Spec-Savers Durbanville: Stay away from these chancers!

On 13 May 2021 I had an eye test at Specsavers Durbanville. I needed new lenses and was informed that I have to get a new frame as well, because they cannot order the lenses and then put it in my old frame. I went to pick up my new glasses a while after that. Unfortunately I cannot find proof of the exact date I received my glasses. There was a payment from my medical aid on 27 May 2021, so I must have picked up the glasses shortly after that. The point is that I received my glasses. Whether there was a shortfall, whether I paid it in cash or whether I paid from one of my bank accounts, I simply cannot remember. On 6 May 2022, almost a year after my eye test, I received a random sms on my work phone about an outstanding Specsavers account. I phoned the number to find out what the sms was about, and was told by someone at Specsavers Durbanville that there is an outstanding balance on my account. This is the first word I heard about it! I asked the person why they would give my glasses to me if there was an outstanding balance, and why they would wait a year to suddenly come up with an outstanding balance. She couldn't answer me. I then asked her to send me the first email reminder or sms they sent me to inform me of the outstanding balance, so that I can be sure I am not paying twice. Surely this was not an unreasonable request. I did not get any response. On 15 August 2022, 15 months after my eye test, I received an email with an invoice for "urgent payment". I referred to our earlier email correspondence and again asked for any type of proof that I did not make the payment, even though I received my glasses. Again, I did not get any response. On 5 October 2022, almost 17 months after my eye test, I received the same random sms as before on my work phone. By now I was highly irritated with the situation. I phoned the number and explained to the lady that all I want, is something that can reasonably prove that I did not make the payment. I work very long hours and I have three bank accounts. I really do not have the capacity to trawl through 17 months of bank statements. It is totally unreasonable to expect me to prove I paid, instead of just sending me something I can work with. Shortly after my conversation, the owner of the practice phoned me. He apologised for what he labelled as an "oversight", but still could not explain the situation or give me any proof that I did not pay. I told him that I am not prepared to pay an account that I am sure I would have paid if it was communicated to me that there was an outstanding balance. He expected me to trawl through my bank accounts! I experienced his tone as extremely condescending. He said that someone called Ernest will get back to me with information. Again, no information arrived in my inbox. On Friday 14 October 2022, I received an email with a "final notice", without any explanation as to why there is still nothing forthcoming from the practice. I really do not have the time or energy to engage with these inefficient chancers any longer. I paid the account now, but I am pretty sure that they just got double payment. Obviously I will not go near any Specsavers again with a ten foot barge pole. I am also telling everybody I know about this. I just convinced one of my friends to stay away from Specsavers and rather go to Torga Optical. I will carry on with this and try to get as many people as possible away from you. Not that it matters, because I know this sort of thing normally lands in an inbox somewhere and nothing is done about it.