No assistance from call centre/ombudsman/email queries.

I am reaching out in a state of distress regarding the recent surge in my municipal bill, which has escalated drastically from around R3,000 to an unmanageable R21,000 over the past three months. This sudden increase has put a significant strain on my finances, as my usual bill was in the range of R1,000 or slightly higher. However, it has now consistently exceeded R4,000, which is beyond what I can reasonably afford.

I have made no changes to my property that would justify such a spike in usage or charges. I have contacted COJ for assistance, but I have been informed that this increase is due to arrears on my account. However, this does not align with my previous payment history, and I am unable to understand how these arrears accumulated so suddenly. I am now struggling under the burden of debt as a result, with no clear explanation or resolution provided.