new car battery flat from shop

paulsm

I recentl bought a new battery for my gf's car but once I fitted it was flat (this was in the evening) next morning she had to get a taxi into work and rang a garage to collect her car and check it out for faults (we assumed the battery was ok and it was a car fault) the garage said the battery was flat and the car was charging ok with no drains on power and that this shop had sold flat batteries before, I went back with the garage bill and asked if they could do anything to help but all they said was we should have taken it back , I also asked first if their batteries come charged and they said yes. Have I got any claim? (I am guessing not but would be nice to get them to pay) especially if they are using the batteries and putting them back on the shelf

Sssssss

how could they take the car for a run when it would not start, as the OP said the battery was FLAT, that is not the same as a bench charge. seems like this shop is well known for the garage to say this is not the first time. I'd send the shop a copy of the bill and 7 days to pay up else small claim courts.

Brooker_Dave

Sssssss wrote: »

how could they take the car for a run when it would not start, as the OP said the battery was FLAT, that is not the same as a bench charge. seems like this shop is well known for the garage to say this is not the first time. I'd send the shop a copy of the bill and 7 days to pay up else small claim courts.

The shop does not have to pay the garage bill.

If you try to take them to court you will lose.

HTH.

steveo3002

bit sloppy selling flat batterys , bet it dies fast

from what i understand batterys should never be stored flat as it damages them

baddiebasher

You would need to look at what was advertised and what is common practice in the sale of batteries. Is it usual for them to be sold charged? Is it reasonable to expect it?

The answers need to be bourne with the way it was advetised.

If you can answer YES, then the ideal whing would have been to take it back to the shop and demand a refund (recission of the contract) or get a replacement.

If there is a breach of your statutory rights, you are entitled to claim damages. However, the costs must be reasonable, and really ou should have approached the seller first. If they refused you, then you would be entitled to claim the costs of going to the garge.

At the end of the day it would be up to the court to decide based on the facts. And that is the gamble you have to consider whether or not it is worth it.

smcaul

Very strange, I don't think I have ever heard of a "Bench Charge" for vehicle batteries!!!! All the vehicle batteries I have ever purchased have always come fully charged ready for use - supplying them flat would seem to defeat the purpose of buying one in may cases!!!

And just to qualify my remarks, as a transport manager I have had to replace quite a few batteries on both cars and commercial vehicles.

Can the dynamic duo please qualify their comments?

Sssssss

d.edna wrote: »

LOL

It had a bench charge, a Bump or a jump start would have solved it

Cost 7.99 for the cables or a bump start which is free

I bet your in court alot :rolleyes:

so you buy a new battery cause more then likely your old one is flat, you then expect the OP to have to jump / bump start the car with a NEW battery.

No i'm not in court a lot, but I know what is reasonable when buying from a shop!

smcaul

d.edna wrote: »

Oh your a transport manager this week :rolleyes:

As opposed to what?

This is the first post I have ever said what I do for a living on this board, in other posts I have stated what I have done in the past for a living - I assume that is what you are referring to. If you are going to try and be a smart !!! then at least make sure what you are saying is accurate, otherwise you just make yourself look even more of a tit then you do already!

smcaul

d.edna wrote: »

That would be the "bench charge"

Yes, Ask in kwik fit, a motor shop, they are supplied with a Bench charge which is usually enough to start the car.

Oh your a transport manager this week :rolleyes:

So it is supposed to be supplied charged then? Most car batteries will only start a car a few times when fully charged, this is how they are designed, high short burst output. So it would seem that you have just blown your own argument out of the water by stating that a "Bench Charge" should start a car!!! make your mind up!!!

Tozer

Every car battery I have ever bought has been supplied fully charged. My understanding is that it is very bad practice to store car batteries drained (or at risk of being drained).

Freddie_Snowbits

Advantages of living at top of hill.

1, runaway water gushes away from property, causing misery further downhill.

2. you can always start your car on cold mornings