Outrageous water bill from Ethekwini Municipality water.

Hello Peter, We need your help regarding our water bill. Up until May 2018 we have been paying our water bills. In June 2018 we did not receive our bill up until October when we came home and found out that water has been switched off. When phoning Ethekwini Water we were told we are now owing about R35000,00 which came as shock to us. We asked how come the bill was so high and we were told that there was a leak which immediately we sourced plumber to repair it. We then went to Ethekwini water office to find out how can this bill be rectified. All along the average water bill for our home was R250 or so. At the offices we were told that Westwood insurance will pay and was told which documents we must submitt. We then submitted as instructed. The water claim was acknowledged in October 2018 and in October 2018 we had a July bill that was about R7000. Please note that the claim documentation was submitted in October 2018 with the July 2018 bill because that is what we had received. Ethekwini municipality was aware that in October bill a was about R35000. The claim was paid out in December 2018 only the R7000 not the whole amount owing. As at now the water is switched off because we are owing about R450000. We went back to Ethekwini water to ask them to switch our water back on. They told us we must liaise with insurance but in the meantime we must pay R11500 cash deposit so they can switch water back on. Then pay R1445,00 plus current month charges for 24 months.

When enquiring about not receiving water bill at that time, we were told Post Office workers are on strike. We do not have that kind of money and it is not fair for them to ask that kind of money for water we did not use. Please help us.