15 April 2005 Press Release IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS TO CUSTOMERS REGARDING OUTSTANDING BILLS PAYS OFF FOR CITY'S REVENUE DEPARTMENT The City's credit control strategy, implemented by the Department of Revenue, is showing consistent achievements, according to spokesperson Mandy Jean Woods. "Around the beginning of the year, we began stepping up our communication to customers via the media and directly to them to remind them about their obligations to settle their accounts in full every month," she says. "Our figures show that over the past few months around 50% of customers who have received Final Letters of Demand respond by paying their outstanding bills in full," says Woods. "This is good news for us. Johannesburg is perhaps the only City in the country that goes the extra mile for its customers by not only notifying them of their delinquent account in a message on their statements, but also by separately sending them Final Letters of Demand two weeks before the credit control programme of action is implemented," says Woods. The letter reminds customers that they can query their accounts by contacting Joburg Connect at (011) 375 5555 or by paying their account through the City's third-party payments partners Easy Pay, SA Post Office and Absa Bank, online through any major bank website, and at any one of the City's 70 paypoints. Requests to make arrangements to settle accounts can also be made to the City's Credit Control Department. This month, the City will be again be sending out thousands of Final Letters of Demand. Some of the affected suburbs include Atholl, Craighall, Birdhaven, Bramley, Bramley Manor, Bramley View, Casey Park, Dunkeld, Elton Hill, Formain, Gresswold, Hyde Park, Illovo, Inanda, Kew, Lyndhurst, Melrose, Parkhurst, Parktown, Raumarais Park, Rosebank, Sandringham, Savoy Estate, Whitney, Winston Ridge, Ranelagh, Laser Park, Little Falls, Radio Kop, Honeydew Ridge, Atholhurst, Bryanston, Douglasdale, Bramley Park Country Life Park, Cowdray Park, Duxberrry, Glen Athol, Glenadrienne, Hurlingham, Lonehill, Moodie Hill, Morningside, New Brighton, Riverclub, Rivonia, Sandhurst, Solridge, Wierda Valley, Willowild, Lyme Park, Birnam, Cheltondale, Corlett Gardens, Fairmount, Fellside, Glenhazel, Glensan, Hawkins Estate, Highlands North, Houghton Estate, Lombardy East and West, Norwood, Oaklands, Orange Grove, Orchards, Parkwood, Percelia Estate, Rembrandt Park, Rosebank, Rouxville Extention, Silvamonte, Sunningdale, Sunningdale Ridge, Sydenham, The Gardens, Waverley, Mountainview, Bergbron, Constantia Kloof, Floracliffe, Florida Hills, Florida Glen, Florida View, Kloofendal, Noordekrans, Northcliff, Quellerina, Strubensvallei, Weltevreden Park, Wilgehewel, Allen's Nek Credwell Park, Discovery, Florida Lake, Florida North, Florida Park, Georginia, Hamberg, Honey Hill. Horison, Ontdekkerspark, Selwyn, Groblerpark, Roodekrans, Witpoortjie, Bassonia, Linmeyer, Oakdene, Liefde en Vrede, Gleneagles, Rietvlei, Denver, Mulbarton, Patalynn, Rispark, Eikenhof, Olifantsvlei, Comptonville, Evans Park, Newton, Robertsham, Ormonde, Klipfontein View Modderfontein, Founders Hill, Klipfontein View, Longmeadow Business Estate, Noordekrans, Rosettenville, Townsview, Chrisville, Crown Gardens, Gillview, Turf Club, Booysens, Turffontein, Haddon, Kennilworth, Lindberg park, Mulbarton, Rispark, Southdale. ENDS For more information, please contact: Mandy Woods Director: Marketing and Communications Department of Revenue City of Johannesburg Phone: 407 7356 Fax: 403 7738 Cell: 082 553 4211 (Please send sms if urgent) Email: mandyw@joburg.org.za Mandy Jean Woods Director: Marketing and Communications Department of Revenue City of Johannesburg Phone: 407 7356 Fax: 403 7738 Cell: 082 553 4211 (Please send sms if urgent) Email: mandyw@joburg.org.za