Sanral told to fix billing mess

The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has been ordered to fix its billing mess.

This should be done before demanding payment for the use of e-tolled roads in Gauteng.

Consumer watchdog, the National Consumer Commission (NCC), said that although Sanral had the right to demand payment from motorists for using e-tolled roads, its billing should be accurate and conform to good business practice.

The Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA) has said it is pleased with the opinion expressed by the head of the National Consumer Commission, Mr Ebrahim Mohamed, as reported by national media earlier today. Read the article here

“The message in this article is one that is echoed by common sense and reiterates the message we have shared for years now, being that ‘laws are only as good as they are governable’.

OUTA has now received over a thousand complaints from the public over the past three weeks.

“This pay now and query later attitude by Sanral is unacceptable” said Mr John Clarke, spokesperson for OUTA.

This morning, national media reported that the NCC’s head, Mr Ebrahim Mohamed, said Sanral demanding payment without giving users the chance to query bills was “not proper practice”.

The onus was on Sanral to prove that a motorist had travelled on a specific road at a specific time, he said.

“The demand for payment, however it is communicated, has to be correct and accurate. It is incumbent on Sanral to prove to any consumer who raises a query that the road was used on a specific date, by a specific vehicle, and that the charge is based on set tariffs.”

Democratic Alliance national spokesman and Gauteng premiership candidate, Mr Mmusi Maimane, said the party had received over 300 complaints about Sanral’s billing system.

“The most common complaints are about people not receiving invoices, incorrect amounts for travel and bills going to people who have not travelled recently.
“It is clear that Sanral’s billing system is not working,” said Mr Maimane.