Nelson Mandela Bay municipality’s billing system has been thrust into the spotlight once again as irate residents question the accuracy of their monthly accounts after receiving inflated bills.
Ratepayers who spoke to our sister publication Weekend Post told of their monthly battles to have their issues resolved.
Adding to their frustration is that when they try to query their astronomical bills, they are sent from pillar to post.
Sometimes, after they manage to get their accounts adjusted, the problem resurfaces.
The municipality has continuously maintained that it does not have a billing problem as the system had inaccuracies only of up to 5%.
It said incorrect readings were often submitted into the system.
This is in all likelihood true, but it provides little comfort for those who are saddled with this problem for months on end.
A Lorraine resident has been battling since September 2021 with a rollercoaster of astronomical accounts.
Ward 8 councillor Gustav Rautenbach said he was aware of a high number of complaints in his area.
But the problem is not in Lorraine only.
In February, a Walmer resident was hit with a R9-quadrillion bill for a property he had already sold but continued to receive an account for.
Residents in Westering, Mangold Park and Newton Park have all experienced similar challenges.
There has to be an easier way to resolve these problems which does not require ratepayers to haul themselves to the customer service centres every month in the hopes that it will finally be resolved.
No system is foolproof and that is why it is important to have officials working in the billing system keeping a close watch over the system to ensure these problems are not the norm.
Though we believe that people should pay their accounts diligently, especially if they can afford to pay, no resident should be expected to pay huge bills for which the city can give no clear reason.
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