Facing Harris and Harris Debt Collection Harassment?

Harris and Harris, Ltd. markets itself on dignity. Fifty years in business. A+ BBB rating. A family-owned Chicago firm that treats consumers with respect. That is the pitch to clients.

Then, in 2024, the Washington State Attorney General fined the company $1 million for failing to tell medical patients about financial assistance programs before pursuing them for debt. That is not a technicality. That is the agency’s documented pattern of prioritizing collection over the rights of people navigating illness and hospital bills.

If Harris and Harris have been contacting you – about a medical bill, a government fine, a toll, or a utility account – that gap between the marketing and the documented record is worth understanding before you respond to anything.

Who Is Harris and Harris

Harris and Harris, Ltd. is a family-owned, Chicago-based debt collection agency that has operated for over 50 years. Unlike generalist collectors, the company focuses on three specific sectors: healthcare, government, and utilities. That specialization is intentional – these are sensitive accounts where the original creditor has a strong interest in maintaining the consumer relationship, which is why Harris and Harris markets a “dignified” approach.

What makes them operationally unusual is the attorney-managed litigation component. The firm is co-owned by a litigating attorney, meaning they can take a debt from first contact all the way through a court judgment – filing, enforcement, and wage garnishment – without bringing in outside counsel. If Harris and Harris are threatening legal action, that threat has more operational backing than it does from a typical collection agency.

Their mailing address is P.O. Box 186, Chicago, IL 60690. They hold an A+ BBB rating, though the agency’s recent $1 million government fine complicates that picture considerably.

Harris and Harris Phone Numbers

If you are receiving calls or texts and want to confirm the source before responding, Harris and Harris use the following numbers:

• (844) 908-7652 – primary consumer line
• (844) 908-7575
• (844) 908-7377
• (844) 908-6670
• (844) 548-8080
• (877) 569-1519
• (312) 892-4813 – Chicago office

Harris and Harris also send text messages from shortcode 69534 and reach consumers via harriscollect.com and harriscollect.payweb360.com for payments. If you received a text from that shortcode or a payment link from either of those domains and want to verify before clicking, those are legitimate Harris and Harris channels – though always confirm the debt in writing before making any payment online.

Why Is Harris and Harris Calling Me

Harris and Harris are calling because a company you had an account with has placed your debt with them for collection. Given their sector focus, the most likely sources are:

• Healthcare: A hospital system, dental practice, imaging center, or medical group. Their documented clients have included Great Lakes Medical Imaging and Kenmore Mercy Hospital, among others.
• Government accounts: Municipal fines, parking tickets, or tax obligations. They hold government contracts in multiple jurisdictions, including with the District of Columbia and toll authorities.
• Toll collection: Harris and Harris collect for the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA), among others. If you have unpaid toll violations in those systems, this is likely the source of the call.
• Utilities: Electric, gas, and water accounts.
• Telecommunications: T-Mobile and Spectrum accounts appear in consumer reports of Harris and Harris collection activity.

If you do not recognize the debt they are referencing, request written validation before saying anything else. As a government contractor in some jurisdictions, their communications can carry an official tone that may feel more urgent than a standard collection letter – that tone does not change your right to verify the debt first.

Is Harris and Harris a Scam?

Harris and Harris, Ltd. is a legitimate, registered debt collection agency – not a scam operation. They have operated since the early 1970s and hold an A+ BBB rating.

That said, Harris and Harris are frequently impersonated by scam callers who use the name because it is recognizable. If someone contacts you claiming to be Harris and Harris and demands immediate payment by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency, that is a red flag for fraud. Legitimate Harris and Harris contacts will provide written validation and direct you to harriscollect.com for payment – not to an unrelated link.

The 2024 Washington State fine is a different concern – that was the real company, not an impersonator. The Attorney General found the firm had a systemic failure to inform patients of their right to apply for financial assistance before pursuing medical debt collection. Being legitimate does not mean being compliant.

Lawsuits Against Harris and Harris

Harris and Harris have accumulated a legal record focused on two areas: their written collection notices and their handling of medical debt.

• 2024 Washington State Attorney General – $1 Million Fine: The most significant recent action against the company. The Washington AG found that Harris and Harris failed to inform patients of their right to seek charity care or financial assistance before pursuing them for medical debt collection. Under Washington law, hospitals are required to notify patients of assistance programs, and their collection agents must follow the same requirement. Harris and Harris failed to do so systematically. The $1 million fine reflects the scale of the violation.
• Class Action – Great Lakes Medical Imaging: A class action alleged Harris and Harris sent debt collection notices related to medical imaging services that violated FDCPA requirements – specifically, the adequacy of the written notice sent to consumers.
• Class Action – Kenmore Mercy Hospital: A separate class action involving Harris and Harris’s collection letters for hospital debt, again challenging whether the notices met FDCPA disclosure standards.
• School of Dental Medicine Class Action: Another class action involving medical debt collection notices, this one related to dental school accounts.
• FDCPA Letter Violation Cases: Multiple suits have alleged that Harris and Harris collection letters contained inadequate disclosures – a recurring pattern across their healthcare and government debt work.

What these cases share is a consistent issue with what Harris and Harris put in writing. Their letters and notices have been challenged repeatedly for failing to meet FDCPA requirements. If you have received a letter from them, its specific language matters more than you might expect.

Does Harris and Harris Pay for Delete Work?

“Pay for delete” is the most-searched specific topic related to Harris and Harris after general identity and scam queries – nearly 190 impressions with almost no clicks, meaning this is a major unanswered question for people researching the agency.

Harris and Harris does not publicly advertise a pay-for-delete policy, and there is no documented standard practice. However, pay-for-delete is not prohibited, and some consumers report success negotiating it case-by-case. The conditions that tend to make it possible:

• The debt is legitimately yours and within the reporting window
• You are offering full payment, not a settlement for less
• You get the agreement in writing before making any payment
• The written agreement specifically states the account will be deleted from all three credit bureau reports – not just marked “paid”

Do not make a verbal agreement and pay hoping the deletion follows. That approach rarely works. An attorney can negotiate the terms, document the agreement, and ensure Harris and Harris follows through before any payment is made.

Related: FCRA Practice Area – Protection for Consumers

Are Harris and Harris Text Messages and Voicemails Real?

Yes. Harris and Harris send text messages as a standard contact method – including from shortcode 69534. If you received a text from that number identifying Harris and Harris as the sender, it is their legitimate outreach channel, not a scam text.

Their texts typically include a reference number, a callback number in the 844 range, and a link to harriscollect.com or harriscollect.payweb360.com for online payment. Before clicking any payment link from a text, verify the reference number by calling one of their confirmed lines directly.

Harris and Harris also leaves voicemails. Legally, they are permitted to leave messages but must not disclose that the call is about a debt in a voicemail if a third party might hear it. If their voicemail mentioned your account or debt details in a way that could be heard by others, that may be an FDCPA issue worth documenting.

If you want to respond without calling back, send a written debt validation request via certified mail to P.O. Box 186, Chicago, IL 60690. This preserves your rights and creates a paper trail.

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 P.O. Box 186, Chicago, IL 60690. 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. 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 Firm PLLC specializes in stopping abusive debt collection practices and can help you stop the calls and potentially pursue damages at no upfront cost.

Can Harris and Harris Sue Me?

Yes, Harris and Harris can sue you – and unlike most collection agencies, they mean it. Their co-owner is a litigating attorney, giving them full in-house capability from filing through judgment and wage garnishment. Do not ignore court documents from Harris and Harris.

How to Remove Harris and Harris From Your Credit Report

If Harris and Harris appear on your credit report, they have reported the collection account to Equifax, Experian, and/or TransUnion. Yes – they report to credit bureaus, and the account will appear under their name or as Harris and Harris, Ltd.

A collection account can remain on your credit file for seven years from the date of first delinquency with the original creditor, not from the date Harris and Harris first contacted you. That distinction matters for calculating when it will age off.

Grounds for disputing or removing the account include:

• Inaccurate balance – if the amount differs from what the original creditor had on record
• The incorrect date of the first delinquency affects how long the account stays on your report
• Failure to validate – if you sent a timely validation request and Harris and Harris could not provide adequate documentation
• Medical debt-specific protections – as of 2023, medical debt under $500 cannot appear on credit reports, and new CFPB rules further restrict medical debt reporting
• Washington State residents – the 2024 AG action may provide additional grounds if Harris and Harris failed to disclose your right to financial assistance before reporting your medical debt

How to Identify Harris and Harris Scams

While Harris and Harris is a legitimate collection agency, scammers impersonate them. The 2024 Washington State fine involved the real company’s own violations – but fake callers using their name are a separate concern.

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 or a reference number
• Pressure to pay before you can verify the debt’s legitimacy

Legitimate Harris and Harris contacts will:

• Provide written validation within five days of first contact
• Allow you 30 days to dispute the debt
• Direct payment to harriscollect.com or harriscollect.payweb360.com – not to random payment links
• Send texts from shortcode 69534, not random cell numbers
• Give you their company name, P.O. Box 186 Chicago address, and a confirmed 844 callback number

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

How The Wood Firm PLLC Stops Harris and Harris

Harris and Harris’s documented vulnerabilities are specific: their written notices have repeatedly failed FDCPA muster in class actions, their medical debt handling produced a $1 million government fine, and their attorney-managed litigation model means the stakes of ignoring a lawsuit threat are real.

When you contact us about Harris and Harris, we start with every written communication they sent – letters, texts, validation responses. Their pattern of notice violations means the documents they produce are worth examining closely. We also check whether they followed Washington State’s medical debt disclosure requirements, if applicable, and whether their credit reporting is accurate.

• Legal notice goes to Harris and Harris immediately – calls and texts typically stop within 48 hours
• We analyze every letter and text for FDCPA notice violations
• We review medical debt handling for the 2024 Washington AG fine pattern violations
• We negotiate pay-for-delete terms and document them in writing before any payment
• We pursue compensation for every FDCPA and FCRA violation we identify
• You pay nothing unless we win. If we prevail, they pay attorney fees.

Call us at +1 844-638-1122 to get started.

Related: FDCPA Practice Area

About Attorney Jeff Wood

Jeff Wood has spent 15+ years fighting for consumers against illegal debt collection tactics. He is licensed in Arkansas and admitted to federal courts across nine districts – including Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, S.D. Indiana, E.D. Michigan, E.D. Missouri, W.D. Tennessee, and W.D. Wisconsin. He focuses on FDCPA, FCRA, and TCPA violations.

The Wood Firm PLLC maintains relationships with attorneys in 15+ states – including Arizona, California, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington – so no matter where Harris and Harris have been contacting you, help is available.

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 Firm PLLC at +1 844-638-1122 for legal representation.