AN ESTIMATED 2,456 motorists in Worcester could miss out on compensation over the VW emissions scandal with just a week left until the window for applications closes.
New figures from the DVLA show there are still thousands of people in the city who could be in line for compensation from the German car-giant, but have yet to join a claim.
The UK courts have set a deadline for drivers of vehicles fitted with so-called ‘defeat devices’, which helped VW-made motors cheat emissions tests, to join the £200million claim.
The ‘Dieselgate’ scandal has already seen VW payout $US14billion in fines in the United States, where the German car giant was found to have mis-sold vehicles.
Now British drivers who bought an affected VW, Skoda, SEAT or Audi must file a claim before October 26 if they wish to be compensated.
In 2015, VW admitted fitting software to some diesel models to cheat clean air test in the USA – provoking a backlash among customers.
In the years since, they have been offering free ‘fixes’ to vehicles fitted with the devices, but the process has led many drivers to report worse performance after their cars were altered.
Lawyers at Slater and Gordon, which is leading a group action against VW, have urged drivers to register their claim with them before Monday, October 22 in time for the court’s deadline next week.
Gareth Pope, head of group litigation for Slater and Gordon said: “VW lied to and deceived its customers more than three years ago, yet they have refused to take responsibility for their actions.
“This is despite paying out compensation in other countries. This just goes to show the utter contempt they have for their UK customers.
“The only way of holding VW to account for its dishonest practices is to sign up to the group action.
“As the latest figures show, there are hundreds of thousands of affected motorists who will miss out on compensation they could be owed. We would urge them to act now as time is running out.”
Vehicles affected by the scandal include any VW, Audi, Seat or Skoda cars which have a 1.2, 1.6 or 2 litre diesel engine, which was made between 2008 and 2015 and purchased between 2008 and January 1, 2016.
Visit www.slatergordon.co.uk/vw for more.
