City of ******ion

<p>Good day,<br />I reside in the Rugby, Milnerton area. I sincerely hope you can assist me with my ongoing issue with the City of Cape Town municipality. It started around December 2016 when I received an enormous bill for electricity (over R7000). As it was an estimation I took this up with the municipality who advised that they would reverse the amount after I gave them the actual reading. Even after the reversal, my outstanding amount was very high. I attempted to take this up with them, without success as they were adamant i owed them the requested amount. I then requested assistance from the City Ombudsman. I received an automated response via email stating that they would respond within 90 days (3 months). During this time, I received inaccurate water readings. I requested that my water meter be replaced as the screen was badly scratched and I could not see how the person taking the reading could make out the numbers. The meter was replaced in March. In April, I followed up with the city Ombudsman, with regards to any update. They advised that they were still investigating. A few weeks later I received an email from the Ombudsman investigating officer, who was assigned to my case, stating that I owed a specific amount. It turned out that for over 3 months they had been investigating the incorrect amount owed. The amount that they were referring to was an amount with which I had an arrangement to pay off and contributed to monthly on top of my municipal bill for the month. Because of all of the issues with estimated readings etc, my arrangement had lapsed as it looked as if I was not keeping up with the payments. They then requested a reconciliation on my account and was told they would revert within the month.<br />Once the reconciliation was done, I was told that without a doubt I owed a little R12000 on the account. I was tired of all the back and forth and the toll this process was taking on my life, my health and my marriage. I then willingly app**** to renew my arrangement on the entire amount owed, in May 2017.<br />At the start of June 2017, I received my latest municipal account. The account does not state anything about an arrangement on arrears and I was billed R6700 for water consumption for the month of May and over R700 for sewage. There is also an interest charge of over R1100 at the end of the bill, bringing the bill for the month of May, payable by 30 June 2017 to R9540.86. Total liability of R19590,49. I have taken this up yet again.<br />In this case the City of Cape Town Municipality states that myself and family consumed 69 Kl of water for the period of 26/04 - 18/05. That's 69 000 liters in less than a month. Average of 3000 liters a day.<br />I have been monitoring our water consumption on a daily basis. I have even been taking photos of the water meter to display the reading. My average, when working it out id far less that theirs. Average of +-900 liters a day.<br />I have emailed them but have received no further communication as I believe they realize they are at fault. I have requested a revised statement be sent to me containing the reversal of the grossly incorrect reading. and any other amounts which have been incorrectly app**** to my account. <br />No-one, thus far has been taken the decency to assume responsibility. I am just so tired of having to deal and pay for mistakes not caused by myself.<br />Even if this issue were to be resolved, another one is likely to come up due to inconsistencies in the municipality's accounts department.<br />If any further information is required, please do not hesitate to contact me via email, mobile or office line.</p> <p>Sincerely,<br />RezahK</p>