Facing Harris and Harris Debt Collection Harassment

Harris and Harris debt collection harassment occurs when collectors violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) by making excessive calls, issuing threats, or contacting third parties about your debt. If you believe Harris and Harris have violated federal law, you may be entitled to statutory damages up to $1,000 plus attorney fees.

The Wood Law Firm can help you stop illegal collection tactics and hold them accountable at no upfront cost.

Who Is Harris and Harris

Harris and Harris is a Chicago-based debt collection agency operating for over 50 years, specializing in healthcare debt collection across government and utility industries. While accredited by the Better Business Bureau, they have faced numerous consumer complaints regarding aggressive collection practices that may violate the FDCPA.

Key facts about Harris and Harris:

• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Years in business: Over 50 years
• Industries served: Healthcare debt collection, government, utilities
• Common complaints: Excessive calls, threatening language, workplace harassment

If you believe they’re harassing you, understanding your legal rights is critical to stopping their behavior.

Recognizing Illegal Harris and Harris Collection Tactics

Harris and Harris may violate federal law through various forms of harassment. Common illegal tactics include:

• Excessive Call Frequency: Courts have found 7-10 calls per day potentially excessive under the FDCPA. If you believe Harris and Harris is calling you 12-15 times daily (as reported by some consumers), this pattern may constitute illegal harassment designed to wear you down into paying.
• Calls After Written Cease Request: Once you send a written cease-and-desist letter via certified mail, collectors must stop all contact except to confirm receipt or notify you of specific legal actions like filing a lawsuit. Continued calls after receiving your letter violate federal law.
• Threatening or Abusive Language: Debt collectors cannot use profanity, threaten violence, or make threats they have no legal authority to carry out. If you think Harris and Harris representatives have threatened arrest, jail time, or property seizure without proper legal procedures, this could be illegal harassment.
• Workplace Contact Violations: Collectors must stop calling your workplace once you inform them that your employer prohibits personal calls. If Harris and Harris continue workplace contact after this notification, they may be violating your rights and jeopardizing your employment.
• False Lawsuit Threats: While Harris and Harris may sue if your debt is valid and within your state’s statute of limitations (typically 3-6 years), they cannot threaten lawsuits they don’t intend to file. Empty threats designed to scare you into paying violate the FDCPA.
• Wage Garnishment Threats Without Court Judgment: Collectors cannot garnish your wages without first suing you and obtaining a court judgment. If they threaten garnishment without legal authority, this may constitute illegal harassment.
• Discussing Your Debt with Third Parties: Harris and Harris may only discuss your debt with you, your spouse, or your attorney. If you believe they’ve told family members, friends, neighbors, or coworkers about your debt, they may have violated your privacy rights under federal law.
• Refusing to Provide Debt Validation: Within five days of first contacting you, collectors must send a written notice including the debt amount, creditor name, and your right to dispute. If you think they’ve failed to provide this information, they may be violating FDCPA requirements.

If you’ve experienced any of these tactics, contact The Wood Law Firm at +1 844-638-1122 to discuss your rights and potential legal action.

How to Stop Harris and Harris Calls Immediately

If you believe Harris and Harris are harassing you, take these immediate steps to stop Harris and Harris calls and protect your rights:

Send a Written Cease-and-Desist Letter: Draft a letter demanding that Harris and Harris stop all contact. Include your name, contact information, and debt details. Send via certified mail with a return receipt to prove delivery. Under the FDCPA, they must honor this request except to confirm receipt or notify you of specific legal actions.

Request Debt Validation: Within 30 days of their first contact, send a written debt validation request. They must stop collection efforts until they provide proof you owe the debt, including documentation showing the original creditor, debt amount, and verification of ownership.

Document Every Interaction: Keep detailed records of all calls, including date, time, caller name, phone number, and conversation summary. Note any threatening language, false statements, or FDCPA violations. If your state allows one-party consent recording, consider recording calls for evidence.

File Complaints with Regulatory Agencies: Report violations to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and your state attorney general. Provide specific details about the harassment with supporting documentation. These complaints create an official record supporting potential legal action.

Contact a Consumer Rights Attorney: If harassment continues despite your efforts, legal assistance may be necessary. The Wood Law Firm specializes in stopping abusive debt collection practices and can help you understand your rights, stop the calls, and potentially pursue damages at no upfront cost.

How FDCPA Protects You from Harris and Harris Harassment

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act provides strong protections against Harris and Harris harassment and abusive collection tactics. Your rights include:

• Right to written debt validation: Collectors must provide written notice within five days of first contact, including the debt amount, creditor name, and your right to dispute.
• Right to dispute the debt: You have 30 days from the first contact to dispute the debt in writing. Collectors must stop collection efforts until they verify the debt.
• Right to cease communication: You can send a written request demanding they stop all contact. They must honor this except to confirm receipt or notify you of legal actions.
• Right to privacy: Collectors cannot discuss your debt with third parties except your spouse or attorney. Sharing debt information with family, friends, or coworkers violates federal law.
• Right to sue for violations: If collectors violate the FDCPA, you may recover statutory damages up to $1,000, actual damages for harm suffered, and attorney fees.

Understanding these debt collection rights empowers you to fight back against illegal harassment. The Wood Law Firm can help you exercise these rights effectively.

Can Harris and Harris Sue Me?

Yes, Harris and Harris can sue you if your debt is valid and within your state’s statute of limitations, typically 3-6 years, depending on your location and debt type. However, they must follow proper legal procedures.

What happens if they sue:

• You’ll receive official court documents (summons and complaint)
• You must respond within the deadline stated in the summons
• Ignoring a lawsuit can result in a default judgment
• They may seek wage garnishment or bank levies with a judgment

When they cannot sue:

• Debt exceeds your state’s statute of limitations
• They lack proper documentation proving that you owe the debt
• The debt has been discharged in bankruptcy
• They’re not the legal owner of the debt

If you believe Harris and Harris are threatening lawsuits without a legal basis or refusing to validate the debt, contact +1 844-638-1122 for legal guidance.

How to Remove Harris and Harris from Your Credit Report

Follow these steps to remove Harris and Harris from your credit report if you believe the information is inaccurate:

• Dispute inaccurate information: File disputes with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion if you think the debt amount, payment history, or account status is wrong. Credit bureaus must investigate within 30 days, and Harris and Harris must verify the information or remove it.
• Request debt validation: Challenge Harris and Harris to prove the debt’s validity. If they cannot provide adequate documentation (original contract, payment history, proof of ownership), they may be required to stop collection efforts and remove the tradeline.
• Negotiate pay-for-delete: Some collectors agree to remove negative marks in exchange for payment, though this isn’t guaranteed. Get any agreement in writing before sending money, specifying they’ll delete the account from your credit report upon payment.
• Wait for the reporting period to expire: Collection accounts can remain on your credit report for up to seven years from the date of first delinquency. After this period, credit bureaus must remove the tradeline.

Working with a consumer rights attorney can help navigate this process and ensure your rights are protected throughout.

How to Identify Harris and Harris Scams

While Harris and Harris is a legitimate collection agency, scammers sometimes impersonate them. Watch for these warning signs:

Red flags indicating fraud:

• The caller refuses to provide written validation of the debt
• Immediate payment is demanded without a verification opportunity
• Threats of arrest or criminal prosecution
• Requests for payment via wire transfer, prepaid cards, or cryptocurrency
• The caller cannot provide specific details about the debt
• Pressure to pay before you can verify the debt’s legitimacy

Legitimate collectors will:

• Provide written validation within five days of first contact
• Allow you 30 days to dispute the debt
• Give you their company name, address, and contact information
• Follow FDCPA requirements regarding communication times and methods

If you think someone is attempting debt collection fraud using Harris and Harris’s name, report it to the FTC and contact +1 844-638-1122 to verify the debt’s legitimacy before making any payments.

Filing Complaints Against Harris and Harris Debt Collection Agency

If you believe Harris and Harris have violated your rights, report them to these agencies:

1. The Wood Law Firm: Contact the Wood Law Firm at +1 844-638-1122 for immediate legal representation. We can help you file complaints and pursue legal action against Harris and Harris for FDCPA violations.
2. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): Visit the CFPB website to file an online complaint. Provide specific details about the harassment, including dates, times, and what representatives said. The CFPB investigates patterns of violations and may take enforcement action.
3. Federal Trade Commission (FTC): The FTC accepts complaints about unfair or deceptive business practices. While they may not resolve individual cases, your complaint helps identify systemic problems that could trigger investigations.
4. State Attorney General: Your state attorney general enforces consumer protection laws at the state level. Many states have additional protections beyond federal law that may provide stronger remedies.
5. Better Business Bureau (BBB): BBB complaints become part of Harris and Harris’s public record and may pressure them to resolve disputes to maintain their rating.

These complaints strengthen your case if you decide to pursue legal action. The Wood Law Firm can help you file complaints and determine if you have grounds for a lawsuit.

How The Wood Law Firm Helps Stop Harris and Harris Debt Collection Harassment

If you believe Harris and Harris have violated your rights through excessive calls, workplace harassment, or threatening tactics, The Wood Law Firm provides experienced legal representation at no upfront cost. We’ve successfully stopped healthcare debt harassment and recovered $2,600-$3,200 in settlements for clients since 2010.

How we help clients:

• Immediate intervention: We contact collectors directly to demandthat  they cease illegal harassment
• Thorough case evaluation: We review your documentation to identify all potential FDCPA violations
• No upfront costs: We work on contingency, you pay nothing unless we recover compensation
• Proven results: We’ve recovered $2,600-$3,200 in settlements for healthcare debt harassment violations

Call +1 844-638-1122 for a free consultation to discuss your situation and learn how we can help.

Meet Attorney Jeff Wood

Jeff Wood brings over 18 years of consumer rights experience, focusing exclusively on holding debt collectors accountable under the FDCPA, FCRA, and TCPA. Licensed in Arkansas with Of Counsel relationships across 14 states, he has built a national practice dedicated to protecting consumers from abusive collection tactics.

Call +1 844-638-1122 to discuss your situation with an attorney who fights to protect your rights.

Real Cases We’ve Won Against Debt Collectors

Excessive Call Harassment: A client from Illinois received 12-15 calls daily from a debt collector despite requesting that they stop. After documenting the harassment pattern over four weeks, we filed an FDCPA lawsuit. The case settled for $2,800, which included statutory damages and an agreement to cease all contact.

Workplace Contact Violation: A client in Michigan informed a debt collector that his employer prohibited personal calls at work, but the calls continued for three weeks. We documented each workplace call with specific dates and times, then pursued legal action. The case settled for $2,600 with a prohibition of further workplace contact.

Failure to Validate Debt: A client from Ohio requested debt validation from a collector but received no response. Collection calls continued for over 30 days despite the lack of validation. We represented the client in an FDCPA claim, resulting in a $3,200 settlement, complete debt dismissal, and removal of the collection from the credit report.

Frequently Asked Questions About Harris and Harris

1. Why Do I Keep Getting Calls from Harris and Harris

Harris and Harris are contacting you to collect a healthcare or utility debt. Always request debt validation within 30 days to confirm legitimacy.

2. Is Harris and Harris a Legitimate Debt Collection Agency

Yes, Harris and Harris is a real BBB-accredited company with over 50 years in business. However, they’ve faced complaints for excessive calls and threatening tactics that may violate the FDCPA.

3. How Can I Stop Harris and Harris from Calling Me

Send a cease-and-desist letter via certified mail demanding they stop all contact. Under the FDCPA, they must honor this request.

4. What Are Common Harassment Tactics Used by Harris and Harris

Common tactics include excessive calls (7-10+ daily), lawsuit threats without legal basis, workplace calls after being told to stop, and abusive language.

5. Can Harris and Harris Sue Me or Garnish My Wages

Harris and Harris may sue if the debt is valid and within your state’s statute of limitations (3-6 years). They cannot garnish wages without a court judgment first.

6. Can I Be Arrested for Not Paying Harris and Harris

No. Debt collection is a civil matter. You cannot be arrested for unpaid consumer debts. Any arrest threats violate the FDCPA.

7. How Can I Tell If a Harris and Harris Call Is a Scam

Be cautious if they demand immediate payment, refuse validation, threaten arrest, or request payment via wire transfer. Verify any debt before paying.

8. How Do I Remove Harris and Harris from My Credit Report

If paid, request a confirmation letter and submit it to the credit bureaus. You can also dispute inaccurate debts. Collections remain for seven years from the first delinquency.

9. What Rights Do I Have Against Harris and Harris Harassment

The FDCPA protects you from abusive practices. You can dispute debts, demand validation, request no contact, and sue for damages up to $1,000 plus attorney fees.

10. How Do I Report Harris and Harris for Harassment

File complaints with the CFPB, FTC, or your state attorney general. Contact The Wood Law Firm at +1 844-638-1122 for legal representation.