Asked by the Customer on 24-04-2015 21:31:10
Question posted in the Consumer Protection Law category relating to Gauteng
Question posted in the Consumer Protection Law category relating to Gauteng
Good day
 My name is Itani Manwatha, I am currently staying in pretoria north. I have electricity account problem with City of Tshwane Municipality Electricity Account no:5004723772.
I own a flat in pretoria central,over the years I was renting my flat through an property agent who was sourcing tenants, collecting monthly rental from the tenants on my behalf and pay me. However, in 2010, due to the rental payments delays from the agent I decided to take over back my flat and management it myself.
In 2014 August, I received rates and taxes statements account, to my surprise the bill was around R105 000.00 outstanding. I took the statement to Tshwane municipality offices in pretoria central at corner pretorius and du toit street to find out what is the matter with my Rates and Taxes Account.
When I got there, I was told a very shocking story of my life. The gentleman who helping me, told me that my unit for the past 6 years didn't have electricity account. I asked him how is that possible because tenants who where staying there never complaint to me about not having electricity or the have power problem in the unit. he went on explaining, he mentioned that the last tenant who was staying there in 2009 close his account and when the new tenants moved in they never open a new electricity account because there was electricity in unit and the agent didn't sign any agreement with them, all this happened when my unit was still under the agent. because in the past tenants were allowed to open an electricity account using a lessee agreement.
Furthermore, the gentleman told me that things has changed over the years, tenants are not allowed to open electricity account, it's owner's responsibility of which I was not aware of it. however, to my surprise in some part of the country, tenants are still allowed to open electricity account using lease agreement. I was so confused about this whole situation.
When I ask further how come municipality didn't cut off power to the unit as this people didn't have electricity account, I was told that my electricity meter was connected or linked to the body corporate or building meters, which means the body corporate was paying electricity for my unit over this years until municipality pick up this error in 2014 August, 6 years later.
So what municipality did, was to pay back the money that body corporate pays for electricity at my unit and municipality journal or credited the whole sum amount that they had to pay back to the body corporate into my rates and taxes account. After they explain I didn't dispute it I agree that I will pay even thou was not my fault.
A month later, I started receiving calls from municipality debts collectors. Asking when will I start paying my electricity account. I told them that I will pay them a visit to explain my story or situation on how this bill come about and make necessary arrangements. I had agreement with them and I start paying that money slowly even thou I didn't have by that time as agreed.
Few months later I received call from other debtor collector telling me that they are representing City of Tshwane of municipality. Unfortunately,City of Tshwane went and cut off my electricity.I made a appointment with the new debt collect to visit them and I went there and explain myself how this whole situation come about, I started by telling them that I was dealing with other debtor collect, whom we were already made payments arrangements with them,  I show them papers for the arrangements with the previous debt collect.unfortunatly they didn't want to listen to me. As I was there to make payments arrangements with them and all they could say was I  need to pay 50% of the total amount which is R48 000. I tried to negotiate with them because how could they expect me pay a bill that happened over 6 years in day which was not my fault. furthermore, I put few proposals how am planning to pay this bill for example.I made stop order for R3000 with my bank but they didn't want to listen to me and I had to cancel the stop order that I have done because my flat now is empty due to no electricity and I paying my bank bond R 4000 and levies R1600,TOTAL COST:R5600 loss because I can't put people inside the unit without electricity and I can't managed to pay or service this municipality debt because I don't have any extra incoming that used to come through the rent that I will be getting from the tenants. thus, I can't even go back to previous tenants to claim or collect it because the have been new people coming in and out since 2009.Â
All am asking is advice what I do as I have tried to negotiate with municipality or debtors collector and also try to make payments arrangements with them but I failed. So that they can reconnect my electricity and I will able put new people or tenants in the unit and collect rent that I will use to service or pay this debt. Now I can't affored to pay because I don't have any disposals income as I am paying an empty flat without recovery the money.
I am prepared to pay between R3000 to R3500 on monthly bases so that I can finish this debt quick. However, If I have tenants in the unit they will be paying the current consumption while I am paying the debt. I am very prepared to pay this bill if mucipality can give me an opportunity and meet me halfway.
1. How can you help me with dealing with this situation?
2. How much will it cost me if you have to assist me in this regards?
3. What is it that I have to do?
4. I need a someone who can represent me on this matter
I will highly appreciated your assistance in this regards.
kindly Regards
Itani
***BLOCKED-EMAIL-ADDRESS***
 My name is Itani Manwatha, I am currently staying in pretoria north. I have electricity account problem with City of Tshwane Municipality Electricity Account no:5004723772.
I own a flat in pretoria central,over the years I was renting my flat through an property agent who was sourcing tenants, collecting monthly rental from the tenants on my behalf and pay me. However, in 2010, due to the rental payments delays from the agent I decided to take over back my flat and management it myself.
In 2014 August, I received rates and taxes statements account, to my surprise the bill was around R105 000.00 outstanding. I took the statement to Tshwane municipality offices in pretoria central at corner pretorius and du toit street to find out what is the matter with my Rates and Taxes Account.
When I got there, I was told a very shocking story of my life. The gentleman who helping me, told me that my unit for the past 6 years didn't have electricity account. I asked him how is that possible because tenants who where staying there never complaint to me about not having electricity or the have power problem in the unit. he went on explaining, he mentioned that the last tenant who was staying there in 2009 close his account and when the new tenants moved in they never open a new electricity account because there was electricity in unit and the agent didn't sign any agreement with them, all this happened when my unit was still under the agent. because in the past tenants were allowed to open an electricity account using a lessee agreement.
Furthermore, the gentleman told me that things has changed over the years, tenants are not allowed to open electricity account, it's owner's responsibility of which I was not aware of it. however, to my surprise in some part of the country, tenants are still allowed to open electricity account using lease agreement. I was so confused about this whole situation.
When I ask further how come municipality didn't cut off power to the unit as this people didn't have electricity account, I was told that my electricity meter was connected or linked to the body corporate or building meters, which means the body corporate was paying electricity for my unit over this years until municipality pick up this error in 2014 August, 6 years later.
So what municipality did, was to pay back the money that body corporate pays for electricity at my unit and municipality journal or credited the whole sum amount that they had to pay back to the body corporate into my rates and taxes account. After they explain I didn't dispute it I agree that I will pay even thou was not my fault.
A month later, I started receiving calls from municipality debts collectors. Asking when will I start paying my electricity account. I told them that I will pay them a visit to explain my story or situation on how this bill come about and make necessary arrangements. I had agreement with them and I start paying that money slowly even thou I didn't have by that time as agreed.
Few months later I received call from other debtor collector telling me that they are representing City of Tshwane of municipality. Unfortunately,City of Tshwane went and cut off my electricity.I made a appointment with the new debt collect to visit them and I went there and explain myself how this whole situation come about, I started by telling them that I was dealing with other debtor collect, whom we were already made payments arrangements with them,  I show them papers for the arrangements with the previous debt collect.unfortunatly they didn't want to listen to me. As I was there to make payments arrangements with them and all they could say was I  need to pay 50% of the total amount which is R48 000. I tried to negotiate with them because how could they expect me pay a bill that happened over 6 years in day which was not my fault. furthermore, I put few proposals how am planning to pay this bill for example.I made stop order for R3000 with my bank but they didn't want to listen to me and I had to cancel the stop order that I have done because my flat now is empty due to no electricity and I paying my bank bond R 4000 and levies R1600,TOTAL COST:R5600 loss because I can't put people inside the unit without electricity and I can't managed to pay or service this municipality debt because I don't have any extra incoming that used to come through the rent that I will be getting from the tenants. thus, I can't even go back to previous tenants to claim or collect it because the have been new people coming in and out since 2009.Â
All am asking is advice what I do as I have tried to negotiate with municipality or debtors collector and also try to make payments arrangements with them but I failed. So that they can reconnect my electricity and I will able put new people or tenants in the unit and collect rent that I will use to service or pay this debt. Now I can't affored to pay because I don't have any disposals income as I am paying an empty flat without recovery the money.
I am prepared to pay between R3000 to R3500 on monthly bases so that I can finish this debt quick. However, If I have tenants in the unit they will be paying the current consumption while I am paying the debt. I am very prepared to pay this bill if mucipality can give me an opportunity and meet me halfway.
1. How can you help me with dealing with this situation?
2. How much will it cost me if you have to assist me in this regards?
3. What is it that I have to do?
4. I need a someone who can represent me on this matter
I will highly appreciated your assistance in this regards.
kindly Regards
Itani
***BLOCKED-EMAIL-ADDRESS***
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