diff --git a/app/notifications/receive_notifications.py b/app/notifications/receive_notifications.py
index abf92ca51..53a4cf8a0 100644
--- a/app/notifications/receive_notifications.py
+++ b/app/notifications/receive_notifications.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from datetime import datetime
 from urllib.parse import unquote
 
 import iso8601
@@ -115,9 +116,12 @@ def format_mmg_datetime(date):
     We expect datetimes in format 2017-05-21+11%3A56%3A11 - ie, spaces replaced with pluses, and URI encoded
     and in UTC
     """
-    orig_date = format_mmg_message(date)
-    parsed_datetime = iso8601.parse_date(orig_date).replace(tzinfo=None)
-    return parsed_datetime
+    try:
+        orig_date = format_mmg_message(date)
+        parsed_datetime = iso8601.parse_date(orig_date).replace(tzinfo=None)
+        return parsed_datetime
+    except iso8601.ParseError:
+        return datetime.utcnow()
 
 
 def create_inbound_sms_object(service, content, from_number, provider_ref, date_received, provider_name):
diff --git a/tests/app/notifications/test_receive_notification.py b/tests/app/notifications/test_receive_notification.py
index e41cc9ef8..80eddd8af 100644
--- a/tests/app/notifications/test_receive_notification.py
+++ b/tests/app/notifications/test_receive_notification.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from unittest.mock import call
 
 import pytest
 from flask import json
+from freezegun import freeze_time
 
 from app.notifications.receive_notifications import (
     format_mmg_message,
@@ -216,6 +217,11 @@ def test_format_mmg_datetime(provider_date, expected_output):
     assert format_mmg_datetime(provider_date) == expected_output
 
 
+@freeze_time('2020-05-14 14:30:00')
+def test_format_mmg_datetime_returns_now_if_cannot_parse_date():
+    assert format_mmg_datetime('13-05-2020 08%3A37%3A43') == datetime.utcnow()
+
+
 def test_create_inbound_mmg_sms_object(sample_service_full_permissions):
     data = {
         'Message': 'hello+there+%F0%9F%93%A9',