A group action lawsuit against Volkswagen, brought by Your Lawyers, is working to secure claimants discounts of up to 100% of the purchase price of their Volkswagen Group vehicles caught up in the emissions scandal.
Your Lawyers is using the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
It provides consumers with the right to discounts of up to 100% on the value of purchases that were made based on misleading practices.
To be eligible to claim the discount, claimants must have purchased or made payments towards affected vehicles after the October 1, 2014.
Barrister Tom Goodhead said of the legislation: “This is a new legal remedy which has never before been tested in a group action in the United Kingdom.
“We are highly optimistic of the potential use of this legislation in defending consumer rights, and urge more individuals to come forward.”
The legal firm, using the website caremissionslawyers.co.uk, currently represent more than 7,000 claimants.
Consumer rights lawyer and founder of Car Emissions Lawyers founder Aman Johal said: “The affected cars were only able to be sold in the United Kingdom due to the presence of defeat devices, and a number of our clients claim that the ‘fix’ offered by Volkswagen in respect of the defective vehicles often causes other issues, including a decline in performance and fuel efficiency.
“Contrary to their public apologies and admissions of misconduct, VW continue to deny responsibility for any wrongdoing, even refusing to admit that defeat devices were installed on their vehicles.
“This is unacceptable from any company, let alone the world’s biggest carmaker.
“In addition to holding Volkswagen to account for their conduct against consumers, we are also seeking punitive damages against VW to compensate for the environmental damage caused by their vehicles.”
This group action was filed by Your Lawyers with the High Court in January 2016, and is being brought by Aman Johal in conjunction with barristers Andrew Onslow and Tom Goodhead.
This action is being supported by global litigation firm Hausfeld LLP.
At caremissionslawyers.co.uk, owners of Volkswagen, Audi, Seat or Škoda vehicles with a 1.2, 1.6, or 2.0 litre diesel engine manufactured between 2008 and 2015 can register to take part in the group action at no cost.
Jeremy has been a journalist for 30 years, 20 of which have been in business-to-business automotive. He was a writer and news editor on AM-sister brand Fleet News for three years before setting up the AM website. For the last five years he has been Bauer B2B’s head of digital helping to manage the digital assets of AM, together with Fleet News, Commercial Fleet, Rail and Smart Transport.
Chris Rollason - 02/02/2017 13:45
My wife has a Golf Cabriolet OV62 KEJ purchase from a VW Garage on 3/9/2013. We have recovered a letter saying we are effected and to book in at a local VW Garage. (One year old registered by VW.)