Poor CoCT service

I first reported a CoCT water meter leak on 15.01.21 (having noticed an unpredicted increase in the water consumption on the invoice received the day before. I went out and checked at the meter out on the street). Since then I have 16 various reference numbers reporting the same fault. After many calls and emails, even copying in my local ward councillor, I received an email from CoCT on 30.03.2021 explaining that my water meter does indeed need to be replaced but they do not have any meters in stock and are unable to give me any indication of when they will have stock or when my meter will be replaced. Having received my 4th consecutive inflated CoCT invoice, I called the CoCT accounts department 19.04.2021 who lodged a request for an interim measure (I believe its called a "straight line") to be put in place in the meantime. It was explained that this is a measure that can be put in place until such time as their new meters arrive. I am gobsmacked that no one at CoCT has thought to implement this interim measure yet, after me having made so much contact about the meter leak problem (and 3x CoCT teams who have arrived, looked and left).

I was also informed by the CoCT accounts department that I have to continue to pay the inflated invoices until the matter is resolved - currently my water consumption is almost 800% more than my 21 year average in this property. Resolution will only be once CoCT has secured the needed water meter and has done the job of installing it. Both of which I have no power over. I was advised that I will need to go to the nearest CoCT walk-in centre with 3 months bank statements and prove that I cannot afford to pay the current consumption - if I am unwilling to pay more than I would normally. It is not my meter, it's not my water consumption, both are CoCTs!!

Any others with a similar experience, any solutions?

Reference number records thus far (for the same fault): 1. *** - 15.01.21 2. phoned Saturday 16.01.21 was told its been referred to the Steenberg depot 3. *** - 18.01.21 4. *** - 20.01.21 5. *** - 20.01.21 6. *** - 23.01.21 7. *** - 23.01.21 8. *** - 20.02.21 9. *** - 20.02.21 (account adjustment request lodged - not implemented according to latest invoice received 11.03.2021) 10. *** - 02.03.21 11. *** - 05.03.21 12. *** - 08.03.2021 13. *** - 11.03.2021 14. *** - 12.03.2021 for Leak at Water Meter / Stop**** (I did myself online as calling *** has proven pointless) 15. *** - 24.03.2021 16. *** - 19.04.2021