Battery Warranty

LeeCB

Grateful for people's opinions.  In July my Toyota wouldn't start due to a flat battery. I called out the RAC who jump started it. 
The engineer told me he could replace the battery free of charge under warranty (as it was an RAC battery with 5 year under 2 years old). So I accepted. 
He replaced the battery and left me happy. RAC emailed me a report including the note "Method of payment - payment not required"
A week or so later RAC started emailing me demands for payment of the battery (£159) saying the warranty was void as the car had not covered sufficient mileage. 
So far my position has been I refuse to pay as (1) The engineer said it would be free (2) their report said i would be free (3) Had the engineer told me the battery warranty was void and it would cost me £159 I would have declined and driven to Kwik fit or Halfords for a new battery at £40-£50 cheaper

[Deleted User]

Give them a call and explain the situation. If they refuse, tell them they can come and get their battery back and you will replace it yourself. You will only accept it on the terms agreed at the time, i.e. that it is free.

Car_54

LeeCB said:

A week or so later RAC started emailing me demands for payment of the battery (£159) saying the warranty was void as the car had not covered sufficient mileage. 

Is that in the Ts and Cs?

LeeCB

Thanks Rigolith will try that 

LeeCB

Yes, subsequently checked and that is in the Ts and Cs, ie the battery warranty requires driving 2000 miles a year and (due to Covid and working from home) I hadn’t done that mileage. 
However I don’t consider it my responsibility to remember all the Ts and Cs for a 2 year old battery when the Engineer assured me it would free

Grumpy_chap

RAC battery warranty does have some waffle about not abusing the battery and one of the definitions of abusing the battery is something about allowing the battery to deep discharge. 

By referencing the insufficient mileage, are RAC suggesting that the car was left for long periods between use, so the battery regularly went flat until it reached the point that it could not be charged / jump started because of repeated deep discharge?

The OP would need to check the actual details of the warranty for exactly what it said and also how RAC prove after the event that the deep discharge process occurred.

Nobbie1967

The RAC engineer said he could replace it free under the warranty. As he is an RAC employee, he is in a better position to know the details of the Ts and C than you and so you accepted his offer. He made a mistake, but that is between him and the RAC. A polite letter to the RAC stating you only accepted the offer on the basis it was free and you will not be paying for the new battery should suffice.

Manxman_in_exile

Funnily enough the RAC replaced our battery two hours ago.

I've not checked the paperwork yet, but the RAC engineer made it perfectly clear to me that their battery warranty is conditional on the car doing at least 2000 miles per year.

@LeeCB -  Are you sure the engineer didn't say something like "You're lucky because it's still under warranty so I can replace it for free - so long as you've complied with the terms of the warranty... "?

Were you never told the terms of the warranty originally, either by the engineer or in the paperwork?

Ectophile

Given that the OP was told that the work would be free by the person doing it, and that the OP was given written confirmation after the work was complete that there was no charge, then I don't think that the RAC can reasonably argue that it is fair to change their minds and charge for the battery after the event.

If the RAC made the mistake, it's their problem.

Bigwheels1111

In polite terms , Tell them your mistake your problem.

Had issue with bank and paying off mortgage.
I asked how much to pay off in full in 2 months.
Was told £701 X 2 payments.
Paid it off and was happy.
3 months later they wanted a further £250 fee, can’t remember what it was called.
I said your letter said £701 X 2, I’ve paid and see you in court.
A few weeks later they said ok and went away.
I wanted to go to court.

LeeCB

Hi thanks for everyone’s advice. No, the engineer definitely made no mention of term and conditions, simply said (more or less verbatim) “you’re in luck, you have a single cell fault, I can give you a new battery under warranty”
In fact he even mentioned I had only done  bit over 1000 miles on the new battery. 

Agree it is the RAC’s error and although their reminders are getting more and more curt, on principle I don’t feel I should pay. 

As a final compromise  I will propose I source a new battery elsewhere and return their one