Dear Consumer Court,
I was very upset today when I received an SMS message informing me that I had a debt with the City of Windhoek and that I should please make a plan to pay. They gave a reference number as well as a bank account number and requested I pay at least a minimum of N$ 100 as part of a payment plan. I do not know of any outstanding account with CoW so contacted the number given on the SMS. The debt collection company informed me that they have been given all the debtors of CoW and they have me with an outstanding account for ambulance services.
Unfortunately they did not seem to have the date of the account but were very insistent that I should start paying at least a small amount to get the debt settled. After going through my own records, I found that I had gone to hospital over 8 years ago and this could be the only time that I could have used an ambulance of the City of Windhoek. My question is, “Can the debt collection company still force me to pay as they say they will put my name on the blacklist if I do not?”
I have never received an account from CoW since the incident and had no idea that they were putting me on their blacklist. I am now also worried that CoW will not allow me to open essential service accounts, such as water and electricity, until I pay the debt.
From Concerned Windhoek Resident,
(Real name and address provided)