RAC Battery Cover - complaint

KAZALOU

Car refused to start a couple of Sundays ago, no life at all from the battery. No problem I thought, I have RAC HomeStart and battery cover. I was advised that as I was at home, I wasn’t a priority and the adviser tried to make me wait until Monday, but a patrol did attend on Sunday afternoon as I insisted due to ill health and having a young child.
When the patrol attended, he advised that he thought the battery was ok and the alternator had gone and needed replaced. The advice was to take the car to a garage but since I don’t have a regular one and the garages are so busy, I asked him to try and replace the battery to see if that would resolve it and advised that I paid for battery cover. He said the best bet was to take it to a garage to diagnose and refused to change the battery. I advised again that the battery was old and hadn’t been replaced so I thought that was the issue, but he refused and advised if I didn’t take the car to the garage, I would be charged for subsequent call outs with the same issue. I would have to drive the car to the garage regardless, so I opted to wait until the next morning so I could do it when taking my daughter to childcare and myself to work as the garage is a 5 minute walk from my workplace. I repeatedly asked for a new battery to see if it would solve the issue and was told no. My car again didn’t start the next morning so I then had 5 days wait for a mobile mechanic to attend. He jumped the car, tested the alternator and the battery and confirmed it was the battery, no issues at all with the alternator. £310 later I’m back on the road with a new battery and no issues at all with the car.
I’ve complained to the RAC and was told tough, I should have gone to the garage when the patrolman said to and I’m not getting any money back. 

I believe the reason for this is they don’t want to spend the money to replace the battery.
I will be taking the matter to the ombudsman but I was wondering if anyone else had any similar issues and if they were resolved.

jimjames

So both the garage and RAC said the car didn't need a new battery? If the garage agreed with the RAC then I'm not sure you have a case against them

sheramber

Anew battery  Iis fully charged and will work until it is drained , if the alternator is faulty.

I yhink youn woukld need  the alternator checked by the garage to confirm it is not faulty to go back to the RAC.

facade

Seems a bit odd, they usually just stick a voltmeter across it and declare it isn't covered because it has been allowed to go flat and this counts as abuse. 

Even the least able mechanic could have jump started it and checked that the alternator was charging.

Anyway, the T&Cs from https://www.rac.co.uk/pdfs/breakdown/310314-drive-uk-breakdown-terms-and-conditions

I highlighted some "get outs" that might apply.

Basically, it is very hard, if not impossible, to get a free battery out of them, better to save the £4 a month towards a new one when required.

I assume that he managed to put some charge into the battery and therefore he didn't have to fit a new battery.

By all means take it further if the "get outs" don't apply.

Bigwheels1111

I opted to take matters into my own hands.

As claiming on these policies is near impossible.

I have a topdon tester. £12 will let you know he state of the battery and alternator.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007922124785.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.605dBTRUBTRUM0&algo_pvid=83b552d7-599e-4462-8101-ad7af523bd0f&algo_exp_id=83b552d7-599e-4462-8101-ad7af523bd0f-0&pdp_ext_f={"order":"11","eval":"1"}&pdp_npi=4@dis!GBP!26.27!11.60!!!33.03!14.59!@211b61d017431572769244123edb38!12000042857203571!sea!UK!2295847247!X&curPageLogUid=FocQvPIXVRWr&utparam-url=scene:search|query_from:

My battery is 8.5 years old, no issues at the moment.

But I only use the car once a week, so not ideal.

I carry a Gooloo GT4000 jump pack just in case.

A 3000 amp unit is good, around £40 on Amazon when on offer. £41.39 today.

Never need to wait all day for a jump again.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/GOOLOO-Starter-2000Amp-Supersafe-Portable/dp/B09CZC48RT/ref=sxin_15_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.54469e8c-e621-4365-8390-bfbc62ddc7a8:amzn1.sym.54469e8c-e621-4365-8390-bfbc62ddc7a8&crid=21CQOERSCS312&cv_ct_cx=gooloo+3000&keywords=gooloo+3000&pd_rd_i=B09CZC48RT&pd_rd_r=9c8e98ec-9829-4959-a312-e5844a4de348&pd_rd_w=9y5e2&pd_rd_wg=KXQC1&pf_rd_p=54469e8c-e621-4365-8390-bfbc62ddc7a8&pf_rd_r=Y0NTCYPQ9XTPQW01WW6Y&qid=1743157614&sbo=RZvfv//HxDF+O5021pAnSA==&sprefix=gooloo+3000,aps,235&sr=1-3-d098eae0-410c-4ad0-acd0-92d5b415c79c-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

Grumpy_chap

KAZALOU said:

Car refused to start a couple of Sundays ago, no life at all from the battery. No problem I thought, I have RAC HomeStart and battery cover. I was advised that as I was at home, I wasn’t a priority and the adviser tried to make me wait until Monday, but a patrol did attend on Sunday afternoon as I insisted due to ill health and having a young child.
When the patrol attended, he advised that he thought the battery was ok and the alternator had gone and needed replaced. The advice was to take the car to a garage but since I don’t have a regular one and the garages are so busy, I asked him to try and replace the battery to see if that would resolve it and advised that I paid for battery cover. He said the best bet was to take it to a garage to diagnose and refused to change the battery. I advised again that the battery was old and hadn’t been replaced so I thought that was the issue, but he refused and advised if I didn’t take the car to the garage, I would be charged for subsequent call outs with the same issue. I would have to drive the car to the garage regardless, so I opted to wait until the next morning so I could do it when taking my daughter to childcare and myself to work as the garage is a 5 minute walk from my workplace. I repeatedly asked for a new battery to see if it would solve the issue and was told no. My car again didn’t start the next morning so I then had 5 days wait for a mobile mechanic to attend. He jumped the car, tested the alternator and the battery and confirmed it was the battery, no issues at all with the alternator. £310 later I’m back on the road with a new battery and no issues at all with the car.
I’ve complained to the RAC and was told tough, I should have gone to the garage when the patrolman said to and I’m not getting any money back. 

I believe the reason for this is they don’t want to spend the money to replace the battery.
I will be taking the matter to the ombudsman but I was wondering if anyone else had any similar issues and if they were resolved.

The OP's experience is wholly opposite to when I had RAC cover with the Battery Replace cover.  

IIRC, when I had the policy, there was a long lead in from policy start to the battery cover becoming effective.  Three months I think.  It is reasonable as otherwise the policy could be open to abuse.  What are the current terms in that regard?  When did the OP take out the cover?

Is it possible that the OP's attitude (which seems rather "entitled" by the way things are written) affected the level of support from the Mechanic?  When I had the battery issue, the inspection to test the battery was very good.  First, jump started the car.  Then removed the battery and tested.  The advised a new battery would be required.  Then checked the policy and that I had cover so a new battery was provided straight away.