“Utterly disappointing and totally unacceptable” – U.S. VW’s $15 billion settlement offer continues to cause outrage among U.K. affected vehicle owners

VW have taken contrasting approaches when it comes to compensating their victims.

In the U.S., there has been a settlement of $15 billion approved by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in recent weeks. Yet, here in Europe, and in the rest of the world, VW continue to refuse to enter in to settlement negotiations.

More than 1.2 million vehicle owners have been affected by the scandal in the U.K., but it doesn’t seem like they’re getting any closer to offering compensation. All that’s being offered so far in the U.K. is the recall repair, which they consider to be good enough.

That’s total rubbish in our view!

Their refusal to pay compensation to U.K. victims shows a lack of remorse and unapologetic behaviour. We act for thousands of clients here in the U.K. who are angry that they’re being refused compensation, meaning our fight in the High Court has become the key battle front to making sure those who have joined our action will get the justice they deserve.

VW initially pledged to have most vehicles recalled by September this year, but they’ve catastrophically failed to live up to that plan. So far only 10% of the affected vehicles have actually been recalled as we move closer to the end of 2016.

Widespread disappointment

The disappointment is widespread among VW owners here in the U.K. Jacobus Alders, an affected owner from Cheshire, finds VW’s actions to be “…utterly disappointing and totally unacceptable”.

Mr Alders received his fourth letter in relation to the scandal to find that, yet again, the fix has been postponed. VW seems to have completely disregarded their U.K. consumers and left them in complete limbo, especially for people like Mr Alders who is trying to sell his vehicle, but has found that the cheating emissions has had a negative impact on his efforts.

This is clear evidence for greater intervention and proper compensation.

Government intervention needed – but won’t be happening

This is where the Government are supposed to come in and stand up for the people they represent.

However, MPs are not ‘standing up’ for our rights in any way shape or form as they sweep the whole mess under the carpet, leaving it to our lawyers to pave the way for justice.

This is completely different to the situation in the U.S., where the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) have been heavily involved with investigating what’s happened, and providing findings to show that VW violated several major consumer laws. Consequently they have been putting pressure on the German manufacturer to provide compensation, which has clearly worked since offers are on the table.

The U.K. Government and its agencies should be proactive in applying pressure and consequently inflict proportionate penalties on the company, as shown in the U.S. The Transport Select Committee has labelled the situation as “deeply unfair” but has yet to truly intervene in the case.

European influence

Maybe pressure will hit closer to home as calls for compensation grow in Europe. A European court in Valladolid has recently ruled in favour of a buyer, ordering VW to pay out 5,000 Euros on top of a repair of the vehicle. The Spanish courts’ ruling has perhaps given everyone some useful ammunition to push forward with fighting for compensation for affected victims.

It’s just a matter of time; we’ll fight until justice is served

We will continue the fight against VW; with or without the help of the Government. We will not stop until VW provides compensation to affected vehicle owners in the U.K. in the same way they have done in the U.S.

It would be unwise for VW to continually reject vehicle owners the right to compensation in the U.K. By doing so, they are creating further bad press and racking up financial sums in defending legal proceedings that we’re confident we’ll win.