diff --git a/migrations/versions/0311_populate_returned_letters.py b/migrations/versions/0311_populate_returned_letters.py
index a423c5757..ff94ffbc3 100644
--- a/migrations/versions/0311_populate_returned_letters.py
+++ b/migrations/versions/0311_populate_returned_letters.py
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@ Create Date: 2019-12-09 12:13:49.432993
 """
 from alembic import op
 
-from app.dao.returned_letters_dao import insert_or_update_returned_letters
-
 revision = '0311_populate_returned_letters'
 down_revision = '0310_returned_letters_table'
 
@@ -16,14 +14,20 @@ down_revision = '0310_returned_letters_table'
 def upgrade():
     conn = op.get_bind()
     sql = """
-        select id, service_id, reference 
+        select id, service_id, reference, updated_at
         from notification_history 
         where notification_type = 'letter'
         and notification_status = 'returned-letter'"""
+    insert_sql = """
+        insert into returned_letters(id, reported_at, service_id, notification_id, created_at, updated_at) 
+        values(uuid_in(md5(random()::text)::cstring), '{}', '{}', '{}', now(), null)
+    """
+
     results = conn.execute(sql)
     returned_letters = results.fetchall()
-    references = [x.reference for x in returned_letters]
-    insert_or_update_returned_letters(references)
+    for x in returned_letters:
+        f = insert_sql.format(x.updated_at.date(), x.service_id, x.id)
+        conn.execute(f)
 
 
 def downgrade():