Used Car Warranty - Battery Died - Wear & Tear?

[charliegilmanuk]

I bought a used Scirocco from a VW dealer on the 19th September this year, which included 1 year Das Welt warranty.

Unfortunately, last week the battery died, jumped it, gave it a good run, seemed to do nothing, still has no charge, refuses to recharge. Plugged it into a charger, got pretty hot, and seems to be refusing to take a charge, diagnosis, dead battery.

Have since been using a spare battery and it's working perfectly fine, so pretty certain battery was at fault and not the alternator or anything.

Emailed the dealer over the weekend and they've come back saying that they're not going to do anything as it's a wear and tear part.
Just wondering if you think this is worth pursuing for the sake of £60~?

Discuss

[Viking]

I would try pointing out that you're not bothered about warranty, but that the battery was failing when you got the car and has finally died. Warranty isn't the issue, but they should be required to make sure the vehicle is suitable for sale before offering it for sale. Clearly in this circumstance it wasn't, as the battery isn't within manufacturers specification.

Nothing to lose, but you might get something back.

[greg7728]

Sale of goods act covers u for 6 months so just throw that at them- problem was there at purchase and has now given up, but email them back with sale of goods act and see what they say.


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[moulin12]

I bought a used Scirocco from a VW dealer on the 19th September this year, which included 1 year Das Welt warranty.

Unfortunately, last week the battery died, jumped it, gave it a good run, seemed to do nothing, still has no charge, refuses to recharge. Plugged it into a charger, got pretty hot, and seems to be refusing to take a charge, diagnosis, dead battery.

Have since been using a spare battery and it's working perfectly fine, so pretty certain battery was at fault and not the alternator or anything.

Emailed the dealer over the weekend and they've come back saying that they're not going to do anything as it's a wear and tear part.
Just wondering if you think this is worth pursuing for the sake of £60~?

Discuss

Ring VW Customer service. Tell them that you bought a VW approved car from an authorised dealer, rather than from an independent dealer/privately, because you believed, according to VW advertising, that the car would be quality assured before being sold: and that you believe the quality of electrics is included in the '142 checks' that all VW authorised dealers are required to undertake: " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (see from 0.24 onwards). Further, that if the dealer had carried on his check on the quality of the battery, it is fair and reasonable to expect that the battery to have lasted more than six weeks - otherwise, what value are the 142 checks etc (you get the point).

VW Customer service will probably respond something along the lines of the dealer being a franchise, and that responsibility lies with that dealer. Your response is, VW has authorised the dealer as VW approved dealer and VW are responsible for upholding the VW approved care plan that they advertise, and on trust of which you chose to buy your car from the an authorised (don't say franchise) dealer. Drop the word 'trust' in (for obvious diesel related reasons) on a couple of occasions (but don't overdo it).

Being polite but firm, and give them the opportunity to investigate. If you don't like what you are hearing, firmly but politely drop in 'trading standards'.

[greg7728]

As above, also try social media. Contact them via Twitter as it is public #complaint #poorservice etc - this got a quick response when I had my dsg clutch pack issue


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[charliegilmanuk]

Sorry guys, completely forgot to reply to this, many thanks for all your help.

I mentioned about the 142 checks and basically that it wasn't satisfactory that it left the forecourt with the battery in that state, and I got a new one fitted last Saturday, didn't have to mention the sale of goods act thankfully

[moulin12]

excellent!