DVLA & Specsavers

[Jazz251]

Hi everyone

I'm getting the impression that Specsavers have secured a monopoly contract with DVLA for official eye tests for driving suitability. And not everyone is happy with Specsavers.

1. Is this correct or are other opticians available?

2. If it is correct, has anyone thought about an FOI for the terms of that contract as, presumably, Specsavers is a commercial operating entity whose aim is to make profits which is dubious in many aspects

3. Has anyone considered a petition to allow other opticians to offer services?

[NewCardinal]

I've been round that loop and made no headway. The fact is that every branch of Specsavers is an independently owned opticians business that operates under the Specsavers brand. With regard to the DVLA test there are only certain branches which are approved to offer it. I read in the news the DVSA will soon be introducing new eyesight tests so that will make things even more challenging.

[Jazz251 in reply to NewCardinal]

Thanks, NewCardinal - good to know. Still seems pretty much a closed shop with dubious application of the government's own anti-competitive statement gov.uk/cartels-price-fixing

[tcpace in reply to NewCardinal]

Thanks for the heads-up on possible new eyesight tests. Do you have any information/sources about this?

[NewCardinal in reply to tcpace]

Nothing definite yet although they are getting towards the end of their deliberations. But the DVSA is actively looking at testing for seeing in different types of light levels. Which , of course, especially for older people with or without glaucoma our eyes respond much slower to changes in light levels. I think they might make announcements inn 2024.

[JustAmanda in reply to NewCardinal]

Having been recalled twice after inconclusive test results at my nearest SpecSavers, I was more than apprehensive attending a third. But on that occasion I told them how stressed and fearful the repeated tests had made me.

Whether they’d have been different anyway, I will never know, but they were altogether different; more reassuring; and took time to position the height of the seat and the chin rest. The environment was also quieter, and I saw every light. So yes, test conditions can influence performance.

Does this make their host provider wrong? No, but there needs to be more uniformity in the way they conduct these important tests. However, while each host bears the company name they are all individually owned. Arguably, this means the DVLA needs to be rather more stringent in defining its overarching performance standards.

[NewCardinal in reply to JustAmanda]

I gather Specsavers doesn't actually inspect any of the testing branches, either before they are accepted or during!

[JustAmanda in reply to NewCardinal]

As they all use one of two machines, I imagine the issue would really be staff training - ensuring they’re all working to the same standards in terms of positioning; quietness; reassurance; and helpfulness. Sadly, we all know how different individuals can be, so I’m not sure how they could ensure uniformity other than by setting performance standards in their contracts.

I wonder if any analysis is ever made of failure rates and trends, though such rates need not be significant, anyway.

The most important thing is for them to recognise that, although the test is relatively simple, so much is attached to it that people may arrive disproportionately anxious, so the environment and reassurance are supremely important.

[muddledme]

Luckily I have not had problems with Specsavers but I know others have.

Perhaps we could all write to our MP ? I think they are all a bit twitchy before an election probably next year. The other place that sometimes helps is the Radio 4 programmes like "YOU&YOURS" or the ITV programme "TONIGHT" usualy on Thursday evening. It is often just getting through to the right person.

Best wishes

[Jazz251]

Thought it worth a punt as a starter-for-10.......

whatdotheyknow.com/request/...

[muddledme in reply to Jazz251]

Good idea, will be very interested in Specsavers response.

I wonder if more glaucoma patients would go for the driving eye tests if we knew it was fair. The DVLA letters I also used to find rather intimidating, perhaps they have improved a little, but lots of problems on this site, maybe we should ask Specsavers and the DVLA to read the forum themselves!

[Jazz251 in reply to muddledme]

muddledme It will initially be up to the DVLA to respond to this FOI request - they have until the end of January to respond 🤔

[PeterRabbit62]

I would definitely not be happy with going to Specsavers, there is no Specsavers in my town so I would have to do a 60 miles around trip and get some one to take me in either direction, so yes I would definitely sign a petition, I was lucky to have mine done in my local opticians went Specsavers were not the only one who had a licence to carry it out that was over 10 years ago now, everyone should have the right to any opticians they choose, it not right. Is there a petition I will sign.

[Jazz251 in reply to PeterRabbit62]

PeterRabbit62 Let's see how DVLA respond to the FOI request and then start looking at petitions based on the info (or lack of) in their response.Great point about the distance/accessibility to add to the random quality of service from each Specsavers franchise or however it's arranged

[Littletreasures]

I am also happy to support anything we can do together to improve the DVLA/ Soecsaver processes. It would appear there needs to be more consistency and transparency.

[NewCardinal]

Specsavers was last approved in 2020 with a 3 year contract. They can then have two consecutive 12 month contracts to continue. Before Specsavers was initially given the contract in 2014 there was another bid which was a group of quality opticians which included Vision Express in their number.

[Supersec in reply to NewCardinal]

My optometrist told me about this bid but it seems to me that Specsavers were able to undercut this due to the fact that they use technicians to do the visual field test which presumably costs less than a qualified optometrist’s time. I would welcome a return to the days where you could choose where to go.

[Scarletbox]

Just to add my Consultant Ophthalmologist did say that many of his patients reported that they found doing the test at Specsavers noisy and that it's not as relaxed and reassuring compared to doing the test at hospital eye clinics. Even though hospitals offer the EXACT same test, DVLA will not accept the result and the test has to be carried out via the DVLA approved opticians, which is Specsavers.

[Jazz251]

UPDATE

I have a response from DVLA to my FOI request regarding the Specsavers contract. In short

1. the criteria for the award of the contract was made purely on price!

2. the value of the contract is £9,711,030 (£9.7 million!!!)

3. the estimated cost in the tender was £19,100 000 (£19.1m) so no wonder they went for Specsavers

I will be looking at putting up a petition (probably on 38 Degrees) based on some of the comments on this thread and elsewhere.

Full details can be viewed at

* FOI response letter from DVLA at whatdotheyknow.com/request/...

* tender document ted.europa.eu/EN/notice/-/d...

* award result at ted.europa.eu/EN/notice/-/d...

[Beecalmed in reply to Jazz251]

Wow! Thank you for gathering this information. Indeed it does appear the choice of contractor is based on financial value. You would expect DVLA to have set minimum operating standards to ensure effective delivery for the reduced fee paid. I wonder where Specsavers made savings/cut corners to win the contract? I think I can guess from my experience.

I’m not surprised now why I feel that I am a less important customer to Specsavers as they conduct the test that could impact my life significantly and negatively (if I lose my driving licence I will have to move house and won’t be able to get to work as I live in a rural community where they cut the bus service some years ago so now the nearest train station is 30 minutes away the nearest bus is 15 mins drive away!) . On the basis of this information clearly I am a less valuable customer!

Please let us know when the petition is up! .

[Jazz251]

DVLA Petition now up on 38degrees

Please sign and share, especially with your MP. Or if you can think of any celebs/influencers

you.38degrees.org.uk/petiti...