South Africa · plain English · instant

Municipal bill jumped? Find out if it is wrong, and how to fight it.

Type the readings and amounts from your municipal account. We reconcile the meter against what was billed, then explain estimated readings, tariff steps, arrears, prescription, and the query process that stops a disconnection. R69.

Start now, R69Municipal billing disputes are the most common complaint in South Africa, and most people just pay.

Meter against bill
The consumption the readings imply, against the units you were charged for.
Estimated readings
What the municipality may estimate, for how long, and how to force an actual reading.
Tariff steps
Inclining block tariffs, fixed charges and VAT, and whether the right step was applied.
Arrears and prescription
Which old debt still stands and which has prescribed.

The figures from the bill

The bill

Municipality *

Which service is the problem *

Unit billed

Previous meter reading on the bill

Current meter reading on the bill

Reading type shown

What your meter shows today (if you looked)

Days in the billing period

Units billed this month

Tariff per unit on the bill (R), if shown

Amount charged for this service this month (R) *

What you usually pay for it (R)

Arrears shown on the account (R)

Arrears unpaid since (date)

Anything else

Report language

The report is written in the language you choose; the page stays in English.

Free preview first. Pay R69 only if you want the full report. Nothing is stored.

How it works

1
Type the readings and amounts from the bill.
2
The code reconciles the meter with the units billed; the AI explains the tariff, the arrears and your rights under the Municipal Systems Act and the by-laws.
3
See the free preview. Pay R69 for the full report and the query letter.

What the report covers

Meter against bill

The consumption the readings imply, against the units you were charged for.

Estimated readings

What the municipality may estimate, for how long, and how to force an actual reading.

Tariff steps

Inclining block tariffs, fixed charges and VAT, and whether the right step was applied.

Arrears and prescription

Which old debt still stands and which has prescribed.

Disconnection

The notice the municipality must give and what it may not cut while a query is open.

The query

How to lodge it so it counts, and what to pay in the meantime.

Escalation

Ward councillor, the municipal ombudsman where one exists, the Public Protector, the court route.

The letter

The query letter with the reference numbers and figures filled in.

Questions

Which municipalities does it cover?

All of them. The national rules (Municipal Systems Act, the Property Rates Act, prescription) apply everywhere; the report tells you where to find your municipality's own credit-control by-law and tariff table.

Can it fix the bill?

No. It tells you whether and where the bill is wrong and gives you the query letter; the municipality corrects its own account.

Do you keep my account details?

No. Nothing is stored.

Can I get a refund?

The free preview shows the reconciliation before you pay. If the full report could not be delivered, email info@optimised-ai.com with your payment reference.

Rate-ly gives general information generated from the figures you enter. It is not legal advice. Tariffs and by-laws differ by municipality; check the current tariff table on your municipality's website.