After more than three years on the Phoenix billing system, the municipality still does not get municipal accounts out in time or with accurate readings.
Countless problems have been encountered since the new system’s implementation in July 2017.
From the word go the system proved not to be as effective as anticipated.
For the first three months, consumers did not receive accounts and were asked to pay an average amount each month.
Then amounts paid by consumers using the EasyPay method did not reflect on accounts.
And that was only the beginning.
Consumers are not acting kindly towards the ridiculous amounts they are billed for anymore.
WITBANK NEWS did two surveys since January and both show that residents had enough of faulty accounts.
In the first survey done in January, 95% of readers voted no when they were asked whether they think their water and electricity meter readings are accurate.
In the most recent poll, residents were asked if their municipal accounts were faulty.
Over 23 000 readers saw the post and 112 comments were received and residents are furious.
February’s accounts were only received after March 3.
Mr Victor Mkhonto from Klarinet said even though the municipality increased his bill to R2 000, he still pays only R500 per month.
Ms Motsabi Alice said their water usage increased drastically and when they asked about it, they were told that an investigation will be done.
She said it is impossible to use so much water as they are not at home during the day.
Ms Jessica Coetzer said the accounts look like they were put together with eyes closed.
“Amounts are just all over and willy-nilly. The website has been down for months and it is impossible to pay your accounts online. If you are lucky enough to get to the front of the ‘queries’ queue, you are met with a staff member that is just as confused as you are and many frustrating hours later, you still end up paying a high amount…”
The list of complaints just goes on and on.
Some residents using borehole water is charged for domestic water usage.
Some with prepaid electricity meters are billed for electricity.
Some accounts reflect refuse removal up to three times.
These amounts are subtracted, added and subtracted again.
Confused residents make their way up to the municipality every day trying to solve their queries.
On every council sitting opposition parties wants to know from the council when the billing system will be sorted out.
By the time going to press the municipal spokesperson Mr Lebo Mofokeng said he was still waiting for feedback from the chief financial officer Ms Jabulile Hlatshwayo on this matter.
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