I received a very quick response from the e-mail I submitted to the VW Class Counsel. A very nice woman named Cameron Saunders from the firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP on the Plaintiffs Steering Committee replied that;
"Volkswagen tells us that a backlog in processing final offers has developed: they are able to verify complete document submissions quickly, but verifying payoff information for vehicles with outstanding loans is slowing the entire final offer process down somewhat. Combined with the sheer volume of claims, they are running a few business days behind, but they are working through the backlog and offers are going out. They have reviewed 200,000 document submissions to date, and as of November 18th, 40,000 offers had gone out, with more going out every day as payoff information is verified.
Please know that we are working to ensure that claims processing occurs as efficiently as possible. As you may know, the Court is overseeing this settlement, and has asked the claims processors to do everything they can to expeditiously implement the settlement terms. We are in regular contact with the Claims Supervisor and have proposed improvements that are being implemented. Staffing continues to increase, and systems are being improved. The Court has also requested class members to exercise patience at this time while the claims process is in its early days.
We expect that you should be getting an offer letter shortly. I will see if I can find anything out about the status of your claim and if I do I will let you know. In the meantime thanks for your patience."
This is the most anyone has communicated to me personally in over a month. While I am grateful for the information, I feel that Volkswagen or the group responsible for processing these claims has done more harm in remaining silent about this problem processing claims than if they would have simply informed those of us with claims that there was an issue and that processing will take longer than expected. Instead, they filled everyone with false hopes of a 10 business day turnaround and then communication went dark, all while 10 days came and went. That is one of the things that has me upset the most.
