WatchDog RAC Scam....

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DSB SL AMG

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BBC1 WatchDog now....RAC battery Scam....
 
They did this before probably 20 years ago? Or the AA did - I forget which.

Overcharging, excuse the pun, for batteries I think it was.
 
Replacing perfectly good battery's roadside...even there own test shows good:doh:

Study of 10 cars with good verified battery's, RAC rejected 8 stating new one required:wallbash:, which they just happened to have on the van:rolleyes:

RAC reply...they were following national stealer testing methods and practices:p

They did this before probably 20 years ago? Or the AA did - I forget which.

Overcharging, excuse the pun, for batteries I think it was.
 
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Didn't see the program, but rang Porsche today for a price on an 80Ah battery today - they quoted £185+VAT :eek: :fail

It's just a regular lead acid 096 fitment battery for a 10+ year old car. What the hell is that about? If it had been half sensible (£100/120 inc VAT maybe?) I might have gone with it to keep stuff original but no chance at that price/age of the car.

I think the last MB 096 battery I bought earlier this year was £62+VAT - a bit of a difference, and that was for a 100Ah..:doh:

I'll stick with a Varta/Bosch etc for this one I think.
 
To balance this thread - A few years ago my Honda failed to start. I called out the RAC and they diagnosed a dying/dead battery. They could supply a replacement from their van for £x.xx. But he advised me to walk abut 200 yards to Halfords where a replacement would cost me less. The RAC man waited by my car while I went to get the battery, he then fitted it and made sure that everything was OK.
 
And when you pull the Porsche label back it will generally show Bosch / Varta anyway:doh: so definitely always best to shop around...

Didn't see the program, but rang Porsche today for a price on an 80Ah battery today - they quoted £185+VAT :eek: :fail

It's just a regular lead acid 096 fitment battery for a 10+ year old car. What the hell is that about? If it had been half sensible (£100/120 inc VAT maybe?) I might have gone with it to keep stuff original but no chance at that price/age of the car.

I think the last MB 096 battery I bought earlier this year was £62+VAT - a bit of a difference, and that was for a 100Ah..:doh:

I'll stick with a Varta/Bosch etc for this one I think.
 
Over the years, (having been a member since the 1980's) I have had a number of batteries replaced by the RAC. Generally the battery failure has been after a 2-3 week holiday, and while a jump start has got the engine going, I've been happy to accept that a 5-6 year old battery is past it's best.

On most of these occasions, I have had to persuade the patrol to sell me a new battery - never have I had any "hard sell". On one occasion a RAC battery failed after about 18 months - it was replaced very promptly without quibble.

On the occasion that I needed a battery for my W204 and the Mercedes battery was a better price, the patrol jump started me and then followed me (about 10 miles) to the MB dealership.

I'm quite happy with them.
 

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