Expensive penalties imposed on rate payers for requesting services

To whom ever this may concern

Good day, I hope you are in good spirits as I am.

I am truly not happy with the responce given to me for a rates query on my accout about amounts that I feel are irregular on my monthly statements, and it boggles me as to why I should pay R204. 17 for me asking about my account that I make sure that is always up to date and paid up.

I am a law abiding citizen of this beautiful mother city of ours and to come to find that, I, as a rate payer must go as far as paying for a service that is supposed to be free of charge to a rate payer as, it is my account that I am querying about. As I believe, that there is a discrepancy with the amounts on my statements as I try at best to minimize usage of water and yet my bill keeps constant, and we were only three in this residence (a couple and an an infant).

Whenever I either call in to the call center and now written email, I get told that I must again pay a fee to get assisted.

I feel that the municipality is taking me, as a paying client for granted and subsequent to that, it now brings to question as to how many other average law abiding citizens just like me, are being taken advantage of.

More so by a municipality that rakes in millions in a day. To the municipality R204. 17 is just a drop in the ocean, but for me an individual that is trying to make ends meet, it is money that adds to covering living costs and it is to this end that I feel that I should seek legal assistance.

Regards

Mr T Chiloane