

Ultralase in Ireland to Close?

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