Opticians beware unwanted invoices

Professionals are being alerted to a company that is sending unwanted invoices to practices to renew a subscription to appear in a directory of opticians.

Dispensing optician Nick Singfield, a partner of The Eye Studio Opticians in London, contacted Optician after receiving an invoice to renew a subscription for the Kent-based company Learnmall, of which he knew nothing about.

The invoice includes details of a special offer for practitioners to renew a subscription by May 1 2006 for £28.79 rather than the original £49.

It also claims that there are some 6,000 opticians currently listed in the directory at www.localopticians.co.uk

Singfield said he was shocked to receive the invoice when he had not previously heard of the company.
'I think it is very cheeky for a company to include our company in a directory without permission and to send an invoice that is worded in a way to suggest that I am renewing a subscription,' he said.

Singfield said he believed the company must be 'trying its luck in the hope people would pay'.