Windhoek
A Khomasdal family faces endless debts despite paying huge amounts to an agent to offset a land tax that nevertheless keeps growing, despite the despondent family’s regular payments.
The family is one of five families that own homes under a sectional title in Khomasdal, but have to pay the land tax. Recently, one of the families was issued with yet another summons by a debt collector, instructed by a Begonia Court Body Corporate agent, a certain John Coetzee, to repossess their vehicle for an “outstanding balance”.
Coetzee, who works at Lighthouse Property Management, approached some of the homeowners in the block of houses in 2007 proposing that he be the one to collect land tax on behalf of Windhoek Municipality.
Initially they thought it a good idea, because there were other homeowners that did not pay their land tax towards the one account, through which they are all billed, although they have separate bills for water and electricity.
House owners who were present when Coetzee made the proposal were enticed after he promised his company would maintain the houses and be responsible for plumbing, but apparently he has not fulfilled any of the promises made in 2007.
Indeed, the family who spoke to New Era, said the agent has become a nuisance of late, as they own the house and do not have anything to do with him. They say he claims if they want to terminate his contract they have to pay him N$7000 to step aside.
The family, who preferred anonymity, alleged that some homeowners moved out because of the endless and unexplained debts, which resulted in some families losing their possessions, such as furniture, which is targeted by the debt collector.
Their problems started last year when the agent, through a debt collector, informed them they had an outstanding sum of N$17 000 – apparently for unpaid land tax. This was despite the family paying N$455 a month to the said agent for land tax.
They say the agent has not been paying these fees for rates and taxes over to Windhoek Municipality on time, resulting in the debt escalating. The family then took out a bank loan, with which they settled the outstanding amount, and were even given a settlement letter to indicate they had paid off the debt.
Surprisingly, they said, a few months later the same debt collector told them they had an additional outstanding balance of N$6 300 for land tax. This happened while they were paying their regular monthly fee for land tax to the agent.
“He (agent) is robbing us. We feel victimised, because last week they sent people who claimed they are from the High Court, who came to make a scene here that they want the car and demanded access to the house. He did not even ask whose car it is. This is extortion,” lamented a concerned family member.
Another relative said currently they have two unexplained outstanding amounts to settle, a debt of N$9 000, apparently owed to the debt collector, and another N$16 000 apparently owed to the agent, which he sent via email.
“Now who is who? Whom should we pay?” the despondent family asked while adding that attempts to secure an appointment with the debt collector have been impossible and it has also been difficult to get hold of the agent.
The family said they have realised that despite paying the monthly fee, the whole amount does not reflect on the agent’s account. “Whether you pay, it doesn’t help,” observed one.
The family further said the agent has never been to their house. They just pay money into his account. “He is supposed to call meetings and maintain the place. Pipes are broken and we pay out of our pocket to get them fixed, but he claims the money he (agent) collects is for municipal land tax and maintenance.”
“In my own opinion he is extorting money from people. If he has no job that is not the right way to get money from people,” opined one family member. “He inflated fictitious figures. That’s where the problem is. He is getting money he doesn’t deserve. The monthly fee includes maintenance, insurance and yet they claim the money we pay is little,” said an angry family member.
John Coetzee could not be reached at his office for comment yesterday.