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<p>As part of their overall collections strategy, debt collection agencies (DCAs)
provide HMRC with additional capacity. The department keeps under review the cost
effectiveness and value for money that using DCAs provides to the Exchequer and UK
citizens. There are no current plans to move away from using agencies to send final
opportunity letters.</p><p> </p><p>The table below sets out the total expenditure
on DCAs by HMRC and the amount spent instructing them to issue final opportunity letters.</p><p>
</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Total spend</p></td><td><p>Final opportunity
letter spend</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>£ 32,099,756.77</p></td><td><p>£1,714,901.62</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19</p></td><td><p>£
26,021,351.78</p></td><td><p>£1,302,490.63</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019/20</p></td><td><p>£
26,163,245.08</p></td><td><p>£1,242,984.66</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>
</p><p>Final opportunity letters are sent on HMRC’s behalf by some of the debt collection
agencies that the department works with. These are:</p><ul><li>Advantis Credit Ltd</li><li>Bluestone
Credit Management</li><li>1st Locate (UK) Ltd</li><li>Past Due Credit Solutions</li></ul><p>
</p><p>The full list of debt collection agencies that HMRC work with can be found
on GOV.UK: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/if-you-dont-pay-your-tax-bill/debt-collection-agencies"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/if-you-dont-pay-your-tax-bill/debt-collection-agencies</a>.</p>
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