Complete refusal to swop battery under warranty

On 3 August, my vehicle broke down, and due to the battery failure, I was forced to purchase a replacement under difficult circumstances. A supplier from XS Power Batteries provided a battery which, at the time, appeared to fit, but it turned out to be completely unsuitable for my car.

The supp**** battery did not support the stop-start function required by my vehicle, nor was it capable of handling the necessary load. As a result, my car displayed multiple warning lights and was unsafe to operate. My mechanic later confirmed that the battery was the wrong type.

When I contacted the supplier to have the issue resolved under the two-year warranty, I was met with outright refusal. I was told the battery was the “correct” one, despite clear evidence from my mechanic that it was not. I was further told that, because I had used it for a few days, the battery was now considered second-hand and could not be exchanged. Even my request for a partial refund so I could purchase the correct battery was denied.

This is completely unacceptable. I placed my trust in a business that claims to be an expert in batteries, and instead I was left stranded, misled, and forced to spend an additional R2000 to purchase the correct battery.

I want to warn other consumers: a warranty does not always mean protection, and you cannot assume that a supplier will stand by their word. Always double-check that the battery being sold is the correct one for your specific vehicle, including serial number and compatibility with stop-start systems.

I am deeply disappointed by the lack of accountability and poor customer service I experienced. No consumer should be sold the wrong product and then be denied any form of resolution.