Renault UK End EV Battery Lease Agreement: Difference between revisions

** New electric cars no longer come with battery leases.

** Battery leases were primarily available on Renault Zoe models (up to 2019) and early Nissan Leaf models.

** Renault's battery lease was managed by RCI Bank, now known as Mobilize.

** Lease agreements require a minimum term (usually 1–3 years).

** After the minimum term, the lease can be terminated with one month’s written notice.

** The agreement mentions responsibility for battery removal and restocking fees but lacks clear details about additional costs.

** '''''Process Issues:''''' The speaker faces difficulties even initiating the return process, as local Renault dealerships are unaware of the procedure, and Mobilize relies on these third parties without clear contractual obligations.

** '''''Excessive Fees:''''' If the process progresses, removal costs are estimated around £450, with additional transport costs to France pushing the total to approximately £1,400.

** '''''Legal Concerns:''''' The speaker argues that these transport fees are not explicitly mentioned in the lease agreement and are therefore unreasonable.

** A "Letter Before Action" has been sent to Renault, citing failure to fulfil contractual obligations, effectively trapping the speaker in a contract without a viable exit.

** The speaker plans to pursue a "small claims court" case, seeking the battery’s buyout cost (£253.20) as a legal strategy to terminate the lease.

** ''Frustration of Contract:'' The speaker references the legal concept of "frustration of contract," where a party cannot fulfil their contractual obligations due to circumstances beyond their control.

** The speaker has created a Google Form to collect data from others affected by battery lease issues, aiming to identify patterns of unfair practices.

** Reports from viewers reveal widespread problems, including:

** Inability to return leased batteries due to dealership incompetence or indifference.

** Cases of insurance write-offs where battery leases remain active, as insurers failed to settle the lease.

** Consumers paying excessive fees to terminate leases or being forced to buy out batteries at inflated prices.

** If a significant number of affected consumers come forward, the speaker suggests exploring broader legal action, possibly a class action lawsuit, to challenge Mobilize and Renault's practices.

** '''''Buying out the battery:''''' Costs around £2,000, despite the market value being significantly lower (~£500).

** '''''Paying removal and transport fees:''''' Approximately £1,400, viewed as excessive and potentially unenforceable.

** '''''Legal action:''''' Using small claims court to dispute fees and force lease termination.

** '''''Resale Complications:''''' Difficulty transferring leases during car sales due to complex paperwork and delays from the finance company.

** '''''Insurance Write-offs:''''' Cases where vehicles declared as write-offs still carry active battery leases, as insurance companies fail to settle outstanding agreements properly.

** '''''Potential Credit Risks:''''' Cancelling direct debits to end payments could harm credit ratings, even if legally justified.

** '''''Remote Disabling:''''' Renault reserves the right to disable the vehicle’s charging capability via telematics if lease payments are missed, provided the telematics system is functional.