VW IS WAITING TO CASH IN ON YOUR RADIO CODE

I had my battery checked at a battery fitment and when they put the battery back my radio needed a code in order to work. I got home and checked my user manual for the code it was not there, I checked my glove compartment it's not there, I checked my boot and spare Tyre the code is not there. I then called a VW dealership and was told if the code is not in my user manual I should book my car in and I will be charged R450 to retrieve the code. I called various dealerships and was told the same thing. Make this make sense! How must I pay for a code that should've been in my manual but is not. I didn't lose the code for it to be regenerated I WAS NEVER GIVEN THE CODE why must I pay for something I was never given to begin with? Does VW withhold the code purposefully so they can cash in at a later stage because they know we will need this at some point???? This is daylight *******, that is my radio code that should've been given to me when I purchased my car but it was not. Someone must first prove to me my ignorance or carelessness before I fork out any money for what is rightfully mine!