Speedy query resolution delights ratepayers at Billing Open Day
Those whose accounts were resolved couldn't hold their joy after some frustrations before.
Scores of ratepayers in Region F came through to have their account queries resolved at Kibler Park Recreation Centre during the City of Joburg’s Billing Open Day on May 7.
A team of professionals from City Power, Joburg Water and Joburg Billing were on the ground to enable successful query resolutions, assist customers with their accounts and applications of other property-related services.
The open day forms part of the City’s ongoing attempts to improve customer service by attending to queries logged at respective customer service centres and the call centre.
All ratepayers have the opportunity to speedily resolve their account queries with a multi-disciplinary billing team of officials available to assist.
Lucas Khunou, the acting assistant director Billing Back Office, said the City was rolling out open days in all the regions because resolving billing queries was top on its list.
“For the past three weeks, we have been focusing on all outstanding queries in the region. In the basket of Region F, there was a backlog of 1 900 queries and those were reduced to 900 before the open day. The plan is to resolve between 400 and 500 queries today,” said Khunou.
“We are bringing the services to our customers’ doorsteps to speedily resolve their queries and work together for the benefit of our residents,” he said.
He urged customers to acquaint themselves with their billing statements as well as how to read their meters.
Johan Kock, a resident in the region, could not contain his joy when his high water bill was sorted out straight away. “The staff were very friendly and efficient, they listened to my issue and were able to assist. This is the kind of service that we expect from our municipal officials,” he said.
A Kibler Park property owner, Sibongile Mkhonza, who had a billing query since 2017, was delighted that finally it had been resolved after spending hours between City Power and Thuso House.
“I arrived early with the hope of being one of the first in line and to my surprise, it took the team an hour to resolve my issue,” she said.
Khunou appealed to all ratepayers to continue paying their municipal rates and services. He said the City remained committed to resolving all outstanding queries as it beefs up its provision of basic services.
