KNYSNA NEWS - One would presume that most people are progressing on the road to recovery after 7 June 2017. Unfortunately, I think there are many more who may find themselves in the same position I am in without ever expecting it. Allow me to explain:
My wife and I are in the process of purchasing a property and proudly approached our bank for a bond application. Much to our shock, we were informed by the bank that the application has been denied as we have been blacklisted by Telkom for rentals (R1 600) unpaid since June 2017.
I was shocked. Yes, all our landlines to our farm did burn away. Yes, Open Serve was there on four occasions and yes, Telkom did inform us that it was too costly to repair and suggested that we cancel our landline number.
Due process followed…
This tiresome process was followed and eventually after completing two applications, I received a letter from Telkom informing me that my number has been cancelled and that my account will be credited with the outstanding rental amount.
Well, that surely means that all is done and dusted. Never again was an account received or were we informed that we were still liable for rentals or were we informed that we were to be “handed over”.
Now banks do not want to give us a bond or a car HP as were are and I quote “a credit risk to the bank”.
After much unpleasantness and eventually some assistance from a brave young man at the local Telkom office, the manageress contacted me and I was eventually given a letter explaining that the credit has been passed and that my name is to be removed from the blacklist.
… To no avail
But still, the banks regard me as a credit risk as it has been noted on their system that I owed Telkom money.
I wonder how many other citizens of Knysna may be unaware that they have been placed on a blacklist without even knowing it. The question I ask is this: is it legal for a company to place me on a blacklist without informing me or giving me an opportunity to rectify the matter?
My good name and creditworthiness is now nonexistent and after 40 years of loyalty my bank responds, "How will we not help you".
How many fire victims are unaware that Telkom, or any other company, has been totally unsympathetic to them and proceeded to blacklist them? I have heard of four people who are in my situation.
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