Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government which debt collecting agencies Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs has ceased to use within the last five years; and what were the reasons in each case.

HMRC does not have a direct relationship with debt collection agencies. It draws their services from a panel provided by a joint venture private and public sector framework contract, which is managed by the Cabinet Office.

In the last five years, seven debt collection agencies have ceased to provide a service to HMRC via the joint venture. They either withdrew voluntarily or they ceased providing services due to commercial reasons.

HMRC cannot provide more details, including the names of the agencies or specific reasons they ceased providing services, due to commercial interests.

Debt Collection agencies form an integral part of HMRC’s debt collection strategy.