So now: VW and consumer advocates have reached an agreement in the diesel scandal. t-online.de explains what the comparison will look like – and what those affected should do now.
Agreement in the VW diesel scandal: the car manufacturer and the Federal Association of Consumer Centers (vzbv) have made a comparison, which is intended to compensate hundreds of thousands of people affected. t-online.de knows the details of the agreement:
- The authorized VW drivers should receive an average of 3,200 euros per vehicle
- You have to keep your car
- You must waive further legal claims
A good deal?
Yes – for VW.
- The company sees an opportunity for an end with horror. The more customers accept the offer, the faster VW can file its diesel fraud.
- The solution is very cheap for VW: the comparison costs the group a maximum of 830 million euros. The participants in the model declaratory action could receive 4.6 billion euros – almost six times as much. And their chances in court are very good.
- In addition, VW absolutely wants a solution before May 5, 2020. Then the first fraud procedure begins before the Federal Court of Justice (BGH). The judgment – presumably on the same day – finally creates legal certainty for customers. Then they would be certain that they could successfully enforce their claims. And the likelihood of this is high: experts expect a consumer-friendly decision. However, whoever agrees to the comparison loses any further legal claim. That’s why the company is in such a hurry now.
Volkswagen will now go full throttle to customers: the manufacturer has given them a deadline for approval by April 20 – not accidentally two weeks before the BGH judgment. From the manufacturer’s point of view, as many affected people as possible should of course accept the comparison by then.
However, the solution has major disadvantages for customers:
- Anyone who agrees to the comparison remains stuck on his fraud diesel. However, these cars have lost massive value and can hardly be sold anymore.
- You will receive significantly less money than possible.
- In addition, many sufferers report major problems as a result of the software updates.
What should those affected do now?
Attorney Claus Goldenstein advises not to accept the offer. Goldenstein says t-online.de: “The company knows that the consumers concerned could actually enforce significantly higher sums.” His firm Goldenstein & Partner represents more than 17,800 clients in the diesel scandal.
The lawyer recommends: reject the offer, enforce rights individually. Goldenstein says: “Almost every court in Germany currently approves the return of diesel scandal vehicles to VW. In return, the group has to compensate its customers with a sum that is far above the current market value of the respective car.” On average, his law firm enforced 17,510 euros per fraud diesel.
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