Call for ratepayers to make payment arrangements
Johannesburg – The City of Joburg has called on ratepayers who are financially distressed to approach it for payment arrangements, or face being cut off.
In a statement the City said it has offered to waiver 100% of interest should customers choose to settle their accounts.
“Pre-termination notices are issued because of overdue accounts and are important in the credit-control value chain. Ratepayers are advised to respond positively to pre-termination notices in order to avoid being cut off from municipal services,” it said.
It resumed full credit measures on outstanding municipal accounts on 24 August. Some of the credit-control assistance offered to ratepayers who have been hit hard by the lockdown include payment arrangement plans, smaller instalments over a longer period of time.
Since the beginning of the lockdown, the City said it has been affording ratepayers relaxed payment terms.
“Ratepayers who need to enter into a payment arrangement may send their requests to creditcontrol@joburg.org.za or visit their nearest customer service centre across the City’s regions. The City appeals to municipal account holders not to ignore pre-termination notices issued because of overdue accounts, but to rather take advantage of the credit-control assistance being offered to avoid being cut off municipal services,” is said.
The City said its municipal services cut-off will resume within a credit control legal framework that includes the issuing of a pre-termination notice, followed up with a disconnection notice and subsequently a cut-off for outstanding accounts without payment arrangements.
