Top stories 2008: City Power's VAT rip-off

I was busy going through that painful monthly ritual common to all households, namely "paying the bills", and as I do each month, I give each account a cursory glance to make sure that what I am being charged appears reasonable on the face of it.  However, although I am an accountant by profession, I am not in the habit of whipping out my trusty calculator to recalculate each bill (contrary to popular belief).

But when I had a look at my father-in-law's bill from the City of Johannesburg for November, something just did not look right, in that the total charge of R576,13 included VAT of R213,50!  Since the actual net charge for electricity excluding VAT was R362,63, this means that VAT has been levied at a whopping 59%!

Now I know that the South African Revenue Service (Sars) has been releasing a lot of documentation of late, but believe me, if the VAT rate had been increased over four-fold, I would have noticed it!  In fact, the whole of South Africa - all 48m of us - would have been toyi-toyi'ing in the streets right now.

Thinking that this might be an isolated incident, I decided to check my own account.  Here the overcharge was not so bad - here, my electricity bill of R418,69 only attracted VAT at 28%.  Tiered rates, perhaps?

Getting quite irate by this stage, I decided to go back a couple of months.  Once again using my father-in-law's account as a benchmark, the October electricity was R470,46 on which VAT at 14,48% was charged, September was R534,58 on which the VAT was 14,5%, August was R427,37 and the VAT was 15,13%, by which stage I had to be physically restrained from punching my laptop.

Given that it is only fair to ask those responsible to explain themselves (and pass a nice fat credit in the process), I decided to call the Joburg Connect call centre on (011) 3755555.  The first time I called, I pressed "1" for billing enquiries, and was left listening to inane music for five minutes.  Patience not being my strong point, I hung up and tried again, and this time the ‘phone just kept ringing...

Wanting to give City Power the benefit of the doubt, and thinking that these incidents were still isolated ones, I decided to check out my church's account for October (I haven't seen November's account yet, since they go directly to the treasurer), and, lo and behold, the church has also been paying VAT at 14,5%.

Now here's where my cynical side comes in.  Multiply the extra half-percent in VAT by the number of City Power consumers, and the money involved could be quite staggering.  In fact, it would be interesting to see how long this has been going on.  If my November account had not gone so out of whack with the VAT, I would never have picked up the overcharge.

My next question is why it would only be on City Power?  On the same bill, using (presumably) the same systems, the VAT charges for Johannesburg Water and PikiTup (refuse removal) are absolutely spot-on at 14%.

Finally, has Sars been benefitting from the extra VAT collected?  Or has it disappeared somewhere in the dark depths of City Power's accounting systems?

MoneywebTax will continue to attempt to contact City Power concerning this matter, and will also be taking it up with Sars.  In the meantime, if you have experienced similar overcharges on your City Power / City of Johannesburg utility accounts, please comment below.

Write to Steven Jones: steven@moneywebtax.co.za

Comments

 

responses to this article

umm... hectic by dude on December 03 2008, 11:46 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

VAT overcharge Man all I can say is thank god for the accountants out there. I went back and checked my account and low and behold - 14,587% on my electricity bill. This is constant for the last 2 months statements. I am now going to produce a spread sheet and go back a . .more year to check this. All of this is because of their Billing system called SAP which cannot even work out a simple arithmatic calc. My business partner cannot get a statement out of Pretoria who also run SAP for the last 8 months. And now they send him a lawyers letter. Go figure!!!! . .less by Gilbert on December 03 2008, 11:47 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

VAT on City power Same problem. Only City Power charge on rates and taxes bill the VAT is overcharged. Nov 15.5%, Oct 14.5%, Sep 14.5%, Aug 15.2% by Robbed on December 03 2008, 11:57 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

VAT Charges - Ripoff Indeed Looking at your article, I decided to look at my own VAT charges- well wouldn't you just know - for November, I have a levy charge of R181.18, an adjustment of R227.33, a service charge of R147.12, and VAT charges of R273.29. I think its time for an . .more investigative journalist to take this one up. . .less by greykie on December 03 2008, 12:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Overcharge It appears that they're laving out one or lines off the statement that make it appear that the calc is incorrect. Once they print these lines, the statement will appear correct by Foxman on December 03 2008, 12:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

VAT overcharge VAT on my october electricity consumption line charged at 40%. Sent them an email, they acknowledge and indicated they will correct, will wait and see. Question is tax payers have just spent millions of Rand to upgrade to a new state of the art system, . .more how is this even possible? Surely this is fraud???? . .less by Marius on December 03 2008, 12:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The Shysters Oct shows 18.43% and Sept 18.35% so need to do the spreadshit thing too.... More like 5h1ty Power me thinks, and if you get eStatements, the email address provided statement@joburg.org.za bounces back as non-existent! by Dilligaff on December 03 2008, 12:30 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

What? Don't thank SAP, thank Affirmative Action! by Neo on December 03 2008, 12:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Cant we find a hungry lawyer and bring a class action against them? by Litigious on December 03 2008, 12:59 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Nevermind VAT, thats the mickey-mouse part of it. The real sucker is the accumulated increase in rates in taxes since many years ago as a penalty for the rich to subsidize the poor. You will have to buy a scientific calculator to carry the sum, an normal one won't do. Remember old . .more headlines - Tax increses of 1000% foe Sandton residents? South Africans all should called Amnesia Bendover for their first two names - they forget, and like to be nailed. It is Joe the Plumbers way of washing Tutu's feet. . .less by IT bean counter on December 03 2008, 13:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

in the U.S.... this would give rise to a massive class action suite. Not being a rate-payer in Jhb I cannot bind myself to this action but I certainly hope you get something really BIG going here. These charlatans, in my opinion, neither care about what they . .more are doing nor do they have any respect for the law. They are contemptuous of everything and should be brought up with a jolt. . .less by Plutarch on December 03 2008, 13:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Sundry Admin Fee My statement now includes a Sundry Admin Fee, what does this relate too? Sadly there seems to be no accountability with the COJ, all calls and emails are unanswered.. by Kevin Black on December 03 2008, 13:11 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

VAT Calculation shows my VAT rate is 42.9%. Thanks for the alert by GTR on December 03 2008, 13:13 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

P******* City Power Hey Steven, The appalling state of City Power is something that you and the rest of us at Moneyweb need to continue highlighting. The VAT charged is outrageous. Thank goodness you checked - and have others doing the same. But I shudder to think how . .more you're going to get this sorted out. I have tried unsuccessfully over the past month to get an answer to why City Power unilterally decided to turn back my electricity meter's starting point for the latest reading to zero. This left me with a bill of over R9 000 for electricity (for a three person household) that had to be paid first and argued later. Trouble is emails aren't responded to, the phone lines just keep ringing and I don't have the time to spend hours queuing to fix up a City Power mistake. I even tried getclosure.co.za to get a mature way of approaching this but City Power simply refuses to acknowlege getclosure's effors to connect us. If you ever find someone there who answers the phone or is prepared to get back to those of us who pay their salaries, please let me know. Come back MK, all is forgiven.............................. Alec . .less by Alec Hogg on December 03 2008, 13:25 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

To Foxman Nope - must disagree with you there. The amounts under "Subtotal" add up correctly to the "Total Amount", so it's not simply a case of "lines being left off". Besides, there is a "Consumption Charge", a "Service Charge", and a "Demand side management . .more levy". What else would you like us to pay for to get an electricity service? Meter rental? (Oh, shoot ... now I've given them ANOTHER idea ...) . .less by Steven Jones on December 03 2008, 13:32 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

We know their billing systems are a phukk-up. This is not news. Reporting it will also result in no outcome because there is nobody to take accountability. Best to just forget about it and get on with your lives. by Munch on December 03 2008, 13:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Also wrong on our bill How annoying! VAT on our bill has not been correct since July 2008.... by csed on December 03 2008, 13:54 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Municipal bill I have had endless problems with city of JHB and have logged online disputes but I don't think they actually do anything about it because nothing has been sorted out for months. I have notice this over charging a while back . .more already. Another nightmare is rates and taxes, the council says that their back log is so high that they can't cope with adjusting the rates&taxes once they receive occupancy certificates. I am being billed four times higher than what I am supposed to be paying. I have had it with city of jhb muncipality. . .less by Midrand Resident on December 03 2008, 14:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Real rip-off I stay in a 3 bedroom flat, our elec amount to R450-00 p.m. We all out during the day(varsity students).I was told that we don't even qualify for free units..I feel like we are just being ripped-off by Nthabi on December 03 2008, 14:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Line Items Add VAT PER LINE-ITEM and not on the sub-total and you will probably balance correctly. Although the R362,63 in the article is suspicious... by Anthony on December 03 2008, 14:42 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Munch - you've said it. It's Africa: things don't work, people don't work, and corruption and nepotism are endemic. Accountability is just a meaningless word on equally meaningless performance appraisals. by Darwon on December 03 2008, 14:47 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

First the cheers. Then the tears. If I remember correctly weren't it the Joburgers who comprised the biggest Prog community in S.A. to vote yes in 1994? So what are you complaining about? You now have your one-man-one-vote. Worst - you still don't seem to have learned out of this . .more experience. . .less by Quid pro quo on December 03 2008, 15:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

THIS City works for you.... Just a subtle reminder (read: challenge) that this doesnt happen in Cape Town (who also run SAP for the recond). Anyone who finds a VAT discrepancy in CPT is invited to post demeaning comments about my loyatly to this City. by MotoMike on December 03 2008, 15:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

To Anthony Anthony, whichever way you add the figures up and down, the total still comes to R362.63, and 14% thereof is R50.77, NOT R213.50. The fact remains that there is only one standard rate of VAT in terms of South African law, which is 14%. . .more Charging a different rate than 14% on standard-rated goods and services is illegal in terms of the VAT Act. Even worse, STATING that you are charging VAT at 14%, but actually calculating the VAT charge to be higher than 14%, is fraud. I'm also not sure what you mean by the amount being "suspicious" - the bill in question is for a couple in their 70s living on their own. There's no pool, nor do they have the plethora of toys that us younger folk feel we cannot get through life without. They are very frugal, and do not waste electricity (for which I'm thankful, since I pay the bill). Bear in mind also that this is the electricity charge ONLY. Water is charged separately, while the assessment rates and refuge removal are charged to my bill (as I am the owner of the property). . .less by Steven Jones on December 03 2008, 15:18 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

rip off what about the R 200.00 service on the monthly account by pramod Otha, on December 03 2008, 15:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

same ripoff I had the same experience, a whopping, close to 50% in VAT in fact. Tried to contact the council, but no luck. by kath on December 03 2008, 17:00 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

More Rip - Off The Vat on Sewerage and Refuse is also illegal as they constitute taxes in terms of recent court decisions. As taxes, they dont attract VAT by Simpiwe on December 03 2008, 18:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Amazing I have been watching this column periodically during the day. I fully expected some big-belly from the City ( kraal, whatever) to come bursting onto the scene with full fanfare announcing a complete forensic audit and immediate hiring of a couple of . .more hundred part time C.A' (provided through the largesse of S A's own father Christmas, Mr Jimmy Manyi) to get this issue sorted out tout suite. I am naiive aren't I? . .less by Cassandra on December 03 2008, 19:14 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

City Power Plus I've not had any electricity charges since the new format account was implemented. The more I try to get this rectified, the more I get ignored. I just don't know what to do... by Winner on December 03 2008, 20:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Someone Please take action! Someone needs to please take action. This stealing needs to be refunded to its customers! by Anon on December 03 2008, 22:09 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

STOP WHINGING AND WHINNING DO SOMETING........................LIKE NOTIFY EVERYBODY YOU KNOW, ABOUT THIS LEGALIZED THEFT AND THEN...........................STOP PAYING, WHILE APPLYING FOR AN URGENT INDIDICT TO STOP COJ FROM CUTTING YOU OFF UNTIL THEY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. . .more Think back to the 80's, the conservatives introduced poll tax, where upon virtualy everyone stopped paying, some worked out that it would take about 5 years for the courts to hear every case after which hey would have to start again for year 2 etc, the end result, maggie thatcher was booted oiut by her own party. Individually your powerless, but together (10% or more) you can make anything happen. . .less by Not Fooled on December 03 2008, 22:53 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Fighting back I wont do this (as I like to stay below the radar) but if you get no joy from city power why not take the mayor of Johannesburg to small claims court in his PERSONAL capacity? Amount below R6000 and NO LAWYERS ALLOWED and if he doesnt pitch after summons . .more issued hes automatically found guilty and sentenced TO PAY or the sherrif visits his house and takes goods for auction..........Drawback: you have to sit with some unsavoury people for HOURS till your case is heard. Last time a TELKOM IDIOT drove into one of my cheap cars their insurance company paid me out after their MD got the summons, its how the small people can fight back. Rather than go through with this the mayor will ORDER someone to sort it out and all for the cost of a summons and a couple of registered letters! . .less by andrewa on December 04 2008, 00:09 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Great money making opportunity Been overcharged since Aug, which is about time of all those extra charges. Nov VAT was 23.54%! My question why all those xtra charges of adjustments, service charges, demand side levies??? If I could bank R1 from each customer each month I would not need . .more to work and what easier way than what is happening here??? Also no chance of getting through to municipality . .less by AndreS on December 04 2008, 08:26 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

City Power VAT Ripoff Thanks for pointing this out. I've jst looked at my new statement and the VAT on the power is more than 28%. City power will be hearing from me! by grant on December 04 2008, 08:37 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Missing line item I noticed this about 3 months ago. As one of the earlier comments said, it seems as if a line item has not been printed on the statement. The missing item is presumably VATable. by Accountant on December 04 2008, 08:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Also overcharged I too have been overcharged - near 40% of my electricity bill in November - thanks for pointing this opt by JD on December 04 2008, 09:02 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

This takes the cup HA HA HA, I just received my November statement City Power vat at 1113% and yes there are three 1s in the figure by Phihlelo Matjekana on December 04 2008, 09:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

CITY POWER VAT RIPOFF I have just received my November statement and I have been charged 69% - no, not a typing error, 69% VAT on an electricity bill of R440,33 the VAT I have been charged is R307,77. In my calculations 14% VAT on R440,33 is R61,65. I have been overcharged by . .more R246,12. I am definitely going to go through all other statements - will we ever get our money back??? . .less by Lana Hughes on December 04 2008, 09:44 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

MotoMike Belville - does that also classify as CT? For that is the biggest knob company around. Its tentacles reach even into D'ville. No account, wrong account, double account, skipped account, incorrectly rectified account, outstanding account. Half scared to . .more complain, you might loose the few still skilled persons around. Its like a Opel workshop in the desert, you don't complain since there's nothing else. . .less by SAP and CT on December 04 2008, 10:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

City of JHB - power I just received my Nov 2008 statement. Charges are as follows, consumption charge for 67 days?? R761, 76. reversal of interim charge -R318,56. Adjustments -R150,77. Service charge ?? R147,12. Demand side management levy ???R38,26 ....all these charges . .more = R477.81 & 14% vat should be R66,90.......but low and behold my special VAT charge is at 47% R226.67......we cannot let them get away with this. . .less by A Dessai on December 04 2008, 10:20 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Overcharged! charged me 24%! on November account! by Henko Venter on December 04 2008, 10:32 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Service Charge Does anyone know why we have to pay a service charge of R147. - and then we get charged VAT on the Electricity Service Charge? by Mustafaa J on December 04 2008, 10:49 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Joburg Connect Response There's another serious problem highlighted in this article, which has been kind of overshadowed by the outrageous VAT calculation issue. The problem is that Joburg Connect do not seem to have any capacity (or intention?) of fulfilling the primary . .more function implied by their name - Connecting! Does ANYONE ever get through to Joburg Connect these days within a reasonable time period (say, one minute), or are these phones in fact entirely UNMANNED? (sorry, unstaffed) Their logo (Joburg -a world class African city) makes me dispair. Do our public servants have any conception of what World Class service means? . .less by Robert S on December 04 2008, 11:18 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

What's the solution?? Since the new system of rates came into play in June I have been charged "VACANT LAND" rates. This is despite the fact that I have been living there for over 6 years, the entire estate is built up and the municipal value is market related. I have . .more been waiting 6 months now for them to correct it. Each time CoJ say that this dept or the other will get back to me. When? Can't even speak to someone who knows what they are doing as CoJ say they "just report matters and transfer the query to the relevant dept". No one ever gets back to me. If I refuse to pay my water&lights get cut off. What's the solution? Toyitoyi it out in Braamfontein? . .less by Melissa on December 04 2008, 11:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

When you pay your next bill deduct all the overcharges for the past few months / years. It'll get th... This I guarantee. by Power Hungry on December 04 2008, 11:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Overcharged Just checked November statement. VAT of R354.33 on a net amount of R507.09. That's 69.9% !!!!!!!! by Jo Nathan on December 04 2008, 12:00 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Exactly as it stands written Joburg -a world class AFRICAN city. Originally the name came from a German pioneer. The Germans do things a bit quicker. by Truth is out there on December 04 2008, 12:22 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ Steven Jones So you actually did not obtain an explanation from COJ BEFORE you wrote this article? Is this not a bit irresponsible? Writing an article like this, when there may be a very logical explanation? You have created a mob here. by Donkie on December 04 2008, 12:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Freakin Vat rip off i have experienced exactly the same problem my bill has never been lower then 2500 a month for the past few months and i have a two roomed house, they should be taken to court by rido on December 04 2008, 13:27 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Two Separate Errors A couple of months ago a new charge 'Demand side management levy' was sneaked onto our statements. It was not shown as a separate line item under the City Power section, but this 'ghost' amount was taken into account for the VAT calculation and included . .more in the total amount. According to the call center agent I spoke to this levy helps to pay for traffic lights in our area etc - go figure? The November statement finally shows this as a separate line item. However, the VAT calculation error is certainly a problem. On one of my properties I was charged 104% VAT this month, and on another around 16% VAT. . .less by Jacqui on December 04 2008, 13:35 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Ridiculous! I'm so glad I saw this article. Incidentally, this morning I tried to contact "Joburg Connect" to find out more about the Electricity "Service Fee" (if it's a meter reading fee, they don't even physically check that every month), "City Cleaning Levy" and . .more "Demand side management levy" is??? Last time I checked I was being charged Rates (which almost doubled in July 2008) so why don't the Rates cover these things??? Have a strange "Electricity Adjustment" fee of R680 for November and the VAT is also wrong! . .less by Nurse on December 04 2008, 14:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The Awakening Did you all really believe that after 1994 things will go rocking and just get better and better? It now must be like an awakening after a massive babelaas! by Rumpelstilkin on December 04 2008, 14:27 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Tax Fraud Why can't we just report them to SARS for Tax fraud?? It seems to only be on the City Power side of things and their VAT # is 4710191182 by Nurse on December 04 2008, 14:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

and cough up let's see. how are we going to screw customers even more than we are already. i know, let's increase the vat percentage on all our invoices. by takeVAT on December 04 2008, 14:32 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Rude Awakening I am both horrified and shocked. There has to be some recourse and I believe a class action would be the way to go. Anyone know of a good attorney who would get all fired up about this? by Catherine Clark on December 04 2008, 14:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Lodge Fraud Complaint with SARS I would recommend that all people with this VAT problem (I suppose that means everybody!) open a case of fraud up with SARS against City Power. I just did - SARS fraud line is 0800 00 28 70 and get a ref #. That just may rock the boat a bit... by Nurse on December 04 2008, 14:41 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Monopoly Have also queried my account with them (b4 reading this article) and no response just yet, just how valid/legal are these statements? Probably one of those "pay first and sort out later" scenarios, which means K** en betaal, nice when you have the . .more monopoly..... . .less by Swannie on December 04 2008, 15:04 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Any response yet? Has city power commented yet? I have submitted a complaint to them and wait. Thanks for pointing this out by Perplexed on December 04 2008, 15:42 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

RIPPED OFF!! If it was 14.5% (like it was the last 4 months) I would not even have worried, this month it is 56.5%!! Bite me City Power!! by anon on December 04 2008, 15:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

VAT overcharge Thanks for pointing that out. My net electricity charge for Nov was R95,39, after reversals and adjustments, plus "service charge" and "demand side management levy". VAT came to R237.29 or 249% of the net charge! by Mike on December 04 2008, 15:59 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Legal considerations Heard somewhere on radio (think it was someone from the ratpayers association) that it is illegal to boycott municipalities by withholding rates and taxes. You have to pay regardless. But the rate payers assoc. represenative says converse you pay for a . .more service, so if you get no service you don't pay. But this principle has not been tested in a court sofar. Would something like that succeed? A few years ago there was a case against the Municipalities for holding tenants accountable for outstanding w&l accounts, not the owners - the judgement was against the owners. So I have my doubts - besides a general uprising of the populace (why would they - the general populace is the recipient of these high fees). . .less by Wannabee rightwing rocker and rocking chair lawyer on December 04 2008, 16:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

City Power VAT I checked my November statement and lo and behold I found the following under electricity: Consumption charge = R 241.18, Adjustment Electricity = - R 522.09, Vat 14% (!!!) = R 570.84 which makes a total amount of R 289.93. In other words I should be . .more negative for this month but am in fact paying a whopping R 570.84 of VAT, which pushes me into me owing R 289.93 to Citi Power... . .less by Luc De Brabander on December 04 2008, 16:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

To Donkie I did in fact TRY to obtain an explanation from City Power before publishing the article, but could not get through to their Call Centre number. Staff members from Moneyweb have also been trying constantly to get hold of City Power since about lunchtime . .more yesterday, to no avail. To get a "logical explanation", one needs to get hold of someone who (a) will answer their 'phones, and (b) sort out the problem. The "mob" are disgruntled customers who are tired of being ripped off by their power utility. If we as the media cannot get hold of them, what hope does the ordinary citizen have of getting any joy? That is why we decided to publish the article in the hope of pressurising City Power into some sort of action. As for being "irresponsible", if I had discovered this blatant overcharge, and kept quiet about it, THAT would have been irresponsible! . .less by Steven Jones on December 04 2008, 16:48 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

To Nurse We have in fact reported this matter to SARS. Their spokesman, Adrian Lackay, has indicated that SARS would in fact be investigating this matter, since charging more than 14% VAT is illegal. As soon as MoneywebTax has received any feedback . .more either from City Power or SARS, it will be published on this website. . .less by Steven Jones on December 04 2008, 16:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

VAT Overcharge Unbelievable. I got my Nov account today and also saw something awry ... lo and behold 22.12% in Nov, 14.61% in Oct, 14.60% in Sept and 16.40% in August. Reeks of fraud to me ...... by Ripped off ... and Pi**ed off ... on December 04 2008, 19:27 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

VAT overcharge on City Power When I finally managed to get through to City Power the hapless call centre agent had entirely dirrent figures from those reflected on my account and told me that I was not to worry as that money was not actually going to VAT but to back dated tariff . .more increases. The amount I owe them stays the same and that the payment specified for VAT is not actually for VAT ! The amount for electricity adjustment and for VAT are both seemingly random amounts which they cannot explain how they were arrived at. But I should just pay the total owing as it is apparently correct. They tell me they are getting many calls about this over charging of VAT so clearly this was the way they have collected their back dated tariff increases. Typical JHB dishonesty - they obviously hoped to get back dated tariff increases through without us noticing.! . .less by Lynne Sampson on December 04 2008, 20:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

VAT Overcharge My March bill for City Power was R193, my November was R709, and I used less Power. The cost has steadily increased since the beginning of the year. Oh, an my VAT for the last 2 months is about R20 out. by Kevin on December 04 2008, 23:53 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

VAT Overcharged Since August 2008 the VAT on my electricity has been overcharged by about R5 every month. How will we get our money back? by Magda Hatton-Jones on December 05 2008, 08:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

VAT Overcharge On checking my November account I find have been charged an 'adjustment' of R927 plus 24% VAT! by Lyn Muskett on December 05 2008, 11:19 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

city power and all gov agencies whats new just another bunch of crims in our bannana republic..... fashionable to be criminal, the pres to be is one. by asd on December 05 2008, 12:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Vat Overcharge! 20% more on mine!! For how long has this been going on!!??? by Pvdw on December 05 2008, 16:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

vat They call themselves "A World Class African City". Think the African part is correct by mike on December 06 2008, 09:02 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

SARS Fraud Case Well the more the merrier who do it - I have laid a case of fraud with SARS 'cos that's exactly what it is! I want my refund now, not in 12 month's time (which is their usual turn-aroud time). When I bought a property in 2004, it took just over a year . .more for my refund on the provisional upfront payment to be done and there were no missing docs, etc so I'd hate to know how long it takes now? . .less by To Steven Jones on December 06 2008, 09:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

ADJUSTMENT ELECTRICITY??????? Anyone know what this Adjustment Electricity is? - I have been billed R598 (excl. VAT @ ?%) for November by Nurse on December 06 2008, 09:18 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Additional Vat Paid on Electricity Do you think it worth while to put in a deduction on our Personal Tax Returns for the additional Vat paid on our personal electricity. Let Trevor fight the council for the money deducted. We can claim for medical why not overcharges. If enough people do . .more it the Tax department will have to do somthing to sort out the mess. . .less by Penny McBride on December 06 2008, 09:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

ADJUSTMENT ELECTRICITY??????? This is totaly unacceptable to over charge people like that, i am staying in a Town house Aug my electricity bill was 128.82 which is fair coz i'm alone and during the day i'm at work and i don't cook everyday, all of a sidden in Sep my elec bill was . .more 616.28 i mean it does it is unfair, city power do something now about this. . .less by tm on December 09 2008, 08:44 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

tm This is totaly unacceptable to over charge people like that, i am staying in a Town house Aug my electricity bill was 128.82 which is fair coz i'm alone and during the day i'm at work and i don't cook everyday, all of a sudden in Sep my elec bill was . .more 616.28 i mean it is unfair, city power do something now about this. by tm . .less by ADJUSTMENT ELECTRICITY??????? on December 09 2008, 08:51 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

vat burn them down by joe van zijl on December 09 2008, 10:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

R175 levy from NOWHERE???? ANd now since November City Power is adding R175 to my - R120 bill...wtf is this????????? Is overcharing on VAT not bringing them enough money in anymore? by Rolf on December 09 2008, 11:59 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

citi power R47 ooo IN AREAS ON MY AC.They cant show me statements and are now thraetning to cut my water. where is this country going. I paid R144ooo for water and electricity in the last 3 years about R100 000 more than the previous owners and I am nearly never . .more home. When I querie them , they just laugh at me and says PAY . .less by anton wehmeyer on January 07 2009, 18:22 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

citi power I have issues with citi power and the many codes on my account . i am going to make a spread sheet of all the cost and go to their office and play it by the book. Complaining on line and stating how much they have been off by does not help. As for . .more eveyrone going on and on about Africa and how thing don't work ,shame on you , you talk down on the continent for R5 vat -look what America has done for the world lately, pre 1994 if you so much as said a word against government the brough truck loads of soldiers to kill you should we remind you of 1976 and the kids government killed. Yes we have a new government and we love cause when they do kaka we can complain without fearing for our lives . .less by bemused on April 22 2009, 14:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

citi power before you go on civil suit , remember they will use your tax money to settle your law suit bill, then increase your tax a year later or sneak in some servie cost , to pay the legal bills. has anyone done anyhting pragmatic ?for everyone who has posted a . .more complain , i dare you to come back in a year and tell what you have done besides complaining on line. In a year's time , i will come backand let you all know how much i got back from citi power , with interest. if you want to join in for collective action send email to jhbcitipowersucksatgmail.com . .less by pragmatic on April 22 2009, 14:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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