IT MUST be frustrating to inherit someone else's debt and be blacklisted for it because the service provider is not willing to rectify an error.

IT MUST be frustrating to inherit someone else's debt and be blacklisted for it because the service provider is not willing to rectify an error.

Funeka Bambalele told Consumer Line that she had worked very hard and was delighted when she eventually managed to buy a property at Windsor Royal in Cresta, Johannesburg, a year ago.

The property was only transferred into her name in May this year.

From January until June the apartment she bought was vacant, so she should have received a statement with a zero balance for services, Bambalele said.

But three days after moving into her apartment she was handed a statement for R2297, which was in the name of the previous tenant.

When she enquired about it she was told to only pay her monthly levies, electricity and water, which she gladly did, she said.

A month later, the statement still showed the previous amount but had now gone up by a further R700, she said.

"I queried this and was told not to worry about it because it would be sorted out," Bambalele said.

A month later the previous balance had gone up by another R700 and she was now being charged for arrears that she did not have, she said.

"I am also being charged for interest on the so-called arrears," Bambalele said.

To add to her problems she was recently refused credit because of this error by Compeg, the sectional title and property management.

"Now I have a negative credit record and Compeg management have turned a blind eye and are not doing anything to sort out the problem," she said.

Kobus Theron of Compeg has not returned messages that Consumer Line left for him.

A frustrated and angry Bambalele said she would now approach the Tenant and Dispute Resolution Board to help her get out of this mess.