REFUNDS are given on credit balances and deposits once a City account has been closed. They are also issued for inactive accounts that have a credit balance.

Three categories are:

• Refund categories
• Applying for a refund
• Collecting a refund
  

Refund categories
Clearance Certificate
Most refunds are made on the issuing of a Clearance Certificate.

All property holders are required to pay an average of two months' deemed consumption when they buy a property, as per section 118 of the Municipal Finance Management Act. Foreigners are required to pay six months' deemed consumption to apply for services.

This section also requires that debt of up to two years should be paid before a Clearance Certificate can be issued.

On selling the property, the owner must apply for a Clearance Certificate to prove that municipal accounts are paid up. The sale of a property will not be registered before the Clearance Certificate has been issued.

Change of ownership has to be effected before a refund will be issued. If an overpayment is reflected once the account has been finalised, this will be refunded to the account holder.

When a business is sold or no longer exists and the account balance reflects a credit, the amount will be refunded.

Documents needed:

• Original ID of person collecting cheque;
• Original company registration document;
• Company letter with directors/members authorising collection and collector's details;
• Proof of directorship from registrar of companies;
• If a cheque is to be made out in a different name, there must be a signed authorisation by all directors/members.
  

Property transfers
In the case of a land transfer, an attorney's letter must be sent to the City. Land transfer refunds are refunded to the transferring attorney unless otherwise stated.

The refund process only begins once confirmation from the Deeds Office is obtained regarding change of ownership. Land transfer refunds take up to nine weeks from registration.

Documents needed:

• Original ID of person collecting the cheque;
• Signed attorney's letter on letterhead, authorising collector and collector's details.
  

Electricity and water accounts
If a refund on electricity and water accounts is required, a finalisation of services account form must be completed at a Customer Service Centre.

A copy of your identity document and proof of all payments made into the account after the finalisation date must accompany the request. The refund will be paid to the account holder.

Finalisation of services account refunds take three to four weeks. If a refund is for a joint account, copies of both individuals' identity documents and a letter of consent agreeing for the cheque to be paid to one individual, must be submitted.

Documents needed:

• Original ID of account holder, if not collected in person;
• Original ID of person collecting cheque;
• Signed letter from account holder authorising collector and collector's details;
• If the account is held by more than one person, all account holders should sign the letter and the name of the person to whom the cheque must be paid.
  

Overcharges
For payments made towards an overcharged account, an adjustment must be made and the account must be in credit before a refund may be issued.

Outstanding refund
Outstanding refunds are refund applications that are older than three months.

You can log a request for payment through any Customer Service Centre, the Customer Service Centre at Thuso House, 61 Jorissen Street, Braamfontein, any paypoint, the eservices website, or by calling Joburg Connect on 011 375 5555.

Payment for outstanding refunds may take longer than current refunds, particularly those before 1999, when our computer system was updated.

In addition, further delays may be caused by the need to confirm if the water and power meter readings dates are correct, and to confirm proof of payment, either by original receipt or by contacting your bank for a copy of the appropriate bank statement.

Applying for a refund
All refund requests must be in writing, and may be submitted via Joburg Connect's fax number on 358 3408/09 or email on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or at your nearest Customer Service Centre.

Refund collection
At the moment, the Refunds Unit can only issue cheques. Bring your identity document and a signed letter from your attorney authorising collection, when collecting your cheque.

Because of the high risk of refund fraud, refunds can only be collected by the account holder or their transferring attorney, as prescribed by council policy.

Third parties will not be accepted unless they have written proof of full power of attorney as required by the law.