HMRC Debt - Pastdue company - Please Help

LauJay

Hello,

I would really appreciate if anybody has any information regarding my current situation.

Today i received a letter with my partner's surname stating that it was 'Important, Do Not Ignore'. I rang my partner and he asked me to open it (he was at work and concerned). I opened the letter but it stated it was for someone else (it had Miss and a different first letter of the first name but my partner's surname).
The letter stated that money was owned to HMRC and had been passed to Pastdue for collection.

I soon realised the initial was the same as my partner's mum's who does not live with us. This confused me as why would we receive a letter for his mum at our home? Especially a debt collection letter?

Now my initial thought was that she had done this to try and hide from the debt. I spoke to her and she stated that she did know about the money owed but had not given our address. She informed my partner that they must have found the address through my partner as he is registered at this address and used to be registered at hers? She stated that HMRC had told her this?

I was wondering if anybody had any info into whether this could be true? As im pretty sure they wouldn't be able to trace her son and send a letter for her to our address? Im really confused?

I would really appreciate any help or information!

System

It is quite likely that could happen if he was registered at her address in the past. You can ignore the letter as it isn't for you but his mum needs to stop sticking her head in the sand and start to deal with this and you are right to ask awkward questions.

pennystretcher

I would inform HMRC that she doesn't live at your address and also get the electoral roll updated. Send by registered post and keep receipts for those letters. She should do the same for her address - I mean let HMRC and electoral roll updated with her current address. Get it corrected now, before you start having issues with debt collectors turning up behind your door....

datlex

Of course, your partner could ring the HMRC there are numbers on the government website. They are actually quite helpful.

fatbelly

Past Due are a pretty useless debt collection agency - they won't be attending. And as it's not your debt (and not your partner's) you have nothing to fear should HMRC choose to escalate this.

As far as your involvement goes (and your partner's), just mark 'not known at this address' and send it back.

You are likely to get regular letters with increasing threats for a few months as they work through their standard letters and do not update their records.