Welcome to the homepage about the Volkswagen Group Whistleblower System.
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 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. Here is an overview of all Whistleblowing System information at a glance.
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. However, this does not affect the statutory right to contact designated authorities as described below.
Do you have any concern or feedback regarding a VW FS product or service?
If you have any questions or inquiries regarding your contract or other services of VW FS or our business partners (e.g. dealerships, workshops), please contact our Customer Service.
We kindly ask for your understanding that the Whistleblower System unfortunately cannot process customer complaints.
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.
Find more information on the procedural principles of the Volkswagen Group Complaints Procedure here.
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.
Where do I send my report?
24/7 Hotline
You can leave us a voice message by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. After entering the phone number (specific to the country you are in), you will be prompted to enter the organization code. Then, you can submit your report as a voice recording. Only a written transcript will be received by the Investigation Office. Dial back in to listen to the reply or further questions by our team.
Select a phone number from this list for your country or region and have the corresponding organizational code 122322 ready.
(Anonymous) Online Reporting Channel
You have the option of using a web-based communication platform SpeakUp to contact the Investigation Office in more than 65 languages. This system is confidential and technically secured and allows you to submit reports anonymously. You can access the online reporting channel through the following link: https://goto.speakup.report/vwfs
You can find detailed instructions on how to make reports online, by app or by phone here.
SpeakUp App
You can also download the Speak Up App “SpeakUp - Listen for a change “ by People Intouch (personal devices only) to access the secure reporting system. Through this app, you can submit your report in writing or leave a voice message (also anonymously). You will need the organization code 122322. Log back in to see our team's reply or answer further questions. To download the app, you can also scan the QR code:
Contact to Investigation Office (e-mail, postal adress, in person)
Central Investigation Office of Volkswagen AG
E-Mail:
io@volkswagen.de
Postal Adress:
Volkswagen AG (Investigation Office)
Brieffach 1717
Berliner Ring 2
38436 Wolfsburg
Germany
Please make an appointment in advance by writing an e-mail to: io@volkswagen.de.
Contact Point Whistleblower System of
Volkswagen Financial Services Overseas AG
E-mail:
indication-overseas@vwfs-overseas.com
Telephone:
+49-531-212-9850020
Postal adress:
VWFS Overseas AG
Gifhorner Straße 57
38112 Braunschweig
Germany
In person:
Office Space CD-CB
Schmalbachstraße 2a, Building B15 Ground Floor
Braunschweig
Ombudspersons of the Volkswagen Group
In addition to the lawyers of the Central Investigation Office the Volkswagen Group has appointed external lawyers to act as Ombudspersons. As persons of trust, they receive hints on possible Serious Regulatory Violations and check if these are plausible and valid.
All information is treated as confidential and it is the whistleblower who decides whether he or she wishes to protect his or her identity vis-à-vis 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 concerning the Whistleblower System of Volkswagen Financial Services can also be addressed to our Compliance Officer via email: compliance-overseas@vwfs-overseas.com.
The impartial Compliance Officer advertises and communicates about the Whistleblower System locally, being VW FS connection to the Central Investigation Office. However, the qualified and experienced colleagues ate the Central Investigation Office are also at your disposal.
Additionally, the impartial Compliance Officer will also ensure that VW FS complies with legal requirements regarding Whistleblower Systems.
If you have been interviewed in terms of an investigation, you have the possibility to give feedback to the Ombudsperson as independent body.
External Reporting Channel of Germany
The German government has defined designated authorities, that also accept reports on misconduct as external reporting channels. The external reporting channel is: https://www.bundesjustizamt.de/DE/MeldestelledesBundes/MeldestelledesBundes_node.html