gross over-estimation of consumption and undue charges

I take note of this account and I see that once again you have made errors on my account, stemming from the erroneous estimation you had made in the account you had sent me in December- R 1 419,41. I immediately queried the account as it was not my actual consumption, but an estimation on your part. Prior thereto, my consumption would range between 12-13 units and then at that estimation it was suddenly 33 units. I queried the fact that you had overestimated to more than double the monthly amount, when every month you send out an official to check the meter reading. I also stated that I am rarely at home and we do not even consume tap water. This was the reference number issued : ##160311##. To which was responded on 20 December 2022: “You are welcome to send a photo off your water reading so we can have a look if it is according to the reading we took. water reading was also estimated the previous month because of the gate that was locked, and we could not get a reading.” Take note: that I was out of the country from 14 December 2022 – 22 January 2023 and I could not send the water reading during this time for obvious reasons and I did not intimate that there was no one at home during that period, for obvious security reasons. The matter was left unresolved. However, I made payment of the account in full despite not being in agreement therewith and not having the funds on hand, I maintain that the account was erroneously over-estimated. All account consumption the 6 months prior thereto ranged between R 409, 68 to R 661, 72. This on its own should be a red flag on your system, as this indicates my ordinary consumption and an estimation should certainly be within that range, not double thereon. Further, the January account again is issued with a further overestimation of now 25 units, again more than double the previous months units of 12-13 units. – R 1032,64. Unlike the previous time where you had grossly over-estimated my account, I did not have any money to pay this account and I again raised the alarm. And I was not in the country and could not send a picture. On 24 January 2023, after I returned, I sent the meter reading. As evidence of this gross over-estimation, the account sent on February 2023, the actual consumption is only 1 unit. I do not believe that you can just estimate to what ever degree you think is right and then hold the customer accountable for a thumb-sucked amount. One would with simple common sense ought to look at the average consumption in preceding months and restrict yourself within that realm. There is no legal basis for this manner of estimation and its a mala fides way of conducting business, simply because the client has no other means to obtain these essential services, other than through your company and is therefore left at the mercy of whomever can write down the largest number. I was only able to pay the account on 22 February 2023, I then on even date received an email stating that the my meter was blocked and charged a recommission fee. Again I raised alarm (# 199339) and was told that because I didn’t send proof of payment, I will be charged the fee, even though I made payment before the meter was blocked, a statement was sent indicating that my funds were allocated on 23 February instead of the 22 February. To add further insult to injury today’s account shows that my deposit is increased to R 1600, thereby bringing my deposit to R 2 800. My attention is drawn to “Deposits are periodically adjusted to be equal to twice the HIGHEST monthly account - See electricity agreement”. I submit, that I have never consumed R 2800 nor R 1400 worth of services in any given month and but for, the invoices sent in December 2022 and January 2023 which were gross over-estimations on your part and not as a result of my actual consumption. Furthermore, my consumption thus far has been capped at an average of R 600 for the almost 5 years that I have been a client, but for periods where there were water leakages or where you have grossly over-estimated my water consumption. The deposit of R 1200 is therefore more than sufficient to cover the highest bill twice. I therefore take issue with this charge and urge you to rectify same, in this instance if the matter is not resolved I will take further steps as you do not listen !!!!!