Through a media release on Wednesday, August 10 the City of Joburg (CoJ) has given assurance that debt rehabilitation applicants will get a response.
CoJ apologised to customers who have applied and are awaiting feedback for the delay regarding the status of their Debt Rehabilitation programme applications.
According to MMC for Finance, Councillor Julie Suddaby, CoJ understands the inconvenience this may have caused and confirms that the programme is receiving the attention it needs to conclude.
The Debt Rehabilitation programme started on May 1 and ended on June 30, and CoJ’s team of experts in the Credit Control unit have been busy assessing the overwhelming number of applications it received.
“The City wants to assure applicants that responses will be prepared and sent from our dedicated team of specialists once the application has been assessed. Once assessed, the City will respond to each applicant, informing them of the outcomes of their application and what will happen going forward. We urge ratepayers to please be patient and allow this process to take its course,” said Suddaby.
Anyone who has not received feedback by September 30 and is concerned because of an extended time lapse, may enquire after September 30 by using one of the following query channels:
• Dial the Call Centre on 0860 562874
• Visit any of the Customer Service Centres across the city
Ratepayers are encouraged to ensure that they provide their reference and account number as well as the application date in order to obtain accurate feedback.
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This amended Debt Rehabilitation programme was the City’s intervention in line with Mayoral Priority 3: ‘A caring city’, to assist ratepayers in financial distress who consequently struggle to service their municipal accounts in arrears.
‘’We take this opportunity to remind our ratepayers that this programme is now concluded and will not be offered again in the foreseeable future. We call on all customers who have applied and are awaiting an outcome to continue paying their current billed municipal accounts in full and on time to avoid disconnection of services,’’ added Suddaby.
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Community members who have not applied for the programme and are experiencing difficulties in servicing their account are advised to contact CoJ directly and speak to them about a possible payment plan.
