repair cost on S4 battery

My S 4 is about 18 months old, struggling with the battery for about the last 10 months, replaced the battery at my cost, cause at cell c they said i have to send in the phone, which i could not do at that stage. as i run my emails, banking and more from my mobile The battery life was better but not sorted. I took the phone in to the local cell c store about 2 weeks ago, they did not notify me that the warranty has expired on the battery but anyway the phone has been send sway. I receive a sms with a repair quote of R993.82. I phoned the number provided and was informed battery out of warranty. I quote an article on iol beta news where the director of mobile communications at samsung electronics stated that they are aware of the problem and that they have been in collaboration with vodacom, mtn and cell c that the batteries been replaced at no additional charge to the client. My contract with cell c is about to expire. I will definitely think twice on my upgrading options with cell c and samsung.