They are a AAA battery service provider. I have used them before without issue, so when my battery died because I left the dash cam plugged in for several days, I used the AAA roadside App for battery service. This was the company to respond. There was a section to provide additional info in the app, which I did. At this point, it is noteworthy to state that I am a retired 30+ year ASE Master Technician, so I know my way around a vehicle electrical system.
The information I gave was that the battery was at 4.7 volts and needed replacement. This is a fact because when a battery is discharged that low, it is damaged and cannot be brought back. So, battery tech shows up, tests the battery, and confirms it is bad. No kidding. He then tells me he has to go back to the shop to get a battery off the shelf. Why would you drive from Cocoa to Mims without a replacement battery when I told you it was bad and needed to be replaced? It gets better!
He returns a couple of hours later with a battery and installs it. The car will not start without him using his jump box. I told him he brought me a battery that only had a surface charge and that it was never initially charged by their supplier. He claimed it was good because it showed 12.6 volts, and something else must be wrong. I explained to him that ALL 12-volt car batteries will always show at least 12.4 volts once factory filled, but they have no reserve or stored energy until charged. So, I asked him when he would be back with another battery. He said he had to call his boss.
He calls his boss and explains everything, including what I said, and the boss tells him to test the new battery. So he does, and the tester reports the batter as good but needs a recharge. No kidding. He then tells me that he can't replace it because it reads as good. Now I'm getting a bit annoyed as I explain how ridiculous it is that he will leave me with a non-working replacement battery. I explained that I could not be expected to leave my car running for hours to charge up a new battery and risk damaging my alternator. I tell him I want another battery or for him to refund me and take the battery back. Yes, I had to prepay for the battery before he put it in. He then says the company policy is not to take back a battery and issue a refund once it is installed, and since it tests good, just discharged, he can't swap in another one either.
At this point, I tell him he has to do one or the other and that if he doesn't, I will immediately call my bank and dispute the charge. He calls his boss and put's him on speaker phone, where I repeat everything about the battery not being initially charged, and he tries to tell me that it's good because it has 12.6 volts. I tell him I am a retired ASE Master Technician and know precisely how batteries work. He then dares to say, "Okay, Santa," in a very dismissing tone. He repeats the policy of not replacing the battery or issuing a refund. I reiterate that they brought me a non-working (because it was never charged) battery. They cannot expect a customer to run their vehicle for hours and risk damaging the alternator, not to mention the amount of gas wasted. I then reiterated that I wanted a replacement or a full refund or would dispute the charge with my bank.
The call ends, and the tech says he was told to call his boss's boss, which he does. That person agrees to fully refund me and take back the battery. So, the tech takes out the new battery. I ask him to leave the old battery on the garage floor as I will take it to the local Autozone as a core for a new battery that I will now have to install myself. He says he was instructed to reinstall and reconnect my old battery. Ridiculous, but whatever. Just an extra step I have to do.
He leaves, and I immediately remove my battery and drive to Autozone in Titusville to buy a replacement. I am even more annoyed because my battery was still under a prorated warranty, but now I have to pay full price, over $120 more. So not only did they not do a proper service call, they ended up costing me over $120. Anyway, I bring the new battery home, install it, and the car starts right up just as I knew it would.
They should stick to being locksmiths or take an actual class on how batteries are designed and function. ALL batteries of ALL types MUST be initially charged before they can function fully. Was the battery not being initially charged their fault? No, It was the fault of their supplier that missed the initial charging step on that one. It is, however, 100% their fault for their lousy customer service and my losing out on the prorated value.
DO NOT use this company for a AAA battery service. read more