UPDATE: Another TTAC reader is seeing different prompts without the Goodwill Package offer.
The Volkswagen Diesel Information website is now listing the “2.0L TDI Customer Goodwill Package” and requesting vehicle identification numbers (VINs) for registration in the program. However, it does not seem to be working for all website visitors.
The signup form asks owners for a physical address, email address and vehicle mileage before asking for permission to use the information to contact the owner regarding future diesel emissions related updates.
TTAC was able to obtain a VIN for one of the affected vehicles with an owner’s permission to complete the sign up process.
After performing a VIN lookup to confirm the owner’s vehicle is affected, this is the first screen shown. At time of publication, the link for “View Program Rules” was non-functional.
After the information is submitted, owners are ask to confirm the information as it was submitted, that the vehicle registrant is the one submitting the form and the vehicle registrant understands and agrees to the “Program Rules.” Again, that link and the “Cardholder Agreement” link is non-functional.
The confirmation states “both cards expire one year after date of issuance.”
On the subsequent “Thank you for registering” screen, none of the links currently work.
This was the email received by Branden after we registered his vehicle.
Branden Flasch,
Thank you for requesting the Goodwill Package and signing up to receive communications regarding the 2.0L TDI emissions issue.
Your registration code is XX-#########-####
Volkswagen is committed to finding a remedy as soon as possible. We would like to emphasize that the EPA has noted that vehicles affected by this issue are legal and safe to drive, and we are working to develop a remedy that will meet the expectations of the government agencies.
Within 4 weeks you should receive your Goodwill Package materials. You will need these, along with additional verification items, in order to activate the Goodwill Package at participating Volkswagen dealerships. You must remain the owner of the vehicle at the time of activation in order to receive the benefits of the Goodwill Package.
For immediate inquiries please contact VW Owner Customer CARE:
1-800-822-8987
8am – 7pm LOCAL
Monday – Friday
http://www.vw.com/contactThank you,
Volkswagen of America
TTAC reader Kyree was not able to see the goodwill package offer prompts.
(H/T to Steven Jacobson and thank you to Branden Flasch and Kyree Williams for letting us use his VIN.)
I will personally send $20 by PayPal to the first person who finds out where they have hidden a lawsuit waiver as a condition of receiving the “goodwill package”.
My guess is that someone in the VW legal department is trying to head off owner lawsuits with this effort.
“Oh, sorry, you can’t sue us for misrepresenting the product and/or affecting its long term value because you already received a free oil change and car wash as compensation.”
Not even necessary to put that in writing. In most jurisdictions the acceptance any kind of compensation would eliminate you from participating in future lawsuits.
Sure sounds like angler fish.
As the New York Times reported this past week, many corporate agreements with employees, customers, etc., hide an arbitration clause deep in the boilerplate. While the large majority of these arbitration hearings end in the company’s favor, more importantly, they forestall class action suits by nullifying their availability under the terms of the corporate produced contract. In other words, the deck is stacked.
I wonder how soon we will hear about clever types applying and receiving compensation cards delivered to PO Boxes for cars that are still on dealer lots.
Gotta love that the current ad on this page reads: HAS VW DEFRAUDED YOU?” etc, sponsored by a bunch of law firms: (listed below). Glad to see that they aren’t wasting any time in waiting to see what VWs actual solutions are.
I’m not sure who is worse: VW for cheating, or the hordes of lawyers salivating at the thought of blood in the water.
Michael Wilens, Esq.
349 5th Ave Suite 622
New York, NY 10061
551.252.5902
Pulaski Law Firm, P.L.L.C.
4615 Southwest Frwy Suite 850
Houston, TX 77027
Hilliard Muñoz Gonzales L.L.P.
719 S Shoreline Blvd, # 500
Corpus Christi, TX 78401
They must have taken it down… the site only shows that they are making updates to their VIN lookup tool now.
The NYT is already on the trail of the lawsuit angle:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/08/business/international/volkswagen-may-offer-cash-to-ease-owners-ire.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=1
“The company faces lawsuits from owners seeking compensation for the decreased resale value of the roughly 500,000 Volkswagen and Audi vehicles that were equipped with illegal software. It was not clear whether owners would have to give up any rights to sue if they accepted the cash.”
The fact that the required disclosures were not available for viewing at the time of signup prompts the idea of another lawsuit! Or at the very least negates the possibility of any waiver from liability.
I went to the vwdieselinfo site on Friday to see what was up. The program rules link was broken, so I won’t sign up for it until I know what I’m getting into.
However, I can’t sign up this morning even if I wanted to because the site is broken, just like VW as a whole.
If VW has hired a PR or crisis consultant, they should probably ask for their money back…
How did someone manage 173,000 miles on a 2010!?!
Nearly 79 miles a day, 365 days a year assuming they’ve actually had it for 6 full years (being generous).
I signed up last night. Site works fine.
What did the program rules and cardholder agreement say?