AOP Seeks Legal Advice Following Concern From Boots Franchisees

association of optometrists concern over boots insurance moves

Recently, the optician Boots Opticians moved a number of their practice insurance policies from the Association of Optometrists to FODO, the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians, in a move to streamline their owned and franchised practices. The house cleaning exercise was questioned by the AOP at the time and they also went one step further by contacting all Boots opticians franchisees to detail the changes this move would make to them and their practice, urging all those unhappy with the transfer to contact them directly. The AOP has since had a number of members contact the association to express their disappointment at receiving correspondence from Boots insisting that they now insure with FODO.

The AOP had expressed concerns at an early stage that franchisees may not be fully aware what implications this move may have to individual practices and that although a streamlining of business insurance across the board may bring some benefits to the company as a whole, the decision was, "primarily in place to protect the practice rather than the individual practitioners".

Having received a number of complaints from dissatisfied members, the AOP has urged franchisees to hold fire on changing their insurance details and await further news. The AOP has taken legal advice on the matter, regarding Boots' demands, and believe that the requirement from Boots' opticians would not stand up in court. The association will be looking to send documented advice to its members in the near future and has stated that they will, "will take legal action to protect the rights of its members.”

In replying to the growing concern, Boots' have expressed that their intentions are simply to 'align and monitor' insurances for all practices under their umbrella in the most effective and efficient way possible. The company has also been eager to state that this move is in no way a slight or criticism of AOP or any other insurer.