GRANDVISION FRANCE SAS Sanctioned for Deceptive Business Practices Related to the “100% Health” Scheme
On December 10, 2024, the French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Recovery announced that GRANDVISION FRANCE SAS, owner of the GRANDOPTICAL and GENERALE D’OPTIQUE brands, has been sanctioned for deceptive business practices in the context of the “100% Health” scheme.
The “100% Health” scheme, implemented in 2019, aims to improve access to optical, hearing, and dental care for all French citizens. Under this scheme, patients are entitled to fully reimbursed eyeglasses and hearing aids from a designated list of models.
The investigation by the Directorate General for Competition, Consumption and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF) revealed that GRANDVISION FRANCE SAS:
- Failed to provide complete and accurate information to consumers about the “100% Health” scheme: Customers were not clearly informed about the models covered by the scheme, and some stores even advertised models that were not included.
- Engaged in misleading advertising: The company used slogans such as “Zero euro to spend” and “100% reimbursed,” which led consumers to believe that they could obtain free eyeglasses or hearing aids, even if their specific needs required out-of-pocket expenses.
- Applied pressure tactics on consumers: Salespeople were instructed to encourage customers to choose more expensive models that were not covered by the “100% Health” scheme. Some customers reported feeling harassed or misled into purchasing these models.
As a result of these practices, GRANDVISION FRANCE SAS was sanctioned by the DGCCRF with:
- A fine of 2 million euros
- An injunction to cease the deceptive business practices
- An obligation to publish the sanction in two national newspapers
The Ministry of Economy, Finance and Recovery stressed that these practices are unacceptable and undermine the trust that consumers must be able to have in companies that participate in the “100% Health” scheme. The Ministry also called on other companies in the optical sector to ensure that they are fully compliant with the scheme’s rules and to respect consumers’ rights.
Consumers who believe they have been victims of deceptive business practices by GRANDVISION FRANCE SAS are encouraged to contact the DGCCRF for assistance.
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economie.gouv.fr a new article on 2024-12-10 10:21 titled “La société GRANDVISION FRANCE SAS, propriétaire des enseignes GRANDOPTICAL et GENERALE D’OPTIQUE, sanctionnée notamment pour pratiques commerciales trompeuses dans le cadre du dispositif « 100 % santé »”. Please write a detailed article on this news item, including any relevant information. Answers should be in English.
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