nothing has changed re our electricity account

I removed the previous posts about our electricity account, 
because I thought

one should not continue to

“flog a dead horse” forever . . .

(and I believed the accounts crises will be sorted out),

but, alas, not much has happened.

The time and energy to repeatedly have to enquire

and ask for an update on ones account

– and to never have a constructive reply –

is challenging.

at this time,

we have not received a Statement of account
also not available online
or at through the call centre
we were asked to pay an average
until things are sorted out . . .
and we received another

Reference Number!

SOS Number Three

~ White Wash Ceramic Paint Brushes - Ceramic Matters ~

have to give them some credit . . .

We have received a new invoice from the council.

A credit for R 738,948.97 has been passed on the original R 752,575.19 invoice. (This invoice shows a balance of R 748,325.06 less the credit) I am not sure why it is R 13626.22 less than originally charged. They cannot explain it to me . . .

HOWEVER, they are charging "INTEREST on ARREARS"

to the value of R5319.90!

Our January 2011 payment of R 3150.00 has also

not been captured on the invoice.

I am thankful that they are looking at our account, but it takes SO much effort to get then to understand what they are doing; charging interest on a mistake they made in the first place . . .

SOS number Two

Is it legal to invoice someone for something you have not provided?

Surely it is fraud?!

The next report on our Electricity Account saga. 



~ Ceramic Matters ~

   A question:

1. Why is it the responsibility of the client (me in this instance) to see if there is any progress on an account query with the City Council? Is there no self respect to look into and rectify mistakes, without someone begging them to do so?

2. We certainly did not receive the electricity we are charged for. Is it legal to invoice us for it?
Not only Invoice for a service not provided but then threaten with disconnection and further interest on the account.
Arrogant intimidation . . . ?? Just Asking.

                                          The definition of an Invoice: "An invoice or bill is a commercial document issued  by a seller to the buyer, indicating the products, quantities,

 and agreed prices for products or services the seller has provided the buyer".

It has been 14 working days and I have to phone to see what progress was made.

Monday 17th January 2011

14h30 - First call for the day to the Joburg Accounts Department - “High Call Volumes” I hold till 14h54, but, I have work to do, so leave it till later.

17h30 – Phone again – “High Call Volumes” by 17h43 the phone line disconnects.

19h30 – Phone again – 19h49 someone answers!!

I am informed that:

• Our account is still the same as on 20th December 2010

• Interest will be added to the outstanding amount

• We are listed to be disconnected

• I am also told that the call centre and the “Walk In Offices” are two completely different departments and I should visit one of the offices, if I wanted the account sorted out.

 I believe one should take refreshments

and a book and LOTS of patience

if I intend to brave a visit to one of the offices; 

You see, I don’t have a life or work or anything! lol

Finally I am told that they will request to have the query “escalated” - whatever that means . . .

SOS - Our Life-Line



~ Black Dahlia – Ceramic Matters ~

 Ceramic Matters is situated in a “world class African city”

Our electricity account, from the City Council, arrived on the 20th December 2010.

R 752,575.19 !! (At current exchange rate ± US $ 110,186.70) We are a small ceramic studio, not the Kennedy Space Centre!!

It looked like an obvious mistake - to us - and it will be rectified without a problem. After all, how does one calculate an estimate to the value of  three quarters of a million rand on an account that has never been more than ± R 5000.00 ?


We were sorely mistaken.


Electricity is a fundamental part for the production of our work. We'll keep a record of the time/money spent to resolve the above . . .

19th December 2010 -
• We receive the account.
• Attempt to log on to the Internet site, but as in the past few months the site is "under construction".

20th December 2010 -
• Phone the number supplied on the “under Construction” website. "Please hold, we are experiencing high/large call volumes . . . your call is important to us . . ." 
• It takes 20 or 30 minutes before someone answers, now I have to explain why I think the account is not correct. Obviously I did not manage very well, because:
• I am told to pay the full amount - “If there is a mistake on the account a credit will be passed and you-will-not-have-to-pay-for-electricity-until-the-credit-has-been-used-up!” . . . She actually seemed SÓ happy for me ! (Based on our average use over the past couple of years, it will take approximately 30 years!! She never said if we would receive interest on the credit!!)


• Finally, I ended the conversation, desperate and frustrated.

Since we are not in a position to pay huge sums of money to our local council and then live of the credit, I decided to brave the"your call is important to us . . ." again, later . . .  

~ this account shows a payment made in November which is
the total of payments we made for several months before ~

• This time I speak to a more logical person.
• We agree on an amount I would pay for the month.
• I receive two reference numbers - one for the enquiry and one for the meter reading
• She asks me to phone back after 14 working days.
• I pay the agreed upon amount . . .




12th January 2011 -


• To date I have not been able to speak to a human being at the call centre again – “we are experiencing large call volumes” . . . and then I just hold on till the line cuts out eventually.
• The automatic accounts voice assures me that our account is still exactly the same as it was on December 20th 2010.
• The Internet Site is still "under construction" - no access to enquire on the progress on our account query.
• The payment I made on December 20th has also not been recorded.
• Phoned our local Councillor and ask for help . . . I have sent her an e-mail with all the relevant information; she has promised to see if she can assist at all.


~ Ceramic Matters ~



Please "World Class City" ,

will you sort out your accounts department!