GEORGE NEWS - An outline of the process for paying your municipal basic service charges account. Help is also available when the account is in arrears!
Debt collection responsibility of municipalities
In terms of Section 96 of the Municipal Systems Act, No 32 of 2000, a municipality:
(a) must collect all money that is due and payable to it, subject to this Act and any other applicable legislation; and
(b) for this purpose, must adopt, maintain and implement a credit control and debt collection policy which is consistent with its rates and tariff policies and complies with the provisions of this act.
After the monthly billing, the following process unfolds:
• SMS updates to residents: A monthly SMS is issued to all account holders with the updated balance on their account. The SMS is issued +/- 1-2 days after the accounts have been issued. This is a courtesy SMS.
• A second reminder SMS: This is sent out around the 12th or 13th of the month, to remind account holders that payment is due by the 15th of each month. All account holders who have paid their accounts and then receive the second SMS should please ignore the alert.
• Overdue debt will be recovered through the Prepaid Meter System: Residents are advised to take note that any overdue debts owing to the Municipality, will be recovered through the prepaid electricity meter system, as per the Credit Control and Debt Collection Policy. This means that if you have not paid your account in full, when you purchase prepaid electrical units from a vendor, 50% of your overdue debt will be paid off by your purchase, and the remaining amount will reflect as pre-paid electricity units.
How to check what your overdue debt is
If you are not sure what your overdue debt is, please phone in to 044 801 9009/4/17 or 044 801 9135 or 044 801 9518. Provide your GRG account number and contact details (email address, telephone number) with all enquiries.
A duplicate statement can also be requested at accounts@george.gov.za. Payment is due by the 15th of the following month.
Why do prepaid meters get blocked
Your prepaid meter is blocked only as a last resort. Here is why:
• Unpaid municipal account: If you have outstanding payments on your municipal account and all efforts to contact you have failed.
• Attempts to contact: After multiple attempts to reach you regarding the unpaid balance, we block your prepaid meter. This prompts you to visit us and discuss payment arrangements.
• Legally mandated measure: Prepaid meter blocking aligns with the Municipal Systems Act's requirements for credit control on overdue accounts.
Credit control actions
If your electricity has been cut off or your pre-paid meter purchases has been blocked because you owe the Municipality money, you can do the following:
Pay the account and then inform the office of payment during office hours on 044 801 9111 OR visit the office during office hours to make the necessary arrangements.
If you do not pay, you will be allowed one R50 electricity token in a 30-day cycle, which you can only buy Monday to Thursday.
Contacts
- 044 801 9111 (George Municipality)
- 041 450 8676 (Debt Pack)
- creditcontrol@george.gov.za or kobusdk@debtpack.com
Emergency number for reconnection after you have paid a sufficient amount: 072 501 1843.
This is to be used for emergencies only and at these hours:
- Monday to Friday 16:30 to 20:00;
- Saturday 08:00 to 20:00;
- Sunday 08:00 to 14:00.
Alternatively, visit the main municipal building (cashier hall) or an area office near you.
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