The metro addresses issues regarding the disconnection of municipal services

The metro releases a list of facts regarding issues on disconnection of municipal services.

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The metro has advised consumers that all final notices issued are in full compliance with their credit control and debt control policy which is informed by the Local Government Municipal Systems.

The following facts have been outlined by the metro to help reduce constant complaints by consumers concerning credit control matters:

• Monthly account due date represents the date on which the customer’s account becomes due and payable.

• The due date shall be as determined by the council from time to time.

• The account due date will be reflected on the consumer’s account statement.

Only payments receipted through the council’s financial system on or before the account due date will be deemed to have been duly received.

• Payments by customers through third-party vendors will only be deemed to have been received when receipted through the council’s financial system.

As per important notice seven on the reverse side of your statement, third-party system payments must be made no later than seven days prior to due date.

• If a consumer fails to pay the full amount due and payable on or before the account due date, the unpaid amount is in arrears and a final demand notice (pre-termination notice) shall be sent.

This is to advise the consumer that their account is in arrears and qualifies for disconnection/restriction.

• An administrative fee will be levied against the account of a customer in terms of the tariff provisions of the council, in respect of any action taken in demanding payments from the customer or reminding the customer by means of a notice delivered by mail, by hand or any electronic means available, that the account is in arrears.

• The council or duly appointed agent may terminate and/or restrict the supply of water, electricity or in the case of pre-paid electricity, withhold the selling of electricity in terms of the prescribed disconnection procedures, or discontinue any other service to any premises associated with the customer, whenever a consumer of any service, after the expiry of the period for payment in terms of the final demand/final notice referred above, fails to make full payment on the due date or fails to make acceptable arrangements for the repayment of any amount for municipal services, property rates or taxes or other amounts due.

Consumers who do not receive their statements on time can log onto www.e-siyakhokha.co.za to get an online statement.

The online platform was created to help consumers register online and select how they would like to receive their statements.

“It is, therefore, important to note that non-receipt of a statement does not exempt any consumers from paying their accounts.

“To prevent the misfortune of receiving a pre-termination notice or other implemented credit control process, the full monthly account must be paid before the due date,” said Themba Gadebe, spokesperson for the metro.