Mobile phone battery

Jezwed

I bought a new Galaxy S4 off e-bay in August this year. Im having problems with the battery draining very fast. Other sites suggest as it's still under warranty Samsung should replace the battery. I thought under Sale of Goods Act, that the retailer was responsible so I contacted them. They say they can't help as it's outside the 90days seller warranty. Is this right or can anyone suggest what I could do next.

Thanks

charlies_mum

Have you contacted Samsung to see what they say ?

forgotmyname

S4 batteries can swell in use. I had one on mine.

Who was the retailer? Why did it only have a 90 day warranty? refurb or used phone?

If it was either then your probably not going to get anywhere trying to claim a replacement battery. You were not the original purchaser.

They are cheap enough to buy anyway.

Jezwed

No it was a brand new phone from a UK seller on e-bay. I've not contacted Samsung yet as I thought the seller had to provide goods that were fit for purpose (sorry I can't remember the exact terminology Martin uses) but I would have thought a phone battery should last longer than 4months.Not sure of my rights on this.

RFW

Have you tried buying a new battery? It might save a lot of hassle and you should be able to find one for a few quid. There are quite a few for under a fiver.

Your rights are open to interpretation and it could take a long time to get anywhere and cost more than a fiver to do so.

wealdroam

Jezwed wrote: »

Not sure of my rights on this.

Then you need to read MSE's Consumer Rights guide.

Not exactly your scenario, but here is a short extract:

Know who's responsible

When returning items, beware shops trying the oldest trick in the book: saying they're not responsible for the shoddy goods and you must call the manufacturer. This is total nonsense!

If a company fobs you off by saying “go to the maker instead”, it's wrong. It's the retailer's job to sort it.

It doesn't matter if it's an iPod from a high street shop or a designer frock from a department store. If something's broken, torn, ripped or faulty, the seller has a legal duty to put it right as your contract is with it.

Another point from that article:

You have up to six years after you bought a good to complain.

But as others have said, is it worth it for a £5 battery?

forgotmyname

Who was this seller? A proper Samsung Distributor?

notanewby

I'd just buy a new battery rather than causing myself possibly months of unnecessary hassle, grief, and upset.

campdave

Battery life can be affected by things like screen brightness, processes running in the background etc. It might be worth going on a phone forum and seeing if they can diagnose any issues, as it may not be battery related.

If buying a replacement, ensure you buy an original battery - I bought two fake S4 batteries off ebay that were awful. I ended up getting an Anker compatible one off Amazon instead.

RMS2

Jezwed wrote: »

No it was a brand new phone from a UK seller on e-bay. I've not contacted Samsung yet as I thought the seller had to provide goods that were fit for purpose (sorry I can't remember the exact terminology Martin uses) but I would have thought a phone battery should last longer than 4months.Not sure of my rights on this.

Samsung won't be interested, you are quite right, your contract is with the retailer.


Items don't usually come with a 12 month warranty, that is a perceived time frame.


Forget the quote about you having up to six years to register a complaint. The battery is a consumable, they're not expected to last as long as the phone. Whether there is an argument that they should last longer than three months would ultimately have to be decided by a judge if the seller won't budge.


You would also have to prove that it had been kept in the right conditions and been looked after (charge/discharge).


As has been said, if the replacement batteries are cheap enough, buy one and move on, it'll cost you a lot less in time and money in the long run.

challengedavid

it might not be the battery, more likely a rouge app draining the battery

you could check the battery stats to see whats draining the battery, personally i would flatten the phone and see what happens