By Nangamso Mabindla
22 June 2005

CONSUMERS have been warned by the municipality to be on the look out for bogus debt collectors who claim to work for the City.

The warning follows repeated complaints from residents that people claiming to work for the City have come to their houses to collect money for services. Some residents said they were even threatened with having services like water and electricity cut off unless they paid up.

The City's acting communications manager, Mamnkeli Ngam, said some residents had yielded to the pressure and paid these bogus debt collectors. "Some people who did not know council policies on debt collection ended up paying these impostors and lost money in the process."

Concerned about its residents, the municipality decided to warn its customers about the con artists. "We wish to warn our people about these collectors. Customers who owe the municipality [any money] should come and settle their debts at the municipal payment offices," he said.

People could pay their debts at the Munifin Centre in Oxford Street, the Civic Centre in King Williams Town and at rent offices in the townships.

However, the City had contracted private companies to carry out water and electricity cut-offs where consumers had failed to pay their accounts. "These contractors are identifiable to the public. They are not to receive any payment for work done or to collect money on behalf of the municipality," Ngam said, adding that payments made to individuals would be disastrous.

He said consumers should ask for proper identification from anyone claiming to collect money on behalf of the City. "It is important to identify the person by name and then give their details to our customer care centre," he said.

Consumers can call the City on 043 705 3150 or 043 705 3154.