VW TDI Settlement - buying a TDI now

henryn

I just now saw this posted over on the TDIClub forums:

Just an fyi...I just received an email letting me know I could now log back on to the settlement site and book my buyback appointment. First available for any dealer near me is Nov. 25, 2016, which I booked.

The process is really straightforward and the nice thing is that you are asked to enter your exact current mileage before booking the appointment. Thus, if your offer letter was off on mileage, it's easily corrected at this step.

There are a few additional one page documents that one downloads at this step as well. They include:

1) Odometer Disclosure Statement

2) Limited Power of Attorney (for title and Federal Odometer Disclosure Statement)

...and a checklist to make sure you bring everything you need for the closing.

qbrozen

I called the VW hotline thing and left my number for a callback. Callback came about 40 minutes later and the rep looked into my file. She tells me, as others have reported elsewhere, that they have 20 business days to respond. I explained that is not what the settlement states. They have to at least tell me my claim is complete within 10 days, which was yesterday, but she just kept repeating herself. She told me they have until 11/22. I dug around hoping for a more direct form of contact for the 3rd party reviewer the court was supposed to appoint, but came up empty, so I used the FTC website to submit a "complaint" about this development.

28firefighter

I'm getting pretty frustrated, which I realize is something of my own doing...but I'm going to submit a complaint to Ankura Consulting today.

The email address is here:
vwcustomerinquiry@ankuraconsulting.com

qbrozen

thanks. will do the same.

28firefighter

I heard back from Ankura.

Apparently the judge extended the claim review starting process to start 5 days after the settlement approval. So, VW has 10 business days from November 1 to determine the completeness and eligibility of your claim, then an additional 10 business days to review and extend an offer.

qbrozen

Here is the reply I received:

Thank you for reaching out to express your concerns. The Settlement Agreements went into effect on October 25, 2016, however, the Judge ordered that the claims review process officially commence on November 1, 2016 (five days after the effective date of the approved Agreements). As per the timetables set forth in the Agreements and the Long Form Notice, Volkswagen has 10 business days to determine that your claim is complete and eligible, and another 10 business days to issue an award determination. During the second 10 business day period, the Claims Supervisor (Ankura Consulting Group) conducts a review of your claim to verify eligibility and the award determination calculated by Volkswagen.

28firefighter

Ha - I received the exact same response verbatim.

qbrozen

Still, 11/15 is different from the 11/22 the hotline rep told me. So its good to know.

xwesx

Well, if that is ten business days plus ten business days, starting on 11/1/16, then that means they have (potentially) up to 12/1/16 to issue the determination (assuming that the claim was complete and eligible per the first 10-day window, but not passed to the award determination group until the end of the tenth day). There are quite a few non-business days in November, including Veteran's Day tomorrow and Thanksgiving on the 24/25th.

qbrozen

Yup. And if you don't pass, you get to start all over again. And, once you do pass, you have to sign up for an appt, which could very well have you waiting much much longer.

28firefighter

I'm not worried about the time - I just want to start seeing forward progress.

kyfdx

I would at least like to see my documents approved

xwesx

qbrozen said:

Yup. And if you don't pass, you get to start all over again. And, once you do pass, you have to sign up for an appt, which could very well have you waiting much much longer.

Ah, I feel those rays of sunshine!

qbrozen

I'm obviously anxious to move on. I have actually been driving my Volvo lately and letting the Jetta sit in the garage. 

stickguy

glad that you got that back up and running. might as well get some use out of it. And no worries about painful seats!

kyfdx

I'm just the opposite. The BMW has only 10 miles on it, the last two weeks. (but, I'm done commuting)

Michaell

kyfdx said:

I'm just the opposite. The BMW has only 10 miles on it, the last two weeks. (but, I'm done commuting)

Lucky duck!

(oh wait, I work from home - my Jetta has less than 1500 miles on it in 3 months)

stever

The way to keep the miles up is to do like us and share one car.

Or you could keep 3 or 4 rigs around for variety and buy the odd TDI to arbitrage. The money you make on that deal pays for the extra insurance and registration fees.

kyfdx

stever said:

The way to keep the miles up is to do like us and share one car.

Or you could keep 3 or 4 rigs around for variety and buy the odd TDI to arbitrage. The money you make on that deal pays for the extra insurance and registration fees.

I like that plan.. but, the supply really dried up, fast.

henryn

Yes, it indeed did. The day I bought my 13 Passat TDI, I had a choice of about 5 or 6 TDIs, all of which would have netted me between $3k and $5k on the buyback. A few weeks later, when I went back to buy a second one, they were all gone. If I had it to do over again, I would have bought about 3 or 4 on that first day.

henryn

Just received this:

We have reviewed the documents you submitted as part of your claim with reference number xxxxxxx. Currently, your application contains all of the necessary documentation to determine your eligibility. We are now determining your eligibility and will inform you whether you are eligible to participate in the VW/Audi Diesel Emissions Settlement Program.

This on November 14. I uploaded the documents on September 19. Almost 2 full months. This is going to take a L-O-O-O-N-N-G time.

qbrozen

So they just made it. Still nothing on my end. Tomorrow is day 10.

I believe, now that you received today, they need to complete the "eligibility" review by 11/29. Unless the Friday after Thanksgiving doesn't count, in which case 11/30.

kyfdx

Sigh...

28firefighter

Nothing from me yet...documents uploaded on 10/1.

In theory they need to have these to the approved state like @henryn by COB tomorrow for anyone who had documents uploaded on 11/1.

kyfdx

Just got my email at 5:15 ET. Same as above

28firefighter

This is encouraging for me...

28firefighter

Edit: deleted - wrong car.

kyfdx

Logged in to the claims portal, and all the docs are listed as "document complete".

28firefighter

What date did you upload everything?

kyfdx

09/22

corvette

I submitted on 10/5, all mine still say "document received and under review."

qbrozen

Got my email at 4:50am. Good grief. 

henryn

This is probably what is known as LCG. Low Cost Geography. The papers are probably being processed in India, or Manila, or ....

28firefighter

Still nothing for me...

xwesx

qbrozen said:

Got my email at 4:50am. Good grief. 

Pretty much the same here, adjusting for time zone differences! Well, at least they are taking their deadlines seriously. That means we should all get the next notification on or before 12/1.

Henry, I wouldn't be surprised at that. It almost felt as though somebody just said, "okay, we're not committing to anything at this point, so just hit 'send all' so we make the deadline!" LOL

xwesx

I started up my Passat again this weekend, and, after brushing the snow off it and scraping the windshield, I had a hankering to drive it around the block. It handles pretty well with the winter tires, but the traction control system is highly intrusive. I mean, that light on the dash starts flashing and doing weird things to the car when I don't even perceive any slip. If I were keeping the car, I would definitely read up on how to disable or adjust that!

Oh, my, though. It is so quiet, so comfortable. I am eager to take it to Anchorage now!

stickguy

Wonder if it is just the tires causing all the system confusion?

xwesx

stickguy said:

Wonder if it is just the tires causing all the system confusion?

I doubt it; the roads were "slick" with loose snow and hardpack. It doesn't seem to have any issues with the tires being undersized. Heck, I didn't even have to do anything to reset the TPMS on it, though I will read up on that before I head south with it just to make sure that it is working as intended.

henryn

Hot dang! Possible new information:

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=469668

I just saw my 2011 restitution value jump 2100 on the VW claim site. Did VW just update their calculator to add the value not claimed by ignorant sellers? (I am a second owner entitled to 1/2 std restitution + the non claimed proportion by 1st sellers)

...

I also noticed this a few days ago but thought it might be an error on the website. What percentage is 2100 compared to your full restitution payment?

Based on some example cars I have entered, it looks like ~78% of restitution goes to post 6/28 buyers. I also noticed one example car that I almost bought in July but was too late had 100% of the restitution going to the post 6/28 buyer. Because of this discrepancy, I assumed it was a website issue. I would be happy with 78%.

If this is true (and I have no idea if it is), I just jumped 28% of $6,177, or $1,729.

stickguy

you guys are just having too much fun. Still bummed I missed out.

but I would be trying to stretch it until June 2018, which would have me all nervous about running out of money (VW, not me!)

28firefighter

I'm getting a bit concerned. Officially past the deadline when my documents should have been approved and nothing yet. 

qbrozen

Have you also checked the website? Some reported updates on the website without emails, and some even reported calling the hotlline and being told the docs were approved although no email nor website update.

kyfdx

@henryn How do you get back to the screen where you see restitution?

I'm pretty much stuck on the screen with steps 13-15, that show my documents as complete.

28firefighter

I have. When I called yesterday they said they had up to 20 business days to approve documents. Which is not correct.  When I disputed that, they then said they don't send out any notification of acceptance which I also disputed. 

Going nowhere fast, I sent an email to Ankura as well as class counsel. 

qbrozen

kyfdx said:

@henryn How do you get back to the screen where you see restitution?

I'm pretty much stuck on the screen with steps 13-15, that show my documents as complete.

From what folks are saying, they see the new number if they have yet to file a claim or if they create a new dummy account and re-enter the VIN.

Personally, I'd rather not take that chance right now of messing anything up and will just wait for my offer.

qbrozen

I did not know how the whole mileage thing worked exactly before. It appears that it is calculated in 5000 mile brackets. I bought the car with 27k and am at 33k already. That made me drop about $500, but I'm safely in that bracket until I hit 35k, it seems. I have not been driving it much anymore, so I should be able to stay in the bracket I am currently in.

henryn

I'm with @qbrozen on this, I'm not going to take a chance on messing anything up. But this is the latest post in the thread on TDIClub:

I posted this in the other thread too after making a dummy account:

so when I re-input my info with a different email address, my scenario is as follows:

my 09 will receive 61.39% of the restitution portion, purchased 10/16/15
my 10 will receive 76.96% of the restitution portion, purchased 7/15/16

I see no rhyme or reason to this...yet

kyfdx

qbrozen said:

I did not know how the whole mileage thing worked exactly before. It appears that it is calculated in 5000 mile brackets. I bought the car with 27k and am at 33k already. That made me drop about $500, but I'm safely in that bracket until I hit 35k, it seems. I have not been driving it much anymore, so I should be able to stay in the bracket I am currently in.

You have to do the math. The brackets are every 5000 miles + (1042 X no.of.months). So, your bracket isn't at 35K miles (though it could be close to that number at 15 months)

qbrozen

well, yes, as time goes on, the number increases. I'm still holding on to hope that it won't be with me THAT long.

kyfdx

qbrozen said:

kyfdx said:

@henryn How do you get back to the screen where you see restitution?

I'm pretty much stuck on the screen with steps 13-15, that show my documents as complete.

From what folks are saying, they see the new number if they have yet to file a claim or if they create a new dummy account and re-enter the VIN.

Personally, I'd rather not take that chance right now of messing anything up and will just wait for my offer.

Yeah.. not taking a chance on that.

I'm pretty excited about possibly getting an appointment before January 1st. Saves me $300-$400 in property tax for next year.