Frustration escalated for a Mdantsane man after he was billed R8808.15 for water by the Buffalo City Metro, but claimed he had settled his account.
Sipho Siganga from NU 14 received the municipal account in May this year, but claimed he is yet to receive clarity on how the water bill escalated.
“Every month I pay R500 for my monthly rates, although my current is usually between R300 and R400 including water, but somehow I have always had a backlog of around R3500 which I have also recently cleared.”
The Daily Dispatch has seen Siganga’s municipal statements and the receipt of the R3500 payment.
With his May municipal statement, BCM charged R7726.45 for water with added VAT of R1081,70 which brought the total amount to R8808.15 for water. The statement shows that amount is for water reading from March last year to April this year.
Siganga lodged a complaint with the municipality last month.
Buffalo City Metro spokesman Thandy Matebese, in response to questions by the Daily Dispatch, confirmed there was a fault with the meter.
“The receipts are not in question, it’s the amount billed that is being questioned.
“The waterworks department has changed the meter and has recommended the customer be granted a full credit for consumption charged over 5kl per month for the period March 2014 to April 2015, as the meter was faulty.”
Matebese said by doing so, the query should be resolved.
Matebese said that although the meter reader attended the property each month, the meter could not be read as there was rubble covering it.
Matebese said there was no record of the customer complaining about the unread meter.
“Both the customer and the municipality have a joint responsibility in this regard.” — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
WHERE TO COMPLAIN:
BCM Municipal account holders with any water related queries can call the water department on 043-705-9235. With queries regarding the financial statement on 0861113017.
BCM replaces meter after huge water bill error
Sipho Siganga from NU 14 received the municipal account in May this year, but claimed he is yet to receive clarity on how the water bill escalated.
“Every month I pay R500 for my monthly rates, although my current is usually between R300 and R400 including water, but somehow I have always had a backlog of around R3500 which I have also recently cleared.”
The Daily Dispatch has seen Siganga’s municipal statements and the receipt of the R3500 payment.
With his May municipal statement, BCM charged R7726.45 for water with added VAT of R1081,70 which brought the total amount to R8808.15 for water. The statement shows that amount is for water reading from March last year to April this year.
Siganga lodged a complaint with the municipality last month.
Buffalo City Metro spokesman Thandy Matebese, in response to questions by the Daily Dispatch, confirmed there was a fault with the meter.
“The receipts are not in question, it’s the amount billed that is being questioned.
“The waterworks department has changed the meter and has recommended the customer be granted a full credit for consumption charged over 5kl per month for the period March 2014 to April 2015, as the meter was faulty.”
Matebese said by doing so, the query should be resolved.
Matebese said that although the meter reader attended the property each month, the meter could not be read as there was rubble covering it.
Matebese said there was no record of the customer complaining about the unread meter.
“Both the customer and the municipality have a joint responsibility in this regard.” — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
WHERE TO COMPLAIN:
BCM Municipal account holders with any water related queries can call the water department on 043-705-9235. With queries regarding the financial statement on 0861113017.
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