Protection
for the company, whistleblowers and persons implicated
Fairness
and sensitivity when processing hints
Trust
as the basis for our work
Complying with statutory regulations and internal rules has top priority at Volkswagen. This naturally also applies to Volkswagen Financial Services. We can only avoid damage to our company, our employees and business partners if rules and standards are respected. Consequently, misconduct must be recognized swiftly, processed and immediately remedied. Therefore, we have entrusted the Central Investigation Office to operate an independent, impartial and confidential Whistleblower system.
That calls for vigilance on the part of everyone along with a willingness to draw attention to possible Serious Regulatory Violations on the basis of Reasonable Suspicion. We also value information of this nature from business partners, customers and other third parties. Reports to the Whistleblower System can be made at any time and in any language.
The Whistleblower System guarantees the greatest possible protection for whistleblowers, persons implicated and employees contributing to the investigation of reported misconduct. An investigation is only initiated after very careful examination of the facts and reasonable suspicion of a regulatory violation. There will be strict confidentiality and secrecy throughout the investigative process. Information will be reviewed fairly, promptly and in a sensitive manner.
This also includes offering anonymous reporting and communication. We assure not to perform any steps in order to identify anonymous whistleblowers, who do not misuse our Whistleblower System. Retaliation of whistleblowers and all persons who contribute to the investigation will not be tolerated. Persons implicated are presumed innocent until the violation is proven.
How do we process your report?
The qualified and experienced colleagues at the Investigation Office examine every report for potential misconduct by a Volkswagen Group employee thoroughly and follow it up systematically. First, you will get a confirmation of receipt. The Investigation Office then assesses your report. This includes gathering facts particularly from the whistleblower. Only if this initial evaluation shows grounds for suspicion of a violation an investigation by a dedicated Investigating Unit will be started. Afterwards, the results of the investigation will be assessed by the Investigation Office and appropriate measures will be recommended. Information about the status* and the outcome of the procedure will be given to you without undue delay.
Potential violations of the Code of Conduct for Business Partners by suppliers, including serious risks and violations of human rights and environment by direct and indirect suppliers, can also be reported to the Investigation Office -as well as reports requiring otherwise immediate action. The Investigation Office will inform the responsible departments, who will process the issue accordingly. This particularly includes taking the necessary measures to minimize or end violations and/or risks.
* The processing time varies depending on the subject of the procedure
Find more information on the procedural principles of the Volkswagen Group Complaints Procedure here.
Do you have any concern or feedback regarding a VWFS product or service?
If you have any questions or inquiries regarding your contract or other services of VWFS or our business partners,please contact our Customer Service department via customerservice@vwfs.com.au. We kindly ask for your understanding that the Whistleblower System unfortunately cannot process customer complaints.
How do I make a report?
It is important to make sure the information contained in the report you submit to the Investigation Office is as concrete as possible so that it can be processed and investigated in an appropriate manner. It is helpful if your report covers the following five questions:
• Who?
• What?
• When?
• How?
• Where?
Please make sure that the descriptions contained in your report can be easily understood by persons who are not specialists in your field. It would be helpful if you are available to answer further questions. If you would be willing to do so, but wish to remain anonymous to the company, please contact the ombudspersons to make your report. However, this does not affect the right to contact designated authorities.
Where do I send my report?
There are many ways of submitting information to the Volkswagen Group - at any time, on all channels and always while maintaining anonymity.
24/7 Hotline
You can make a report at any time using the international toll-free number: +800 444 46300*
If your local telephone provider does not support the toll-free service, you can call the following chargeable number: +49 5361 946300.
* Depending on the country you are calling from, it is possible that the international toll-free hotline is not available since some telephone network providers do not support the service. If so, please use the offered chargeable number or your country specific number.
Country specific numbers
| Country | Toll free number | Local number |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 0800-5912743 | 021-23911381 |
| Mexico | 001-800-4610242 | 0155-71000355 |
| Slovak Republic | 0800-002576 | 02-33325602 |
| USA | 833-6571574 | 908-2198092 |
| South Africa | 0800-994983 | 021-1003533 |
| Malaysia | 1-800-819523 | 0154-600099 |
| Argentina | 0800-6662992 | 011-52528632 |
| Germany | 0800 444 46300 | 05361-946300 |
(Anonymous) Online Reporting Channel
You have the option of using an internet-based communication platform to contact the Investigation Office, exchange documents and conduct a dialog with the lawyers via a separate mailbox. This system is confidential and protected. Whistleblowers can decide for themselves whether they wish to give their names. If you would like to send a confidential report to the lawyers in the Central Investigation Office you can use the secure reporting channel to submit a report.
Important notice: Even if your preferred language is not offered in the reporting channel, you can use any language to submit you report. You can also contact the Central Investigation Office in any language via e-mail or mail.
Contact to Investigation Office (e-mail, postal address, in person) Central Investigation Office of Volkswagen AG
E-Mail:
Postal address:
Central Investigation Office
Box 1717
38436 Wolfsburg (downtown)
Germany
In person:
Central Investigation Office
Porschestraße 1
38436 Wolfsburg (downtown)
Germany
Please make an appointment in advance by writing an e-mail to: io@volkswagen.de
Contact Point Whistleblower System of Volkswagen Financial Services AG
E-mail:
Telephone:
+49-531-212-899785
Postal address:
Contact Point Whistleblower System GH-GI
Gifhorner Straße 57
38112 Braunschweig
Germany
Contact Point Whistleblower System of Volkswagen Bank GmbH
E-mail:
Telephone:
+49-531-212-899786
Postal address:
Contact Point Whistleblower System VDB-GL
Gifhorner Straße 57
38112 Braunschweig
Germany
Ombudspersons of the Volkswagen Group
“Ombudsman” is a term taken from the Swedish word for mediator or legal representative. Dr. Rainer Buchert and Thomas Rohrbach, the external ombudspersons appointed by the Volkswagen Group, act as special counsel to accept reports of potential statutory or internal violation of regulations or any other kind of harmful conduct in the Group, and to review these with respect to plausibility and substantiability. They consult with the whistleblower if necessary and if the identity of the whistleblower is known. Finally, they forward all the information that has been agreed with the whistleblower to the Central Investigation Office for further processing.
All information is treated as confidential and it is the whistleblower who decides whether he or she wishes to protect his or her identity from the Group. The ombudspersons appointed by the Group ensure that reports from whistleblowers who do not wish to be identified by the company are forwarded to the Investigation Office anonymously.
If you want to get in contact with the Ombudspersons you can find their contact details on the following homepage: http://www.ombudsmen-of-volkswagen.com
Do you have further questions?
Questions or suggestions for improvement concerning the Whistleblower Systemcan also be addressed to the Investigation Office.
If you have been interviewed in terms of an investigation, you have the possibility to give feedback to the Ombudsperson as independent body.
Furthermore, our local Compliance Officer/responsible function can also be addressed in all matters of the Whistleblower System via compliance@vwfs.com.au.