Ultralase

A question about : Ultralase

Hello,

I am new to this forum, not sure if this is the correct place to post this.

In August 2012, I had laser eye surgery with Ultralase and included in that was a life time after care guarantee which include re treatment if required.

Since about 3 months in, one eye has had less than perfect vision and I have asked for re-treatment, and I was told you needed to have 3 visits worth of a constant prescription for retreatment.

I am due to go for the last of these three constant prescription visits on friday before a hopeful re treat.

Today Ultralase went into administration. The life time guarantee has been cancelled and any trips to the old ultralase/optimax centres will be charged at Ј25 a visit, and Ј195 for re-treatment.

Now I feel I have paid for a service I am no longer going to receive. Can I pass the bill of re-treatment onto the administrators? I still have a balance of around Ј1000 with ultralase which was subcontracted out to a company called Hitachi Capital.

Thanks Dave

Best answers:

• https://www.optometry.co.uk/news-and-.../?article=5288
  According to this Ultralase went into administration on Oct 30.
  If by "balance of around Ј1000" you mean you owe Ј1000, then this may be it is Hitachi Capital you owe rather than Ultralase.
• Basically the treatment was available with a 0% apr pay over 3 years of month instalments.
  I pay Hitachi each month.
• I think in real terms there is little you can achieve.
  If you cease paying Hitachi, they will chase you for the money as they will have paid Ultralase soon after you took out the loan. Rather than send any bills for treatment to the administrators, you need to make them aware of your contract with Ultralase as you may become a creditor of the company.
  However it is well documented that creditors often receive only a small amount of any monies owed.
• Hi all
  I am in a similar situation - I had laser eye surgery with Ultralase in June 2011, and my repayments started in February 2012 (Ј83 a month for 3 years). I am two years into my repayments, and don't feel its fair to continue paying the full amount, as basically what I had signed up for (free lifetime aftercare) has now been taken away from me.
  So I have lodged a complaint with the Finance Company, Creation, who are currently liaising with Ultralase and will get back to me with 'an offer' (if any).
  I wrote to Ultralase also who said I would need to take it up with the administrators (funnily enough they didn't give me any details or phone number), so I have decided to see what Creation come back with.
  I am lucky to have not needed any re-treatment, and my vision is great, however that is not the point. What if I did - its not fair to pay. Ј3000 for laser eye surgery is a lot of money and I refuse to pay any more! That was the only reason I chose Ultralase, for the lifetime aftercare, so if they are no longer honouring this, why should I honour the full payment?
  Can anyone else add to this - have a got rights here?
  Thanks
• I had my treatment 18 months ago and have just paid off the finance. I am so annoyed I paid nearly Ј600 extra than Optimax. The selling point being the lifetime guarantee. Is there anything we can do, I want an appointment as I am experiencing some dryness but don't feel I should have to pay for aftercare.
• I would suggest the only thing you can do is take it up with the administrators? It is really annoying and, like yourself, I paid a lot more for this lifetime guarantee.
  I have again spoken with the Finance company last week who advise they are still looking into it and will come back to me with an offer (whether that be ending the finance agreement early or reducing my monthly payments for the remainder of it - either of which I will be happy).
• Update - I have received a letter from the Finance Company who have said they have liaised with Ultralase administrators, who are going to contact me re the lifetime aftercare. Let's see what they say!
• I've paid the full balance for my treatment so don't really have any leverage on them, but let us know how you get on and hopefully everyone will benefit
• Hi I was just wondering if anyone has an update on the ultralase life time guarantee? Do We just have to accept we can no longer use this service? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks
• Good news
  If you put ANY of the cost on credit (including the free credit from Hitachi mentioned above), then the credit provider (in this case Hitachi) is jointly and severally liable under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
  So write to them and ask them how they wish to go about honouring the guarantee.
  If they refuse then under the Consumer Credit Act 2006 you can take then to the Financial Ombudsman Service (free!).
• I am in a similar situation and I have made a Section 75 claim to my credit card provider. I suspect this will be a long drawn out procedure but who knows it may be successful. Like others on here the big selling point was the lifetime guarantee offered by Ultralase. My one eye does need re-treatment.
  What makes it more annoying is that Russell Ambrose (owner of Optimax) bought Ultralase let it go into administration, then dumped all the Ultralase customers and then set up a new company still using Ultralase in the title. He had promised that Ultralase customers would be treated no differently to Optimax when he took over, but clearly this was just one of his lies. The man has the morals of a snake.
• Russell Ambrose holds 21 current appointment, has resigned from 2 companies and held appointments at 7 dissolved companies (one of which is Ultralase). Russell began their first appointment at the age of 41 and their longest current appointment spans 19 years and 3 months at OPTIMAX INTERNATIONAL LIMITED.
  The combined cash at bank value for all businesses where Russell holds a current appointment equals Ј2,468,696, with a combined assets value of Ј32,025,408 and liabilities of Ј38,435,111. Roles associated with Russell Ambrose within the recorded businesses include: Director, Llp Designated Member, Company Secretary.
  https://companycheck.co.uk/director/901652921
• Did anybody get to bottom of whether the lifetime guarantee is being honoured by optimax. As I have paid Ј25 for a consultation. I explained my circumstances as nd they seemed happy to help. Am I having the wool pulled over my eyes. What happened with Hitachi Finance