GRAAFF-REINET | ABERDEEN NEWS — Many residents of Graaff-Reinet and Aberdeen (and possibly other parts of the Dr Beyers Naude Municipality) received an SMS from Revco debt collectors last Tuesday claiming that their accounts had been handed over for collection.

One pensioner, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that when she received such a message, she phoned the number given and was told that she was in arrears to an amount of about R93.

According to her receipt, she had paid the amount due on her most recent account in full, on the due date. She was told to go to her local municipal offices, where the accounts clerk informed her that far from being in arrears, her account, in fact, is on credit to the amount of 1c!

Many other queries were received at the Municipality from residents, some of whom were angry, and others, mostly pensioners, were very anxious at the thought of unexpected debt, and the shame attached to being handed over to a debt collection agency.

After being alerted to the problem, Revco sent out another SMS that afternoon, with an apology and instructions to ignore the first message, but for many people, the damage had already been done

According to the representative of Revco, they had received all the information from the municipality.

This was confirmed by a systems administrator at the municipality, but it seems that Revco misinterpreted the information supplied.

 Account information, showing amounts owing at the end of January, was sent to Revco, who were aware that these figures were only up to 31st January.

It seems that, in messages sent out on 21st February, the debt collectors did not take into consideration that people could have paid since the end of January –most people, in fact, pay on or near the 16th of the month, when the account is due.

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