RAC £230 for a new battery

Driverlessx

Not happy. It’s basically double the normal cost and there was a £40 call out charge. But when you’re stranded and need to do school run later what choice do you have?

Chris_English

One option would have been to just get jump-started, then to drive to school then to get the new battery.

You’re paying for the convenience and the service, which I think makes it fair, but if you prefer not to then it’s a good idea to periodically check your battery’s health, and replace before jt fails completely.

Grumpy_chap

I assume the OP did not have "Battery Replace" cover with the RAC?

The call-out fee is unusual.
Is the OP a member of RAC, with "Home Rescue" cover?  
Did the OP have the "basics" RAC cover which has a call-out excess?  That meant a saving on premium in return for paying the call-out charge - when I renewed it was the same call-out excess as the increase in premium for no call out excess, so a gamble as to whether you will call them out more than once.

How does the exact same cost of the battery compare at other retailers?

Driverlessx said:

Not happy. It’s basically double the normal cost and there was a £40 call out charge. But when you’re stranded and need to do school run later what choice do you have?

motorguy

Chris_English said:

One option would have been to just get jump-started, then to drive to school then to get the new battery.

You’re paying for the convenience and the service, which I think makes it fair, but if you prefer not to then it’s a good idea to periodically check your battery’s health, and replace before jt fails completely.

Indeed

or get them to recover the car to a garage to fit the battery.

Tricky to juggle things when you're in a rush or have a timescale to meet, and thats ultimately what you're paying for there - convenience and speed.  

mark1959

Walk it? Or taxi.

photome

Why the callout  charge ? Didn’t think RAC members paid a callout charge and if you are not a member why call the RAC ?

You did have other options

Thrugelmir

Have you used the RAC recently as well on this occassion? 

born_again

photome said:

Why the callout  charge ? Didn’t think RAC members paid a callout charge and if you are not a member why call the RAC ?

You did have other options

To close to home & did not have home start?

seatbeltnoob

motorguy said:

Chris_English said:

One option would have been to just get jump-started, then to drive to school then to get the new battery.

You’re paying for the convenience and the service, which I think makes it fair, but if you prefer not to then it’s a good idea to periodically check your battery’s health, and replace before jt fails completely.

Indeed

or get them to recover the car to a garage to fit the battery.

Tricky to juggle things when you're in a rush or have a timescale to meet, and thats ultimately what you're paying for there - convenience and speed.  

Haha imagine someone got a recovery to eurocarparts and bought a new battery from there. Lol

They do use certain wording to get you to buy their orange battery with supposed 5 year warranty. My battery went flat once and I had to call them put. Got jjnp.started and they tried to sell me a new battery, I declined and then the guy just gave me the cold shoulder. 

I told him incan buy that £120 battery for about £50 and I'd rather just get a jump start sp.i can go home.

jimjames

mark1959 said:

Walk it? Or taxi.

That would almost certainly have been cheaper

tedted

its a stop start battery so always a lot more expensive