Battery Rip Off (1 Viewer)

[Spanda]

After not being used for three weeks, and having left the alarm system on (we park on a CaSSOA Gold Site so the alarm isn’t needed when in storage) I came to start the motorhome and the battery was flat. Typically, there was no-one around to give me a jump start, so I called out the RAC. This was early November by the way.

They arrived quickly and started the engine in about 2 minutes flat, so perfect, job done. But then the big sales push started. The guy tried everything to get me to buy a new battery from them – at a cost of £180, £180 for God’s sake – even though the tests he ran showed that the battery was fine, just needed charging. “Best to be safe Sir. You don’t want to get stranded”

I couldn’t figure out what was going on. Their tests showed that the battery was in good condition (it is less than a year old) but still he pushed and pushed to flog me a battery I clearly didn’t need at a ridiculous price. Then it dawned on me – I’m a bit slow I know lol - he must be on commission !

Since then the motorhome has been parked on the storage site for up to a fortnight, and has always started at the first turn of the key. So maybe I didn’t need a £180 battery after all. I still can’t get over that, 180 quid for a battery !

 

[Minxy]

The £180 usually includes going to get a battery as they don't always have a suitable one with them, then travelling back and fitting it, testing everything then disposing of the old one ... still a bloody expensive job though!

 

[jollyrodger]

I Agree and the Batteries ,although with a RAC Branding on them ,same spec batteries can be got for £70-80.From local battery suppliers.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Vanman]

Maybe you need to develop a Yorkshire accent?

 

[PhilandMena]

Your dead right! £180.00 for a starter battery is a rip off.

 

[MikeD]

They have got to pay for the new software they purchased this year.

I suspect your patrol man is on a managed "performance target" to sell them. Hence the pushy sales patter.

http://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/d...dvanced-form-of-battery-testing-on-the-roads/

But it does say if you have had a problem - email them

If you have any concerns about the service you received when you suffered a battery-related breakdown please contact: breakdowncustomercare@rac.co.uk.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[pappajohn]

When I did breakdowns and needed a battery (3rd callout to same vehicle) it cost the same as coming to the garage shop and buying one.
Only advantage we had was if they didn't buy it they were left at the roadside/carpark/drive so inevitably coughed up.

 

[maison]

Did you not see the Watchdog programme on BBC that investigated this?

From memory they set up ten call outs to flat batteries, having checked they were all in good order. On (I think) 6 or 7 of the callouts new batteries were recommended, needlessly.

The programme targeted the RAC on this matter as a result of the number of complaints they had received just like yours.

 

[icantremember]

then disposing of the old one

.... for which they would get a scrap value of £20+ depending on the weight ... so in effect they are charging over £200.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[MikeD]

Did you not see the Watchdog programme on BBC that investigated this?

From memory they set up ten call outs to flat batteries, having checked they were all in good order. On (I think) 6 or 7 of the callouts new batteries were recommended, needlessly.

The programme targeted the RAC on this matter as a result of the number of complaints they had received just like yours.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2669175.stm

This one was dated 2003

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/nov/03/rac-breakdown-membership-retail-overcharging-battery

and from 2014.

- so still up to their old tricks it would appear.

 

[Kevan]

Your dead right! £180.00 for a starter battery is a rip off.

£180 BLIMEY

 

[Kevan]

Maybe you need to develop a Yorkshire accent?

Takes years of practice, in fact from the day your born, easy to spot a fraud

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[ambulancekidd]

Were the RAC not pulled up for mis-selling batteries on last weeks BBC "Watchdog" programme?

Ah just spotted that this had already been popped onto this battery issue. I'd been nodding off during the programme but something in the dim & distant was floating around in my head.

 

[rickscott]

.... for which they would get a scrap value of £20+ depending on the weight ... so in effect they are charging over £200.

What scrap yards are you going to?
Up here we are lucky to get £4 per battery, I tend to stock pile them, to make it worth the diesel in getting them there.
Last trip was 30 batteries, about 2 months ago, at your rates, I'd have been better off driving to Norfolk to get my £600!!!

 

[Spanda]

Did you not see the Watchdog programme on BBC that investigated this?

From memory they set up ten call outs to flat batteries, having checked they were all in good order. On (I think) 6 or 7 of the callouts new batteries were recommended, needlessly.

The programme targeted the RAC on this matter as a result of the number of complaints they had received just like yours.

I didn't see it. I really must watch more TV !

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[icantremember]

I'd have been better off driving to Norfolk to get my £600!!!

£4 ... they are taking the urine .. almost as bad as the RAC.

 

[MikeD]

£4 ... they are taking the urine .. almost as bad as the RAC.

I think its around £520 per 1000 kilo for a lead acid battery at the moment.

So a average leisure battery at around 20kgs would give you about enough to pay for the diesel to take it to a recycler.

 

[icantremember]

I think its around £520 per 1000 kilo for a lead acid battery at the moment.

So a average leisure battery at around 20kgs would give you about enough to pay for the diesel to take it to a recycler.

Obviously gone down in value since I took some last year .. probably a Brexit effect!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Forestboy]

I think its around £520 per 1000 kilo for a lead acid battery at the moment.

So a average leisure battery at around 20kgs would give you about enough to pay for the diesel to take it to a recycler.

You're spot on and the price has been around £500 per tonne for a few years now moves up and down a few quid but not much. Up until a year ago I was selling 200 tonnes of batteries a month for an old customer of mine.

 

[955matt]

£180 sounds cheap, try £270 for a landrover battery !!!!!

 

[martin2603]

On another tangent the CASSOA site I used initially was broken into three times, and they were not even slightly interested in upping their security, dilapidated fences non working lights I could go on. When I spoke to CASSOA I met with the same lack of response. Oh and only 9 to 5 access!

I now have 24/7 security guard, 24/7 access, and less money!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[chaser]

I have a few old tractors and diggers about, and they all run on battery's that have been condemned on other vehicles, only battery's that have been bought new are the leisure battery's on the van and they are cheapo Chinese £45 each and with solar on there they are always full and been on three years, but the others are all kept up with a smart charger occasionally sometimes from so flat they don't register on the digital scale on the charger.

 

[Spanda]

On another tangent the CASSOA site I used initially was broken into three times, and they were not even slightly interested in upping their security, dilapidated fences non working lights I could go on. When I spoke to CASSOA I met with the same lack of response. Oh and only 9 to 5 access!

I now have 24/7 security guard, 24/7 access, and less money!

Our site is the same, 24/7 security guard, 24/7 access and a decent perimeter fence and gates. I went to collect the motorhome one morning at 5-00, and the security guard was even awake lol

 

[swanseajack13]

report him to the police and get him charged and throw him in a cell the little jump start ray xx lol still lol for £180.00 popeye will show you around his m/h and you get a cup of tea as well

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}