If the government department (HMRC, Department for Work and Pensions etc.) later decide to use debt collection agencies or other private sector businesses to recover your debt, they should send you a notification letter to let you know they are doing this. If you have received a letter or a call from a department or a debt collection agency about the money you owe, you should contact them directly using the contact details they have provided.
If you are struggling to make ends meet
It is always best to be open and honest about your circumstances as there are a number of support services you can access. We have listed some of these free services below.