Inside Report with Basch: Under pressure.
More and more consumers are finding themselves under pressure from the rising cost of living and as such are defaulting on their municipal accounts. The cost of living has risen sharply added in with a very unfriendly job market this has equated to tough times. I deal with an alarming amount of ratepayers that are …
More and more consumers are finding themselves under pressure from the rising cost of living and as such are defaulting on their municipal accounts.
The cost of living has risen sharply added in with a very unfriendly job market this has equated to tough times. I deal with an alarming amount of ratepayers that are facing disconnection or have already been disconnected. Your municipal account is probably one of the most important accounts you have every month because it defines how you are going to live. If your account runs into arrears the municipality will be forced to disconnect your power in order to motivate you to pay. Now while we can debate the fairness or even rightness of such an action, it wouldn’t count for much because right or wrong, fair or not, it is exactly what will happen.
We are all facing hard times and the crippling effect of higher prices, be it fuel or food or even services, have affected us all. My request is that you pay your bills first, and if you can’t, then come into the municipal offices to make an arrangement. Don’t try to hide from the problem but rather face it head on early, the earlier it is the easier it will be to rectify or assist. Please don’t wait until your bill is in the tens of thousands before you address it.
If you are unemployed and have no income come into the offices and apply for indigent support, should you be approved the council will assist you with electricity and water.
I know that this is a difficult topic to discuss, and many will say “easy for a councillor to say”, but let’s not forget, I too have to pay services and if I am in arrears for longer than three months I will not only have my power cut but I will be fired from council too. Our services bill is our responsibility so once again don’t try run from the problem rather come in, see a consultant and solve it before you find yourself sitting in the dark.
