Shocking water bill finally sorted out
Hermanus Scholtz battled for months to correct a R25 000 water bill handed to him by the Ekurhuleni Metro.
His water meter started leaking around June last year, and he only picked it up during December.
“The meter was replaced, but the new meter details were never updated and so I received a massive water account,” he said.
“I consulted with the municipality and was informed that it would be corrected, but that they needed three months usage.”
After the three months usage was determined, a ”memo” will be issued to correct his account.
“Last month (May) I received a notice that my account would be cut, but a very helpful lady arranged an extension until the 30th,” Scholtz added.
He said he visited the municipality once or twice a month and, on May 30, was charged for a final notice.
“I noted I was also being charged interest,” he said.
Scholtz then used the website to log countless queries and complaints regarding the issue.
“I even included my area representative in the correspondence, but still nothing happened and no one contacted me,” he said.
The Boksburg Advertiser made an enquiry on Scholtz’s behalf and, within a week, the metro started working on his problem and a R21 000 credit was passed.
Metro spokesperson Themba Gadebe said this account could be adjusted only by the revenue division of the finance department, once the information was received from the water and sanitation department.
“The water and sanitation department had ground work and investigations to do before forwarding the relative information to the revenue division,” he explained.
“The necessary adjustments on the account were completed on Wednesday, June 3.”
Gadebe added that, at approximately 4.20pm on the same day, the client was informed of the adjustment and the status of the account.
The adjustments made included credit control costs that were credited (reversed).
“The client replied at approximately 4.34pm on that same day, thanking the official for informing him of the outcome,” he said.
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