Drydensfairfax collecting for HMRC

[Nikolai]

Hi all,

My wife collected a letter today dated 7/9/12 which had been sent to our old address by Drydensfairfax solicitors. They reckon they are collecting for HMRC and say the debt is for self-assessment, amount £191.75, which had to be paid by 14/9/12 or else.....threat, threat, etc.
They are inviting her to telephone to make payment arrangements, and if not may recommend legal proceedings, or a distraint officer to call at the house.
Nothing has happened so far, and we are now at the end of October. I've got a feeling the debt may be owed, but can't be sure.
I've not come across Drydensfairfax before, and would be grateful for any information on them. Are they likely to commence proceedings, or are they just another DCA I can have some fun with?

[TUTTSI]

Re: Drydensfairfax collecting for HMRC

I have just Googled them, they are a firm of Solicitors that specialise in debt collecting so their client could well be HMRC. If they step out of line you can always report them to their professional body.

Best that your wife phones HMRC and checks what this amount is for and if the amount is correct you can always ask if she can pay HMRC direct.

[Bigsis]

Re: Drydensfairfax collecting for HMRC

Hi Nikolai

My son had a letter from Drydensfairfax in April for £8768 and they do collect for HMRC. You need to contact the HMRC Debt Collection Agency Referral Team in Newcastle on 0845-015-5348. I went through to Dundee on first occasion and was told the case would be put on hold for 3 weeks while we sorted it out, however, my son then started getting text messages from Drydensfairfax. I spoke to Mark in Newcastle who said the case was not on hold and only he could do that, he put it on hold for 6 weeks and said to let him know when the SA forms were completed. He said 14,000 letters had gone out that week, hence the long delay in answering calls; many of these letters were incorrect and not enough staff to handle the complaints. I asked Mark how did Drydensfairfax get my sons mobile phone number, he said they have access to all his personal information via the HMRC computer systems. Surely this is against the rules of the Data Protection Act. Contacted DCART again end of May to let them SA forms completed.

Make note of who you speak to you and which office they are at, be prepared for long wait in getting through and if you write to them it takes months for a response.

My son was briefly self employed in 2010, he informed CIS when he became employed again, but Cessation referral sent to the Processing Office in Newry was not processed. After completing SA forms it turned out they owed him £270, but they then sent a penalty notice of £230 and late filing penalty of £100. Had to get my MP involved and he wrote to the CEO at HMRC and eventually appeal was upheld. No wonder the country is in such a mess.

[TUTTSI]

Re: Drydensfairfax collecting for HMRC

Well done Biggis great to hear that you suceeded in getting somewhere. They are good at churning out the penalties but not great on updating their records.

Contact the ICO and find out if that is acceptable that this debt collecting firm have access to people personal information.