Volkswagen are feeling the pressure to compensate U.K. consumers

Could this be the right move towards compensation?

The pressure comes from several MPs on the Transport Select Committee (TSC) who slammed Volkswagen for turning their backs on U.K. consumers. Although Volkswagen admitted guilt in the U.S. and paid out billions of dollars, Volkswagen is still denying any liability here.

The TSC MPs are disgusted with the way Volkswagen are treating their U.K. consumers with “complete disregard”.

Back in September of 2015, it was revealed that Volkswagen had been cheating on their diesel emissions tests by installing a so-called “defeat device” to manipulate test results. Whilst the vehicles were passing tests with flying colours, on the actual road, they were emitting over 40 times Nitrous Oxide than originally stated in some cases.

This was until the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found out. Confronted by their findings, Volkswagen admitted that 11 million of their cars worldwide are affected by emissions issues, but only customers in the U.S. and Canada are being compensated so far.

U.K. consumers being treated with “contempt and disregard” by Volkswagen

MPs have condemned the stark difference in the treatment of Volkswagen customers in the U.S and Canada in comparison to the neglect of their customers in the rest of the world, especially here in the U.K. Over in the U.S., thousands of consumers have been provided with generous buy back schemes, topped with additional 5 to 10 thousand U.S dollars in compensation for the trouble Volkswagen have caused.

In total, Volkswagen have paid out around $20 billion (£15 billion) in compensating customers, settling government fines, and in investment pledges to environmental health projects, and so on.

Here in the U.K., we have around 1.2 million of the affected cars – but how many of these car owners have been compensated?

None!

Members of the TSC are demanding that Volkswagen make a similar deal here in the U.K. In a letter to the VW’s chairman, Hans Dieter Pötsch, the TSC called out the giant car manufacturer to take responsibility for their actions.

“It is our view that the refusal of VW to provide UK customers who were deceived by the company with compensation is deeply unfair, especially given the generous compensation being paid to U.S. customers.”

Written by the chair of the TSC, Mrs Louise Ellman sternly requested an explanation from Volkswagen for “refusing to compensate European customers”. This question has been addressed several times by Volkswagen’s UK Boss Paul Willis who is alleged to have “repeatedly failed to provide satisfactory answers to our questions.”

Volkswagen’s deceiving actions

Within the letter, Mrs Ellman demands that the chairman of Volkswagen’s supervisory board release their full report over the “dieselgate” scandal. Volkswagen have already been accused of conspiring to hide their wrongdoings for the past decade and for destroying evidence when they were caught out. It seems like Volkswagen continue to play the part of “hiding their dirty secrets” from the public.

It has been reported that 100 terabytes of information covers the ins and out of the scandal, yet only a 29-page “Statement of Facts” has made it to the public eye.

“Clearly a 29-page document does not contain all the findings of such an extensive investigation… Nor does it shed much light on the situation in Europe.”

The TSC, backed by hundreds of thousands of U.K. consumers, seem to be getting sick of VW’s side-stepping.

Clearly, it is time for Volkswagen to pay.

Are you affected?

As previously stated, there are 1.2 million drivers here in the U.K with vehicles emitting dangerous amounts of Nitrous Oxide. We are currently taking part in a group action against VW in the High Court so that we can gain compensation for U.K. drivers.

It is simply unfair and unjust that Volkswagen believe that they can get away with compensating only a small portion of their customers, and then neglect the rest. To see if you are eligible for compensation simply fill in our short form below and one of our Car Emissions Lawyers will be in touch.