Class 2 National Insurance first payment

Zorz_2

I started working as a self-employed this fall, and registered with HMRC in late October. Afterwards, I got the 2 letters, one with my UTR number and saying “we'll send you a notice to complete your tax return” and the other saying “we'll send you a bill for the Class 2 NIC's due from the start date on your CWF1 form”. OK so far.

Now, since I registered probably after they had closed their database for the Payment request issue date (24/10/11), I did not receive a bill. Technically though, there is a period of a few weeks (until 08/10/11) that I am liable for paying Class 2 NIC until the current deadline of 31/1/2012. So after new years day, I called the newly self-employed helpline of HMRC to tell them about this. The guy I spoke to said it was no problem and I should be sent the first bill in April. He suggested though that if I wanted, they could send me a Direct Debit form now, and I agreed, to be on the safe side.

Now, the form has arrived, but I think it is the wrong one. They didn't send me CA5601 (“Newly self-employed”) but a CA5611 (“Already registered as self-employed”), for which their site (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/payinghmrc/class2nics.htm) says:

You should use this form if:
-you are currently paying by six monthly payment request and wish to switch your method of payment to Direct Debit
-you currently pay by Direct Debit and need to notify HMRC of a change of bank account details
-you currently pay by monthly Direct Debit and would like to switch to pay by six monthly Direct Debit.

Should I just download, print and send them instead a CA5601? This is probably the logical thing to to, but I have a nasty cold since yesterday and I don't trust my judgement right now. It also says that it can take at least 21 days to set up the Direct Debit, so we're definitely looking into February for the first payment. I hope there won't be a problem with that.

Thanks in advance.

Zorz_2

Evenually I sent a CA5601 today.